c/barbers

Remember when we all used to fight with those thick necklines?

Back in my first shop in Tacoma, around 2008, we'd just go straight at it with clippers and hope for the best. The line was always a bit soft or choppy. After maybe a hundred bad fades, I tried holding my trimmer at a 45 degree angle and using the corner of the blade, not the flat part, to define the initial line. It sounds small, but it gave me a much sharper guide to work from. I could then flick out from that line with way more control. Has anyone else found a specific hand angle that made a tough spot click for them?

The difference in how we handle neck shaves now versus when I started in '08 is pretty wild

Question about the $150 barber chair caster upgrade

I dropped the money on those fancy heavy duty casters for my main chair about six months ago, thinking it would make moving around my station smoother. It actually made the chair wobble on my uneven floor and one of the wheels started sticking after a couple months, which is a real pain during a busy cut. Has anyone found a good fix for this or should I just go back to the basic ones?

Heard a client say he only trusts barbers who do a hot towel shave first

He was telling his friend in my chair that it shows we care about the whole experience, not just the cut. I've been offering it for a year now, but hearing that made me think I should mention it more when someone books. Do you find clients really notice those extra touches?

I finally understood why my regulars keep coming back after a chat with a client's kid

A dad brought his son in for a first haircut last week, and the little guy was nervous. While I was working, the dad told him, 'This is Mr. Lee, he's our family's barber.' It hit me that for a lot of people, especially the older guys in my chair, this isn't just a haircut. It's their place to talk and be known. That ten dollar tip isn't just for the fade. How do you build that kind of trust with a new client who seems quiet?

Hit 37 haircuts in a single day at the shop in Milwaukee

We had a huge event in town and the place was packed from open to close. I just kept my head down and worked through the list, not really counting. When I closed out my book, I saw the number 37. That's more than one cut every 15 minutes for a 9 hour shift. It mattered because it showed me my speed and flow are finally where they need to be after years of feeling too slow. I didn't rush anyone, but my moves were clean and I wasted no motion. My back hurt like hell, but it was a good kind of tired. Has anyone else had a day where the number of heads you did just shocked you?

A regular at my shop in Spokane said my fades looked 'rushed' on the sides

He pointed out I was taking too much off too fast with my 1.5 guard, leaving a harsh line. Now I start with a 2 and spend way more time blending down before I even touch the 1.5. Has anyone else had a client call them out on a specific part of their technique like that?

Switched from a straight razor to a shavette for neckline cleanups last month

I was at a barber meet in Austin and saw a guy get a perfect line on a tough beard with one, which made me try it. After three weeks of practice on my own neck, I'm getting way less irritation and sharper lines than with my old method. Anyone have tips for keeping the blade angle steady on curved jawlines?

I just hit 500 haircuts on my new booking app and the number surprised me

I switched to a new online booking system about eight months ago, mostly to cut down on phone calls. I logged in yesterday to check something and saw a little counter that said '500 appointments booked'. I had no idea it was tracking that. It hit me that's 500 times someone chose my chair, trusted my hands, and sat down for a conversation. It's not just a number, it's 500 individual stories and connections. Has anyone else had a simple stat from their business tools give them a real moment like that?

Am I the only one who sees barbers not properly sanitizing their clipper blades between clients?

I was getting a cut at a shop in Phoenix last week and watched the barber just blow hair off the blades with his air hose before starting on me, which is a huge health code violation and a quick way to spread skin infections.

Just read that the average barber career lasts over 20 years, which is way longer than I thought.

Saw it in a trade magazine article from last month. Makes you think about the long haul, what's the oldest pair of shears you've ever seen still in use?

Hit my 500th 'just a little off the top' request yesterday

I was keeping a tally on a sticky note as a joke, but I actually filled the whole thing. It happened with a regular who comes in every three weeks and always, without fail, says those exact words. I guess it's the haircut equivalent of ordering a plain cheese pizza. Anyone else have a phrase they hear on repeat that makes them smile?

Just hit 1000 haircuts in my book since opening my shop in Austin

Honestly, I didn't even realize I was close until I was updating my client notes last night. It hit me that I've done that many cuts in just under two years, mostly from regulars and their friends. It's a big deal because I started with just one chair and a lot of doubt. Has anyone else hit a number that made you stop and think about how far you've come?

My regular in Denver asked for a skin fade with a hard part, then wanted it gone

Last week, a guy named Mark came in for his usual cut and asked for a sharp hard part to go with his fade. I did it clean, but when he looked in the mirror he said it was 'too much' and asked me to blend it out. Three years ago at my old shop in Cleveland, a hard part was a sign of a solid barber. Now I see more guys wanting the faded look without the clear line. Is the classic hard part going out of style, or are clients just getting pickier?

Walked into a barbershop in Austin and the vibe was just... off

I was visiting my sister last week and needed a trim, so I popped into this spot on South Congress. From the outside it looked cool, but inside it was dead quiet. No music, no chatter, just the buzz of clippers. The barbers weren't talking to each other or the clients, just staring straight ahead at the mirror. It felt more like a doctor's office waiting room than a shop. I got my cut from a guy who was technically good, but the whole experience was so stiff I couldn't relax. My neck was sore from sitting so tense. It made me realize how much the atmosphere matters, maybe as much as the cut itself. How do you guys build a comfortable vibe in your own shops without forcing it?

Unpopular opinion: my $300 clippers broke after just 8 months

I bought a set of premium cordless clippers last spring, and the motor gave out yesterday right in the middle of a skin fade. I had to finish the cut with my old backup pair, which felt pretty rough. Has anyone else had a high-end tool fail on them way too soon?

Just realized I was sharpening my shears wrong for months

I was trying to fix a pull on my right-handed 6.5 inch shears and spent 3 hours last Tuesday before I finally got the angle right. Anyone else have a go-to sharpening method for left-handed tools?

PSA: I used to think charging more for a skin fade was a no-brainer, but a client changed my mind.

I was talking with a regular, a guy named Mike who comes in every two weeks, and he brought up my pricing. I charge an extra $8 for a skin fade, which I figured was fair for the extra time and skill. He said, 'Patricia, I come here because you do a great fade every time. Charging extra for it feels like you're penalizing me for wanting the cut you're best at.' That hit different because he wasn't complaining about the price itself, but the message it sent. In my experience, a good fade is the core of a modern men's cut, not an add-on. It made me rethink my whole menu. I'm dropping the upcharge starting next month. Has anyone else moved to a flat rate for fades?

Heard a client in my chair call a classic taper 'basic' and it got me thinking

I finally figured out how to get a clean neckline on really curly hair after three frustrating months of trial and error.

Turns out the trick was using a trimmer with a zero-gap blade and a much lighter touch than I was used to, so has anyone else had to completely change their technique for a specific hair type?

Showerthought: I gave a client a full-on skin fade with a 0.5 guard open and it looked way too harsh.

He had really pale, sensitive skin and the contrast was just too stark, made the cut look almost unfinished. I ended up going back over it with a 1 guard closed to soften the blend, which saved the haircut but added 15 minutes. Anyone have a better technique for blending on very light skin tones?

Walked into a shop in Austin that had a 'no talking' policy for clients

I was visiting a friend and popped into this trendy spot on South Congress. The barber pointed to a sign that said 'Quiet Cuts, $45' before I even sat down. He did a great fade, but the whole vibe felt like a library, not a barber shop. I get wanting focus, but isn't half the job about the chat? Has anyone else worked in a shop with a rule like that?

Update on that 'dry shear' cutting method I saw online

I kept seeing barbers on social media talk about cutting hair dry before washing, saying it gives you a better shape. I always thought it was just a gimmick for videos. Last month, a regular client with really thick, wavy hair came in and asked me to try it. I was worried the hair would move too much, but I went for it. After cutting it dry, I washed and styled it, and the shape held perfectly. It actually saved me about 15 minutes of blending work after the wash. The way the hair fell naturally showed me exactly where the weight was. Has anyone else tried this on specific hair types and had good results?

Showerthought: A client in Denver asked for a 'hard part' but his hair growth went the wrong way

I was lining him up with my trimmer and saw his natural part grew straight back from his forehead, not to the side. I had to choose between forcing the line against the grain or talking him into a different style. I showed him in the mirror how it would look and he went with a softer textured part instead. Has anyone else had to talk a client out of a cut that just wouldn't work with their hair?

Had a guy come in for a skin fade last week and the clipper guard slipped off halfway through. Had to blend out a huge step with just the open blade, took like 20 extra minutes lol