Barber Etiquette: Professional Tips for a Better Haircut Experience

Question
Dear Cleao,

I've had some bad luck with barbers all my life. The last one I had did my hair pretty good. A little shop in the hood. I gave him a tip of half the price of the cut. We knew each other from the neighborhood from years past, so I guess it was all good despite a surge in haters recently. One day I came in for a cut and he decided to trim my goatee too. He soon led me into the bathroom because I was bleeding and forgot about me there. I couldn't get someone to help me with a towel. I went back out and he was helping someone else. He turned around and sprayed alcohol on my face saying that it would help. I remember groaning from the burn. I was embarrassed. Sadly, I paid him and left never to return. I remember checking that one side of my head was not even with the other and only part of the hair on face was shaved away. I still see him around.

This new barber I have is at Astor Place in New York. Gives me a low tapered cut with a trim on top that I am very happy with. I made an appointment at 4pm today to see him. I come in. He's not around. I sit for several minutes and notice a man peer out from across the shop. It's him. We stare at each other and he disappears again. I go over to him a little bit and say, "What's up?" He kind of looks at me with disdain. I ask him if this is a bad time, and he says, I'm just messin' around. A guy ahead of me gets into the chair even though I made an appointment. He finally gets to me and for the first time leaves my bangs past my eyes. I tell him, no, that's not how we did it last time. You gave me a trim on top. He gives me a little bit of attitude, and I try to assuage it. Anyway, he's finished and I pay and go home.

Somehow I'm thinking barbers who abuse their power like this are dead wrong. I show respect towards my barbers. They take care of my head, and I'm grateful. I try to tip well. I know I am also guilty of not speaking up a whole lot more too. I can't figure it out. Maybe... I'm doing something wrong, or maybe I choose malcontent, miserable barbers. Could there be something I'm doing wrong? Is there some kind of code that customers have to speak to be treated in a courteous way by a barber? As it is my confidence in him is low, but a part of me does not want to leave this go again? What can I do?

Thanks for your time.
David.

Answer
Hello David let me first say as you already know not all barbers cut the same as well as act the same a lot of barbers though do get big headed when there clientele grows and people will only wait for them they tend to feel they can do what they want let me say first get a barber who cuts your hair the way you want but make sure you watch him clean each tool he uses on you even combs. Converse with him while he is cutting your hair to build a one on one bond even if it is only a bond while he cuts your hair each time, once he is done tip him well as you have been doing if the hair cut is $15.00 give him 20-$25 (the tip alone will get him to keep you first and makes him realize he needs to do good job every time he cuts you, trust me know barber wants to loose a good tipper) and lastly reassure that you will be back for your next cut. What barbers do not like is for one of there customers to bounce around to different barbers we call them chair hoppers or barbershop whores :) stick to one barber every time and if you do not like the way he cut your hair speak up but do not "knick pick". Also if you keep going to the same barber he knows what you want even before you sit down and it will be faster and the same way each time. Last thing if you can start coming in on a week day helps to barber shops are more busy on Fridays and Saturday so barbers tend to rush. Follow these rules and you should start having more pleasurable experiences at shops each time you go hope this helps need more questions answered feel free to ask.