Face it – that $20 haircut chop shop at the mall was fine when you were in college, but out here in the land of grown-ups, a high-end salon cut is the way to go. You and your hair will look better, the cut will last longer and enable your hair do what you want it to do, versus the other way round. Sound good? OK, then you’re ready to take the next step:-- Seeing is believing, so ask your guy friends who cuts their hair – but ask a guy whose hair shares some similarity with yours. For example, our slow-growing hair is thin at best, so we asked a well-coiffed balding friend for a recco. He sent us to his stylist, who granted costs three times more than the chop shop, but guess what? The cut is easily thee times better because we don’t have to go as often and the cut holds its shape far longer.
-- Have a consultation with a stylist. Tell them about your style and the image you wish to project. If the stylist is thinking a classic George Clooney Caesar cut, and you’re thinking Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson, well, Houston, there’s gonna be a problem, so talk it out in detail first. Also let the stylist know how you usually style your hair, how much time you’re willing to spend on it, if you’re comfortable using a few hair products or if you’re more of a wash-and-go guy.
-- Bring in some visual aids – that is, a few pictures of celebrity hairstyles that you like. While not all celeb cuts will work on you, the pictures will help guide the stylist in the direction of a cut that will work with the shape of your face, the texture of your hair and lifestyle. For inspiration, and more hairstyles for men than you ever imagined, check out this extensive archive of celebrity men’s hairstyles, and print out a few options: http://coolmenshair.com/2007/08/celebrities-hairstyles.html
-- Share your darkest secrets – about your hair that is. Before they bust out the scissors, tell the stylist about any follicular challenges you might have – like cowlicks and thinning patches – so the stylist can work with them. Chances are a pro will be able to spot them anyway, but it can’t hurt to give the stylist the heads up before they start cutting.
-- Share the wealth, and tip like a grown-up – it’s the polite thing to do, particularly if you plan to become a regular customer. In general, a stylist should be tipped 15 – 20% of their bill. So if the cut is $65, the stylist tip should be about $10 -$12. And don’t forget to slip a five to the assistant who washed your hair.
