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As the title goes, what is your usual request to the hairdresser? Do you have a specific style you ask for? Or do you keep a set of images so that you can show them what you want?

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[–] remon@ani.social 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Set the trimmer to between 0.5 and 1 cm and cut everything to that length.

I'm also my own hairdresser because doing it myself is faster than going to a hairdresser. Also it's free.

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 24 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I normally just ramble about how long it's been since I had it cut last, and give random conflicting instructions until they realise I don't know how I want it cut and they tune me out and just do whatever they want

Please don't hurt me.

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Asymmetrical bob with a side shave. Took a long time to settle on the haircut that feels like "me" and haven't looked back.

[–] 69420@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

...haven't looked back.

You can use two mirrors for that.

[–] Thaurin@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I haven’t been to a barber in decades. I just let it go. I’m male with long hair. Fuck style. This is my style.

[–] Blisterexe@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago

That's an approach a friend of mine has, I asked him about it and he shrugged and said "cheaper."

[–] Object@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

Not even trimmiing? I also keep mine somewhat long, but I occasionally get it "tidied up".

[–] BigBrainBrett2517@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I cut my own hair so: ..."Don't fuck it up. Don't fuck it up. Don't fuck it up. That's enough! Stop being pedantic."
Something like this.

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[–] lokalhorst@feddit.org 5 points 1 week ago

The same as last time please

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I have had my hair cut so many different ways I just show them a picture of my own hair cut how I want.

ETA: if it was such a good haircut it lasted over 6 months I sometimes say "just cut it in half" to get the same thing again.

With my current stylist I also ask her to please just leave it wet, she can cut curly hair all day but cannot style it, will leave looking like a current day Robert Smith.

[–] cobysev@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

When I was a kid, I just had a mop of hair on my head that I did nothing with except maybe comb it to untangle after a shower. I looked exactly like Bastian from The NeverEnding Story (1984). You could hold up a photo of me as a kid and that actor, Barret Oliver, and you couldn't tell which was which. Every time I went to the barber, my mother just requested they trim it a bit. Or she would do it herself at home.

Sometime in 8th grade, I requested a buzz cut, just to change things up. I requested a #2 on the sides and a #4 on top, while keeping the bangs a bit longer than the rest. It was cool to get your tips frosted when I was a kid, but I was never brave enough to do it. But I kept my bangs long in that style anyway.

When I was in the military, I usually requested a #1 on the back and sides, #2 or #4 on top, leave the front bangs area just a smidge longer than the rest, and taper the neck.

Note: In the US military, your hair can't touch your ears at all. So most military people will also have the hair trimmed away from their ears. I was fortunate in that no hair grows within a half-inch of my ears, so as long as I kept it buzzed, I didn't need to request a trim around the ears.

As long as I knew my wife, she always requested I grow my hair out. But I kept telling her I was in the military and couldn't have long hair. About 6 years into our marriage, she showed me a picture of Chris Evans in his Captain America role and said, "See? He's in the military and his hair isn't buzzed short. Grow it like this!"

Unfortunately, my hairline was already starting to recede a bit by that point and my bangs were super thin, so I couldn't grow my hair exactly like his. But I grew out the top, parted it on my right side, and sort of combed it up and back to blend my thinning hairline into the rest of my hair. Then I put a bunch of product in my hair to hold it in place.

Your hair isn't allowed to be messy in the military, and I have a problem with cowlicks when my hair is short. My hair grows straight out of my head, so it's always poofy. If it's cut short, it's not gonna sit flat against my head. So I needed lots of product to basically glue it in place while it was combed and parted.

So my new barber request was #1 on the back and sides (all the way up to the side part on the right), taper the neck, and just a light trim on top. Then put a bunch of styling cream in it to hold. I found a brand called "Mitch construction paste" (and later, I switched to a new one called "Blind Barber") that held firmly, but didn't turn my hair all crispy and hard. I could still run my fingers through my hair, and if it started to get messy, I could just wet and re-style it.

Then I retired from the military 4 years ago and decided I needed to get away from a military-style haircut. It was my last chance to enjoy longer hair before I potentially went bald.

I had a helluva hard time growing out my hair; every time it'd get shaggy, my military discipline would kick in and I'd run to the barber to clean it up, which just cut me back into a military-style haircut again.

Eventually, I decided the only fix was to shave it all off and start fresh. It took me about 6 months to re-grow my hair from completely bald, but it's finally grown out and no longer looking like I'm in the military. I basically went back to the "Bastian" hairstyle, but I kept it parted on the right side and comb the bangs back and over.

Nowadays, I just ask the barber to trim my hair and taper the back. Super simple. I comb and style it myself, so I don't need anything fancy at the barber. I don't use product anymore, because I don't need to keep my hair in immaculate condition. If it's a bit messy, it just looks more like a civilian hairstyle.

But without product, my hair is extra poofy. I almost have an Einstein look going on. My dad's hair was like that at the end of his life, so I wouldn't be surprised if my hair also continues to get crazier as I age.

[–] Object@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I suppose you miss the practicality of the military hair a bit? While I like my hair as is, I do miss how I used to be able to get out of shower within minutes and not having to dry them.

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[–] AliasVortex@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

4 on the top 2 on the sides is my go-to (or 3 and 1 in the summer). I'm not military, I just really like not having to fight with my hair before I leave the house.

[–] Elting@piefed.social 4 points 1 week ago

Cut to 3/4 inch and trim my neck twice a year. Keeps it simple and easy but never found a barber that understood why I would cut off 6 months of hair growth all at once for what most people consider to be a non-haircut. Keeps ones hair healthy and only takes a week or two for it to grow in enough to look natural.

[–] seathru@quokk.au 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Interesting, same with the call girl.

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[–] faethon@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I ask for a scene kid haircut. Still have yet to actually get one. They always do a nice job layering my hair and I'm usually happy enough with the results. Just no one seems to get what I'm asking for. Even if i show pictures.

[–] RBWells@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Not every style is possible with every hair type. One of my kids wanted a pixie and I told her "you can't go that short, your hair is coarse and thick like mine, it will just look bulky, it won't do what you are picturing."

She got the cut anyway and guess what? It was just bulky.

So it may be the same haircut with a different result. A bob on me is flat on top and wide like Rosanna Danna, my hair needs layers to be a nice shape. But my kids with thinner/finer hair can pixie or bob theirs with great results.

I will never be able to have bangs, hair is too curly for real bangs, not curly enough for curly bangs.

In short - there is no style possible for every head of hair, and no head of hair that can rock every possible style.

[–] velma@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Short in the back with long bangs in the front? I think a lot of that hairstyle is in the styling.

[–] Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

😭 it absolutely is too. I am still trying to figure out how a blow dryer works properly let alone a flat iron. The learning curve for hair is steep.

[–] kinship@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

As a former emo/scene kid. Most of us had the same problem you are describing but used razor blades to get the look.
Edit: It was not just a phase, it shaped who I am

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[–] 7uWqKj@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

"Make it look good" wtf else am I supposed to say

[–] Duchess@piefed.linenoise.vip 3 points 1 week ago

I do this as well. Have tried taking pictures but it never ends up like pictures so I learned to just trust the stylist and let them do their job.

Have more the once gotten a haircut that made me feel nervous and like I might get teased only to get a bunch of compliments instead so that’s reinforced this direction for me a lot.

[–] ValiantDust@feddit.org 2 points 1 week ago

"Just fuck my shit up" of course

[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 3 points 1 week ago

Number 1 back and sides and short on top

[–] impairedimperator@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

Do what looks nice, you know hair better than I do.

[–] stoy@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] Sergio@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago
[–] HurricaneLiz@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

As short as possible while still looking good growing out so I don't have to come back for 2 years

[–] yermaw@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

I learned this last week - 1 back and sides, short on top.

I just want pictures on the wall to point at

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 week ago

"A little off the top and sides. You know what? Let's take a little off the front and back as well!".

[–] hansolo@lemmy.today 2 points 1 week ago

walks in with stupid, ugly hair and sits in front of a total stranger

"Just give me a trim of what I have. Nothing crazy."

Looks great for a day, then turns stupid and ugly a week later.

[–] gastroglizzy@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago

Dry scissors. Parallel to the ground. Armpit length.

"the regular" is pretty decent in my experience.

"layered and trim the edges" are also good for maintenance.

I do it myself. Probably had someone else do it half a dozen times over the past 20 years, and a few of those were just letting my hairdresser friend have fun with my hair.

[–] Nemo@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 week ago

"There's a mole here and here so make sure they stay covered by longer hair."

[–] Hello_there@fedia.io 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Little off everywhere. Then the lady just does it the same way every time.
The lack of cognitive load from worrying about how it will come out is worth paying a premium.

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[–] northernlights@lemmy.today 2 points 1 week ago

"crew cut with a slightly longer money maker". That being said I've been cutting my hair myself for years. I just ask my daughter to finish the back of the neck.

[–] NickwithaC@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I have shoulder length hair so I usually just get the ends trimmed.

[–] MurrayL@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

‘Number four on back and sides, and then take about half off the top with scissors.’

[–] Alexstarfire@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Stop copying me.

[–] NABDad@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Flowbee user.

I don't have to request anything.

[–] BigGovernment@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have two strategies for barbers, one is to bring in photos. I've been told I look like Seth Rogen, so I looked through a bunch of his photos to find a haircut I liked. That way I had a decent idea what I'd look like with that haircut.

The second is to never switch barbers. It's nice to have someone who recognizes my preferences on the whole experience.

[–] white_nrdy@programming.dev 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have been going to the same barber for 7 years. I have only gotten cut once or twice by someone else I think, which was when I moved away for about 6 months for an internship, regretted it greatly. Stopped doing that, and just scheduled cuts when I visited back.

I couldn't tell you exactly what my haircut is. He knows it. I think it is a 3 or 4 on the back, 2 or 3 on the sides, and shorten the front/top.

[–] BigGovernment@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

I moved and had to switch about 4 years ago. I really considered driving 2+ hours back to my old barber.

I'm happy with my new barber, but switching was really uncomfortable.

[–] daggermoon@piefed.world 1 points 1 week ago

Just cut off all the dead shit.

[–] nandeEbisu@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

On a good day, number 3/4 on the back and sides depending on the season and trim the top. On a bad day, one pass straight across the carotid, Sweeney Todd style.

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