Picture this. You were scrolling through Instagram and stumbled upon a haircut that caught your eye. You study it for a while and decide to wear that hairstyle for your next haircut. But when the day finally comes and you sit on that chair, you don’t know how to tell your barber what you want. Frustrating, right?
Sometimes you lack the right words, or your explanation is incomprehensible to the barber.
Here are some helpful tips on how to talk to your barber to get a perfect haircut. This will also save you the agony of eavesdropping on the barber checking if they are getting the haircut right.
1. Show The Barber A Picture
When you spot a hairstyle you like, save the image or take a screenshot on your handheld device. The inspiration photo will give your barber an idea of the style you want.
The barber can advise you whether that style can work for your hair or your head shape by judging the picture. Sometimes, a haircut can only suit specific head shapes, hair lengths, or textures.
For instance, if you have a rectangle or oblong shape face, avoid any style that will make your face look skinnier or longer. Those with a diamond-shaped face should avoid any style with short sides.
The trick here is to find inspiration from gents with the same face shape and hair length as you.
2. Understand Different Haircut Terminologies
Look, one of the reasons why a barber will give you a disappointing haircut is providing the wrong information.
Avoid using haircut terminologies if you don’t know what they mean. Don’t say you want a taper when you mean a fade. And don’t just say a taper without specifying whether you want a low, mid, or high taper.
If you are not sure where to start, WiseBarber is a great place to start. We have helpful haircuts resources, celebrity looks for inspiration, and tool reviews such as the best beard combs for the bearded gang.
Haircut Terms You Should Know
- Taper – a taper is a gradual reduction in hair length. The hair gets shorter as you near the hairline on the sides and back of the head.
- Fade – a fade is also a gradual reduction of hair length, but the hair gradually fades into the skin above the hairline. A fade is a smart option during summer when it’s hot.
- Neckline– The neckline is where the hair ends below the chin and at the back of the head. Tell the barber whether you want a rounded, tapered, or blocked neckline at the back.
- Sideburns– For a perfect look, tell your barber how you want your sideburn depending on the hairstyle and face shape.
- Arch – the arch is the space between the ear and the hairline. A natural arch is best for most people, but you can also choose a high arch if it’s what you desire.
- Choppy – If you have thinning hair, but want your hair to look thicker and voluminous tell your barber you want a choppy style.
- Layered – a layered texture is great when you want to conceal thinning or balding hair. The hair will be styled in a way that long hairs will be used to hide the short areas.
- Razored – The barber uses a razor to cut the hair in uneven lengths along the ends. It’s a great way to give the hair texture and volume.
- Thinned – If you have thick hair and want to reduce the volume for a sleek hairstyle, you can ask the barber to give you a thinner texture.
3. Listen To The Barber
Most of the time, the barber will know can work for you. You can get great insights on the best hairstyles for you depending on your face shape and hair length.
Some of the sleek haircuts you see are achieved through styling and products. Other styles require special equipment. Your barber will advise you on what to do to achieve the hairstyle.
To get the perfect haircut from your barber, bring with you an inspiration photo. In addition, tell them whether you want a fade or a taper, the texture you desire, what to do with your sideburns, neckline, and arch.
