I’m at Salon Posta to get my haircut with David. I want to talk a bit about haircut etiquette and make sure you aren’t pissing off the people that are going to make you look sexy.
Stylist and barber etiquette to follow
- Be on time. Stylists and barbers have schedules; you could disrupt their day if you’re late. You can also rush them, and you want to get the best service possible.
- Know what you want BEFORE you arrive. The people cannot read your mind and don’t know what you want. You can help them by researching ahead of time and then asking for recommendations. Find styles that fit your hair texture, and bring pictures.
- Take pictures. After the stylist finishes, have them take pictures of your hair’s front, side, and back. That way, you have a reference if you go to somebody new.
- Don’t be inappropriate. You want to maintain a professional relationship. If you start to have appointments with the same person on a routine basis, you’ll develop a relationship. You’ll sit in their chair for 30-45 minutes and have conversations; sometimes, it can get personal. You don’t want to be inappropriate, however. This makes everybody uncomfortable.
- Put your phone away. Don’t take calls because that’s not appropriate, and it’s disrespectful. If you’re trying to talk, scroll, or text, your stylist can’t give you a proper haircut if you move. You don’t want your head jostling if they have a trimmer.
- Be clean. If you went to the gym, take a shower before your appointment. And avoid wearing too much fragrance.
- Use the restroom first. Ensure you use the bathroom before your appointment so you don’t have to get up midway through.
- Don’t wait until the end. Communicate what you want when the appointment starts. If you wait until the end, they must go back and re-blend, almost like cutting your hair all over again. This could double the time.
- Don’t show up sick. If you’re sick, stay home. Call in advance as well.
- No hoverers. Don’t have anyone come to your appointment and hover over your hair.
- Make an appointment before you leave. Book an appointment based on how long your hair takes to grow. Many guys make the mistake of waiting too long, and sometimes, it’s difficult to get in with your stylist.
- Tip (properly)! Depending on the cost of your haircut, tip your stylist or barber between $5 and $20. Keep in mind that if you go too low, it can be offensive. If you go to a higher-end salon or barber, $20 is acceptable. If they take you and squeeze you in, you also need to increase the tip amount.
