How the Right Barber makes a Difference

Back in the day, it didn’t really matter how men styled their hair, only the length of it was regularly maintained.

Now living in a modern metrosexual world, having the perfect hairstyle is just as important for men as it is for women.

But before you can get the perfect haircut that oozes style and reflects your personality, every man has to decide where he should go to get his hair cut.

We’ve all been there, sitting in a salon or barbershop trying to explain how our haircut should be done, using as many details as we can.

Some even bring a picture of the hairstyle they’re looking for. But even then, we never really get it the way we want, do we?

DESIblitz presents a step by step guide that can help you find the perfect barber.

Step 1: Don’t go to a Chain Store

If you’re risking your hairdo at a chain store, which is meant to cut hair for the average 5-year-old and middle age person, chances are that the person working there is not experienced in trendy cuts.

They simply know basic haircuts for the basic head shape. It is guaranteed you will not be satisfied if you try to get a stylish haircut at a chain or highstreet store.

Taj explains: “I was in a hurry and wanted to get my haircut fast so decided to go to the barber shop.

“Although I explained what I wanted, I ended up looking like a 3-year-old and it was horrifying.”

What’s more, the poor middle aged woman you’re trying to explain the latest undercut style or blowout style to will feel terrible when she inevitably messes up your hair.

Step 2: Don’t go to an Expensive Hairstylist

Most men have a misconception that all the trendy haircuts they see on social media and the Internet are done at an upper-class hair salon that charges over £100 for a haircut.

This is wrong; while most salons (if experienced with male haircuts) can pull off these hairstyles, you don’t need to go to them unless you have the money to blow.

More importantly salons are usually geared more towards a female demographic and the hairstyle you’re looking for might not be their forte.

Baldev says: “I wanted the simple haircut where I could just stick my hair up, so I went to a salon that my sister goes to, and came out with my sides shaved and hair like Beiber. It was a nightmare.”

Step 3: Go to a Barbershop 

A legit, old school, for men run by men barbershop. There are barbershops in every city, where men can go to, to get the latest hairstyles, guaranteed.

They are not expensive, £15-20 is the average price range.

They know how to do the hairstyle you want. You won’t need to bring in a picture, you won’t need to explain it to them for 5 minutes, they will know.

Hassan a fashion student explains: “Most men now days go to hair salons or female run hairdressers because they think they can get their hair done there.

“While that may be true, chances are their hair won’t have that top notch standard finish.”

Step 4: Do your Research

It is important that you know that you are making the right decision to go to a place to get your hair cut right from the beginning.

The best way to do this is simply by comparing your options on the Internet. Simply type, ‘barbershop + yourcity + instagram’, into Google and explore the results.

The reason why Instagram is important is because most barbershops that cut trendy hairstyles will showcase them on social media.

Take a look through their gallery and decide which shop is the most ideally suited for you.

Step 5: Look for a Confident Barber 

When getting a haircut, you always want someone who enjoys what they are doing and are open to embracing any challenge you present them with.

Confident barbers will look you in the eye, smile, and give you a firm handshake when you first walk in.

If a barber you visit for the first time avoids eye contact and gives you the limp fish, it could be a warning sign that he’s not that confident in his abilities.

You want someone who openly tells you what works for you and is willing to give you his ideas on how to refine your style.

Essentially, someone who knows what they are talking about and understands the best cut suited for your face structure.

Step 6: Look for a Presentable Barber

Check how well groomed the barber is. Give a new barber the once over. How is his own personal grooming?

Chances are if the barber has a crummy haircut and shave, he gives crummy haircuts and shaves.

How is his clothing? Pressed and clean? This kind of attention to detail will likely carry over into the haircuts he gives.

A great barber takes his personal appearance seriously because he’s in the business of helping men with their personal and professional image.

Also take note of the shop’s cleanliness. If just looking in a certain shop makes your head itch, turn and walk the other way.

In addition to checking how sanitary the place is, just look for overall organisation and order.

Again, a barber with an eye for detail will make sure his shop and working area are in tiptop shape.

If you notice that a barber has tools all over the place and mounds of hair under the chair, that kind of sloppiness may end up reflected in your hair cut.

Manjeet says: “A few of my friends have gotten ill after getting their hair cut from dirty barbers.

“So my biggest concern is wherever I go to get mine cut, I always look at how clean the person is and how clean the place is.”

Step 7:  Check the Mannerisms of the Barber 

When you sit down in the barber chair and the barber puts the hair drape around your neck, does he ask the right questions? 

Anuj, a trainee barber based in Birmingham, says: “If the first question the barber asks you is, ‘What number do you want on the sides?’, run out of the shop immediately.”

Barbers who rely solely on clipper guards to cut hair tend to be lazy and unskilled. Besides, haircuts done with just clippers tend to be mediocre.

Why pay a man £10 to do something you could do yourself?

A great barber would ask you questions like, as Anuj explains would say, ‘What do you like about your hair?’, ‘What don’t you like?’, and ‘Do you want to change your style?’

A good barber will also ask for feedback mid-cut so that he can change or fix something if need be.

With these tips in mind, you can easily find the right barbershop or barber for you.

Just remember to do your research and have some sort of idea of what you are looking for.