How to Get a Perfect Haircut – 5 Questions to Ask Your Barber

by | Jul 1, 2021 | Men's Haircut Tips

How to Get the Perfect Haircut: Ask the Right Questions

Guys have a lot of questions about their hair, their beard and their style. You can search around the web for answers, or you can simply ask your barber for their expert advice on your haircut, your beard, and even your health. This article outlines all of the questions men should ask their barber the next time they get a shave and haircut to help their barber give them the perfect haircut. 

How To Talk To Your Barber: How Should I Explain What My Perfect Haircut is?

If you’ve never been to a barber before, it can be a little intimidating when you first sit in the chair. But there is nothing to worry about. Your barber is a professional, and dedicated to their craft which is making you look and feel your best. 

Specify Your Hairstyle

To help your barber make you look amazing, it’s best to provide them with a general description of the style you want when you first sit down in the chair. 

Specify Desired Haircut Length

After specifying the general hairstyle you would like, it’s time to specify how much length you would like to be removed. Don’t say, “Give me a trim, Bob” or “Just a little off the top.” Barbers hate that. One barber’s trim is another barber’s close shave. The best way to avoid getting your haircut too short is to be specific with how much you want taken off. If you don’t know exactly how much you want taken off, let your barber know you don’t know. They will likely cut a bit off to see if you like it. Then if you want it shorter, you can go shorter. If you’re a ‘clippers’ guy, try to memorize the numbers of the guards you use. Then you can just walk into the barber and tell him “I want a 3 on the sides and a 4 on the top.”

Describe Taper and Neckline

The taper of your hair typically starts off long at the top and gets shorter as you go down to the neck. You can have a really long taper or a short taper, but most men’s haircuts involve some sort of taper. Be sure to tell your barber whether you would like your hair tapered or cut the same length all the way around. If that sounds confusing, just ask your barber to explain the taper of your hairstyle. They will be happy to show you in the mirror. The same goes for your neckline. If you don’t specify what type of neckline you would like, your barber will likely ask. When choosing what sort of neckline you want, you have three options: 

  • Blocked – A blocked nape means cutting a straight line across the natural neckline. When done correctly, your neckline will have the appearance of a squared block.

 

  • Rounded – A rounded neckline simply takes the corners off a blocked nape finish.

 

  • Tapered – Instead of creating a strong line at the nape of the neck, a tapered neckline follows the natural neckline and gradually shortens the hair as it gets closer to the bottom of the neckline. 

Specify Texture

Many modern men’s hairstyles incorporate some sort of texturing. We recommend using these terms with your barber if you’d like to add some texture to your hair for the perfect haircut:

  • Choppy –  Choppy texturing adds volume to your hair.

 

  • Razored – When a barber razors your hair, they use a straight razor to trim the ends, which helps the hair lay flatter on your head and diminishes bulk.

 

  • Layered – If you have thinning or balding hair, layers can give your hair the appearance of depth and volume.

 

  • Thinned – If you have a thick, bushy mane, ask the barber to bust out the thinning shears to take some of that volume off your dome. 

How To Talk To Your Barber: Is it OK to show my barber a picture?

Yes. If you lack descriptive ability, you are more than welcome to show your barber a picture of the hairstyle you are looking for. 

The Perfect Haircut: 3 Specific Questions to Ask Your Barber 

Now that you know how to describe your haircut, it’s time to move on to better questions, like  “What style can I recreate at home”, “What cut suits me best” and “How can this style work for me”. The answers to these questions will not only improve your style, they will lead to a stronger, more honest report with your barber, which is good. As men, we are not always honest with ourselves when it comes to our health. Research shows that your barber is only slightly less likely than your doctor to discover possible health risks. So the better your relationship is with your barber, the more likely you are to detect possible medical conditions before they become a problem. 

Every barber at Goodman’s feels that barbering is essential for men to look and feel their best. Whether it’s a quality straight razor shave, a quick beard trim or a precision men’s haircut, our high end barbers are ready to provide you with the best haircut, and the best barber experience you’ve ever had. Contact us today to schedule an appointment .