Getting a haircut - Really not that simple!

[Drogo]

I have not had a "professional" haircut since 1997. I've also been combing my hair the same way since 1960ish. Parted on the left and combed over to the right like 5 million other guys.

What are the rules? How much of a tip for a 16 dollar cut? How do you tip if you pay with a debit card? My three favorite restaurants have a place on the tab to indicate the amount when I pay and the wait person gets the tip at the end of the shift.

The most difficult part is getting a change in style. Do I take a picture or ask to just cut it in a way the stylist thinks looks good for my head?

 

[shivkala]

Good questions! I think I overtip with the barber, but if he does a good job, then I want him to remember me and keep doing a good job (I've suffered a few bad haircuts in my time).

As for the style, if you know of a style you want to try, bring a picture. But, it depends on the place. A good place will usually tell you what will work best with your hair. I usually go to a barber, for a cut cut, but you might want more of a stylist, at least the first time. Personally, I prefer a smaller non-chain place where it's family owned. They're usually cheaper and friendlier, in my experience than a national chain.

 

[RoJoHen]

My haircuts cost no more than $15. I usually tip about $3. Not sure about the rest as I haven't changed my style since I was about 14.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I haven't had a haircut in 4 1/2 years.

 

[Drogo]

I haven't had a haircut in 4 1/2 years.

Do you shave the back of your neck?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I haven't had a haircut in 4 1/2 years.

Do you shave the back of your neck?

That too, yeah.

 

[Trekker4747]

I have not had a "professional" haircut since 1997. I've also been combing my hair the same way since 1960ish. Parted on the left and combed over to the right like 5 million other guys.

What are the rules? How much of a tip for a 16 dollar cut? How do you tip if you pay with a debit card? My three favorite restaurants have a place on the tab to indicate the amount when I pay and the wait person gets the tip at the end of the shift.

The most difficult part is getting a change in style. Do I take a picture or ask to just cut it in a way the stylist thinks looks good for my head?

You tip a barber/hair stylist with a credit card the same way you tip a waiter with a credit card. On the credit-card slip there's a line for the tip and under that line a line for the total (tip+the cost of the haircut.)

A good tip? I'd say $2 or $3. I normally do $4.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I hate everything about getting a haircut. I hate having to sit with a stranger. I hate having to tip someone for doing their job. I hate having to tell somebody how I want my hair when I have no idea how hair should be. I hate when they ask me how it looks, like I am really going to tell them it sucks. Makes me long for the days when I was either bald or have a two foot ponytail.

 

[Middle Earther]

I have a genuine, old-fashioned, cash-only barber I go to. The haircut is $16 and I always tip him $2. That's Canadian, btw.

I also like him because he talks very little. We chat at the beginning, but neither of us feel obligated to talk the whole time.

 

[Captain Ice]

I've got two places I like. The difference is that I can get a shave at the more expensive place.

At the less expensive place, a cut is usually $12. I tip $3 there for a total of $15. The more expensive place charges $16, so I usually tip $4 for just a cut. A cut and a shave is $22, so I'll usually tip $5.

 

[JonathonWally]

My haircut is either $15 or $16, I give her a 20.

I don't really tell her what I want, usually just, "keep me lookin sexy" I go every 3 weeks for my set appointment.

My hair grows so fast I never have to worry about "a mistake" or anything.

She does great work, she's a pro, and she's an awesome person.

 

[Miss Chicken]

To have my hair trimmed costs about $AUD25 (about $US21). We don't tip in Australia.

 

[RoJoHen]

My haircut is either $15 or $16, I give her a 20.

I don't really tell her what I want, usually just, "keep me lookin sexy" I go every 3 weeks for my set appointment.

My hair grows so fast I never have to worry about "a mistake" or anything.

She does great work, she's a pro, and she's an awesome person.

I had a regular stylist when I was in high school, and I would always go back to her during breaks from college. Since I stopped going back home regularly, I've had to resort to the random haircut places around the area.

 

[CommodoreKong]

One of my neighbors runs a small hair business in her basement. I can just call her up, set up an appointment and walk over. Plus I only had to tell her how I wanted my hair once, which is really nice since I hated trying to remember how I wanted my hair when I would go to a store.

 

[Cap'n Crunch]

We just have a small town barber, one guy in a small building. Whenever my hair starts to reach my eyebrows I just get a "regular" for $8 (cash only), and I never tip. Another guy used to run the place years ago, and as a kid I always liked getting a hair cut because it felt good and comfortable. Even to this day I can almost fall asleep while getting one.

 

[backstept]

when I was a kid I went to Bob's Barbershop
Bob was this happy old guy who always said 'Good afternoon!' when we walked in, offered my dad some good coffee, sang along with the oldies on the radio, and when us kids were done with our haircuts he gave us a dime for the gumball machine

now Bob's has been replaced by a cheap cellphone store/pawn shop
I don't know what Bob is up to these days . . . possibly retired or even passed on . . . I miss going to see Bob the Barber