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Properly asking your barber for the haircut you want is the easiest and fastest way to ensure a positive experience at your next barbershop appointment. Understanding and using barber terminology can provide specific, meaningful instruction, allowing you to communicate effectively and avoid disappointment. In this expert guide, we will teach you how to tell your barber what you want.

The Best Tips For Effectively Communicating With Your Barber

Choose A Hairstyle

Choosing a hairstyle may seem simple, but it can be tricky if you don’t understand barber terminology. The fastest way to get started is to search for photo examples of haircuts on our website and then read the associated description to understand the language.

Some modern and classic haircuts complement particular hair types, lengths and facial features. A pompadour is most suitable for straight, thick hair, while a thick fringe can be a stylish look for guys with fuller straight, wavy or curly hair.

Furthermore, a hairstyle can shorten or elongate your head shape. If you have a round face, visually elongate it with a cut featuring longer hair on top, shorter sides and a full beard. Ask your barber for short- to medium-length hair and maintain a clean-shaven face or trimmed beard to shorten a longer face.

Your lifestyle can also impact the perfect haircut for your needs. Athletes or individuals who work outdoors will find that short styles like the buzz cut, comb over, and textured crop top fade keep them cooler with minimal styling effort required. The crew cut, side part or slick back may be a better choice if you work in a professional setting.

The Difference Between A Taper and A Fade

The difference between a taper and a fade is the classic taper blends from short to shorter hair lengths on the sides and back, while a fade seamlessly transitions into the skin on your head. Also known as a taper fade, a taper haircut is a versatile, timeless look that works well for casual and formal occasions, exuding sophistication and modern charm. The fade, like a skin or bald fade, is a modern haircut that involves using clippers and then a shaver to cleanly blend the sides and back.

When asking your barber for a taper or fade, you’ll need to determine where the tapering process begins — low, mid or high. You can also tailor the cut by communicating that you want a skin/bald, drop, burst, or temp fade.

Learn About Different Guard Numbers

Clipper guards are accessories that determine how short the clipper will cut your hair. Guard numbers range from 0 (no guard) to 10 or 12 (depending on the clipper brand). Each jump in guard size represents 1/8 of an inch of length. If a number 0 guard clips to the skin, then 1 is 1/8 of an inch, 2 is 1/4 of an inch, 3 is 3/8 of an inch, 4 is 1/2 of an inch, and so on. The higher the guard number, the longer your hair will be. Ask your barber to start with a higher guard number and cut shorter if you want to experiment with different lengths.

Determine Your Neckline Haircut

A neckline haircut can be tapered, squared or rounded to create the perfect finish in the back. Your neckline will dramatically affect the finished look but can also give the haircut more longevity.

A squared neckline features a straight line across the nape with sharp corners at the edges. A rounded neckline also cuts straight across but features rounded corners to soften the look. A tapered neckline follows the hairline as it exists, leading to a more natural look. A tapered back will also mean you can wait a little longer between cuts.

Talking To Your Barber About The Haircut You Want

After researching, learning the language, and determining how you want your hair to look, the next step is to express yourself to your barber. There are several essential points to cover.

• Length: Tell the barber how long you want your hair on the top, sides, and back.
• Gradient: Explain whether you prefer a taper (taper fade), a fade, or the same length all over your head, such as a classic buzz cut.
• Style: Describe how you prefer to style your hair, including factors like your preferred part placement, the amount of product to use, and how much time you have to style your hair regularly. You can also discuss your needs or lifestyle and ask for recommendations by saying: “I want a short, low-maintenance cut with a mid fade on the sides; what do you think would work well for me?”
• Neckline: Express your preference for a rounded, squared, or tapered neckline.
• Overall Aesthetic: Provide adjectives that communicate how you want your hair to look. Some descriptive words include modern, classic, business professional, edgy, easy and layered.

Bring Photo Examples

During your research, save three or four photos representing your desired haircut, remembering that only some cuts suit some hair types or faces. Your barber should be able to explain why a particular style may not look the same on you as it does in the photo. Some barbers may be able to tailor the cut in an image to your hair and face, but this is only sometimes the case.

Explain what you like best about each photo, such as how the hair flows, the layering or the neckline, so your barber can understand how to meet your needs and preferences. Don’t forget to take a photo of your new cut if you like it, as this can be invaluable for your next barber appointment.

Ask Your Barber For Advice

Ask your barber for advice on which haircuts and styles will look best for your hair type, head shape or facial features. They are professionals who have worked with countless people, and they can use their experience to recommend cuts, styles, and techniques that complement your unique features.

You can ask your barber how a specific cut might fit into your office job, whether a cut suits your favorite hobby, and which haircuts are versatile enough for casual wear during the day and more formal wear in the evening.

Attracting customers to your barbershop is the most fundamental way to build a successful business. In an increasingly competitive market, growing your client base starts with great haircuts and excellent customer service, but also requires creating an inviting atmosphere, strategically positioning your brand to stand out, connecting with your community and retaining high-value patrons. Understanding your potential customers, learning to address their needs and effectively marketing to them can get you more clients as a barber.

In this guide, you’ll learn the best and smartest ways to attract more of the right customers to your barbershop. These tips will allow you to grow a loyal clientele and develop a thriving business, whether you’re a seasoned owner or a new barber wanting to set up shop.

How To Think About The Marketing Process

As a barbershop, your customers are the backbone of your business. Learning to attract and turn customers into loyal clients is essential to your success. When you think about your barbershop marketing, there are four critical steps to consider.

Step 1: Know and Understand Your Market

Determining your market starts with understanding your community, its demographics and needs. How many people live in your area and what percentage are males? What is their average age? What kinds of hair trends are popular in the community? Will your shop be a family-friendly establishment? Do you cut men’s hair, women’s hair, or both? It can be tempting to appeal to everyone, but it can often backfire and leave you without a specific brand identity.

Dividing your market into segments puts potential customers into groups based on their common interests. Segmentation makes tailoring your marketing and services to meet specific needs easier. For example, if your primary market segment is Black men between the ages of 25 and 70, you can offer and market services they are most likely to seek, such as haircuts, shaves, and beard care.

Step 2: Define High-Value Customers

High-value customers are those who are most likely to have a positive impact on your barbershop’s bottom line. These people openly appreciate your skills and pay you a fair price. These valuable customers also provide word-of-mouth advertising by recommending your barbershop to their friends and family.

Most importantly, high-value customers return to your barbershop when they need a service you provide. According to customer retention statistics, 65% of a company’s business comes from repeat customers, and 80% of the revenue generated comes from a mere 20% of a business’s customer base.

Step 3: Create and Tailor Your Services

After identifying your ideal customer, list things the customer will likely want and compare those factors to the services established barbers in the area already provide. Look for ways to fill gaps in the market, whether that involves offering a different service altogether or improving on an existing service.

The most common services include haircuts, hair care, braid installation, shaves, eyebrow-related services, hair coloring, permanents and relaxers, and custom hair designs.

Some barbershops offer membership services that save customers money on the services they need most. For example, instead of paying $30 every week for a shave, you may consider offering up to four hair and face services a month for $100.

Step 4: Test and Get Feedback

After tailoring your services to your ideal market, pay close attention to how your customers respond. If you are receiving complaints, determine why your customers are not thrilled with the service. If your customers rave about your service and recommend it to their friends, family, and colleagues, you are on the right track.

Surveys and questionnaires are some of the best ways to collect customer feedback. Surveys should take less than two minutes to complete, ask yes or no questions, and provide consumers with ample space to write about their experiences. You can even offer a small discount on your services in exchange for a completed survey.

Every business across every industry receives criticism and complaints at some point. These complaints do not indicate failures; instead, they are learning experiences. When you receive a complaint, pay close attention to what you could have done better and implement those changes in the future.

The Most Effective and Affordable Ways To Get More Clients For Your Barbershop

Create Your Brand

Cultivating a brand identity involves much more than designing a logo and putting a sign on the door. Your brand tells the world who you are and helps you stand out from your competitors. What are your business values? Do you want to provide a classic barbershop experience complete with the red and blue pole, or do you want to provide a more modern and trendy experience? Successful barbershop branding is all about building a comprehensive image, from your logo and brand colors to the atmosphere inside your shop.

Start A Website To Build An Online Presence and Get Reviews

A user-friendly website is essential to your barbershop’s success. The well-designed site should reflect your style and show visitors what makes your shop unique. At the bare minimum, your website should include the following pages:

• Homepage: A homepage introduces your barbershop and provides access to other pages through a straightforward navigation menu.
• About Us: The “About” page allows you to tell your customers who you (and your employees) are on a more personal level. Including professional headshots and a short biographical snippet makes your barbershop appear more approachable.
• Gallery: Your Gallery should include some of your very best work for every service you provide. You can also include reviews and testimonials alongside these images.
• Services: The Services page lists every service you offer, from haircuts to custom designs. This page allows potential customers to confirm that your barbershop can meet their needs.
• Appointment Scheduling: Giving website visitors an opportunity to schedule their appointments online can convert those visitors into paying customers. Be sure to include all the relevant information, including prices, your cancellation policy, and the available payment methods.

There are countless benefits associated with creating and launching a website for your barbershop. Not only does your site affirm your brand’s identity, but it also improves your visibility, helping more people find your barbershop when they want or need your services.

A quality website builds trust and credibility with your community and even opens the door to new digital marketing opportunities with standard and local search engine optimization (SEO).

Use Social Media To Showcase Your Barbershop and Skills

Consumers use social media to discover and connect with businesses in every industry, including barbershops. Creating and maintaining social media accounts across popular platforms is one of the best ways to engage with potential customers, show off your best work, and build a following. Sharing photos and videos on platforms like Instagram, Facebook and even YouTube showcases the quality of your cuts and services.

One of the most significant benefits associated with social media is the ability to reach your target audience. You can input preferences such as location, age, and interests to narrow down your marketing efforts and make every post count. You can even engage in two-way communication with your audience, allowing you to answer questions, address concerns, and build relationships within your community.

Create A Yelp Page and Google Business Profile

According to recent data, 35% of consumers look to online reviews before booking an appointment. As many as 88% of those consumers said they would not visit a barbershop with less than a four-star rating.

Creating a free business profile with Yelp, the most popular online platform allowing consumers to rate and review local businesses, gives consumers an easy way to find and write reviews. s

A Google Business Profile allows you to list your barbershop with the nation’s largest search engine, making connecting with your ideal audience more effortless than ever. Listing essential information, such as your location, phone number, hours of operation, and website, allows consumers to locate all the information they need in just seconds.

You can even create posts on your Google Business Profile to promote your grand opening, reveal discounts and special offers, and keep existing and potential customers updated.

Invest In A Stylish Barber Shop Interior Design

Getting customers in the door is only one part of your barbershop marketing. Providing a memorable and comfortable experience inside the shop is equally important. Your barbershop’s atmosphere and interior design reinforce your branding efforts in a way that attracts and retains customers and staff.

A vintage aesthetic might include ample wood, checkered tile floors, and a classic barber pole. An industrial shop might have high ceilings, exposed pipes, and chrome or stainless finishes.

A modern or contemporary barbershop offers more flexibility, allowing you to choose bold colors and sleek, comfortable furniture. Some barbershops choose a specific theme, such as an old-school motorcycle vibe or a Vegas-inspired aesthetic complete with neon lights.