The Stylist’s Guide to a Great Haircut

Worrying about a haircut isn’t something that only women go through—many men have similar anxiety, too. But getting a great haircut is actually a lot easier than most people think. Our friends at American Crew recently wrote “The Guys Guide to a Great Haircut” that talks about six tips a male customer should keep in mind to ensure he gets the style he wants, every time.

Their list; however, actually applies to stylists as well. After all, both the customer and you, as their stylist, need to be openly communicating and setting realistic expectations. So let’s take a quick look at their list and see which “tips” apply to stylists.

• Over-Communicate: A lot of stylists expect the customer to gush every detail about what type of haircut and style he or she is looking for. However, that’s not always the case—for a number of reasons. As a stylist, your job is to connect with the customer through the consultation to determine exactly what the customer wants. Ask questions about the customer’s lifestyle, expectations, etc.
• Be Specific: As the article mentions, what the customer thinks is a “trim” might be completely different from what you consider a trim. If the customer provides broad, generic requests, ask for clarification.
• Be Realistic: We all want to look like movies stars. But that’s not realistic. What looks good on the movie screen and in magazines isn’t always realistic for everyone. You’re the expert, so if the customer requests a style that might not work for his hair type, let him know so.

For many male customers, getting a haircut is much more than simply walking into a salon and getting a buzz cut. The days of males not worrying about their hair are over. Your job as a stylist is to ensure you’re providing your customer a relaxed environment where they can receive a quality haircut. Ask questions and make sure you and your customer both have the same expectations set before you begin the cut. Getting a haircut your customer likes is very important, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.

What other tips do you have? How do you ensure you and your male customers are on the same page?