How to ask a barber for the haircut you want
To get the haircut you want, bring two or three photos of it on hair like yours, say how much to take off in inches on top, and use the words barbers use for the sides: a fade blends to skin, a taper blends to short hair, and guard numbers set the length. Say how you style it day to day and speak up during the cut.
About 10 minutes to learnEveryday skill
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How to do it
- Save two or three photos of the cut you want, ideally on someone with similar hair type and hairline.
- Say how much length to take off the top in inches, or how long you want it left.
- Choose the sides: a fade blends down to skin, a taper blends down to short hair, and a guard number sets one length.
- Know the common guard lengths: a one is about an eighth of an inch, a two a quarter, a three three eighths and a four a half inch.
- Pick the neckline finish: squared off, rounded, or tapered to follow the natural hairline.
- Tell the barber how you usually style it and how much time you spend on it.
- Look during the cut and say something early if it is going shorter than you wanted.
Common mistakes
- Saying just a trim, which means something different to every barber.
- Staying quiet until the end when it is too late.
- Bringing a photo of a hair type very different from your own.
- Changing barbers every visit, so nobody learns your hair.
Quick self-check
Three questions. Your last score is kept in this browser.
Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to ask a barber for the haircut you want
What to say
To get the haircut you want, bring two or three photos of it on hair like yours, say how much to take off in inches on top, and use the words barbers use for the sides: a fade blends to skin, a taper blends to short hair, and guard numbers set the length. Say how you style it day to day and speak up during the cut.
What to show, in order
- Save two or three photos of the cut you want, ideally on someone with similar hair type and hairline.
- Say how much length to take off the top in inches, or how long you want it left.
- Choose the sides: a fade blends down to skin, a taper blends down to short hair, and a guard number sets one length.
- Know the common guard lengths: a one is about an eighth of an inch, a two a quarter, a three three eighths and a four a half inch.
- Pick the neckline finish: squared off, rounded, or tapered to follow the natural hairline.
- Tell the barber how you usually style it and how much time you spend on it.
- Look during the cut and say something early if it is going shorter than you wanted.
The check question
Ask: What is the difference between a fade and a taper?
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