Fear and Anxiety of Getting My First Hair Cut From a New Barber 

Having a great barber is key to living your best life. He is the guy that knows you, your hair, as well as what you want when you visit his barbershop. He always makes you feel and look amazing when you leave his barbershop. You have been going to him for years, and you rely on him to help you keep looking great. All of this gets shattered when you have to get a haircut from a new barber.

Maybe you relocated. Perhaps you are traveling and can no longer visit your best barber back home. There could be several reasons you may find yourself having to visit a new barbershop and get a haircut from a new barber for the first time. That cannot be very comforting. For some, it can even cause fear and anxiety. However, there’s no need to get stressed about getting your haircut from a new barber. Getting a great haircut from a new barbershop is possible. You need to follow these tips:

1. Tell Him Exactly What You Want

Just as you feel intimidated visiting a new barber for your first haircut, the barbers are also a little wary of new clients. Their goal is to do a great job, and they want the client to leave fully satisfied with their haircut. They know that it can be quite challenging to achieve on the first visit, so they try to do their best. You can help the new barber out by being as clear as possible when you tell him exactly how you want your hair cut. That will also ensure that you are satisfied with your new haircut. If you know what clipper setting your old barber typically goes with, let the new barber know. Otherwise, be specific about how you usually style your hair, how much length you want to be removed, as well as any other details that will help the barber do a better job.

2. Bring a Reference (or Two)

It is highly recommended that you bring along a magazine cutout of your favorite hair model celebrity. You can also use your phone to pull up a photo for reference. Scroll through your photos and find the one that features your best look; if the picture was taken right after a haircut, even better. If you don’t have a personal image that you can show for reference, use the internet to search for stock photos of your haircut. However, your photo is best as everyone’s look is unique.

Don’t be intimidated that you will somehow offend the barber or limit his creativity by providing a reference. That is an efficient way of communicating with a new barber as it gives him a visual idea of what you have already tried to explain so that he can quickly ‘get down to business.’

3. Communicate Mid-Cut

If you feel like the barber is not following your instructions correctly or you begin to notice that something looks off, say something. Don’t be hesitated to stop the barber during the cut to make sure that he understood what you want. Every barber uses his technique, so it’s not uncommon for the new barber to cut your hair differently to the way you are used to. His technology could make a difference. However, it is also possible that the barber misunderstood what you want. So, it is essential to communicate whenever possible. A skilled barber will appreciate your comments and adjust according to your specific needs. Just be sure you are polite about it. Screaming at a new barber about what might not even be a real issue is not a smart way to get an excellent service.

4. Be Patient

If you have recently moved and you are looking to get a haircut from a new barber, keep in mind that the magic might not happen on your first visit to a barbershop. It can take some time to find a barber that you like and who you know will always style your hair and help you maintain your look according to your preferences. So, unless you only plan to visit the barbershop once while you are away from home, it is highly recommended that you be patient.

Suppose your first haircut from a new barber wasn’t so great. Try revisiting the barbershop and explain what you did and did not like on your previous visit. A good barber will appreciate excellent communication and use your comments to do a better job. And if the barber still messes it up despite your explanation, don’t worry. There are many other barbershops to try out next time.

5. Have Realistic Expectations

Even the best barbershop in town cannot provide a great haircut out of thin air. It would be best if you had realistic expectations, and your haircut goals should stay within reason. A skilled and experienced barber should know how to adapt the hairstyle to the face of a client. For example, if you have thinning hair, the barber can provide products to fatten up your locks and help create the impression of fullness, but you are not going to leave with more hair than you had when you visited the barbershop.

Final Thoughts

Visit ratemybarber.com to find a new barber or barbershop in your area. Visiting a new barbershop and getting your first haircut from a new barber can be intimidating. But it doesn’t have to be. You can visit a new barbershop with confidence and ease your tension by merely following some specific tips. When it comes to getting a great haircut from a new barber, communication is the key. The more detailed you are when communicating, the better. Let the new barber know what you want, bring a reference photo to provide a visual idea, have realistic expectations, and be patient. Hopefully, following the tips mentioned above will help you get a great first haircut and have an excellent overall experience with your new barber.