The men’s grooming industry has shifted in a very good direction over the last few years. Modern man-caves (that serve coffee!) have sprouted up around the metro, barber shops now have cool fancy names, and barbers are even in more demand it’s so hard to fill up chairs. Needless to say, this has encouraged guys to go on that special quest to find the perfect barber.
Finding the right barber for you makes sure that you have a consistent haircut every visit. It’s as important as finding your brand and sticking to it, so let’s talk about how to know if your current haircutter is the right one for you. If you haven’t got one just yet, then this is perfect timing. Let’s break down The Art of Manliness’ tips on how to pick a barber.
TIP #1: HE SHOWS CONFIDENCE
You’d want someone who’s confident with himself and his abilities. After all, this barber will be the one in charge of making you look good. Someone who knows what they’re doing will give you a firm handshake, straight answers, and honest ones too. You can also tell a good barber knows how to style himself.
TIP#2: HE KNOWS HIS STUFF
A barber who has little idea about the men’s grooming business will do exactly what you say, no matter if this will make you look good or not. Don’t take confidence if he’s the “Ok sir, kung ano’ng gusto niyo” type of guy. That’s perfect if you’re not particular about how you’re going to look like when you step out of the barber shop, but if you’re serious about maintaining your image, then take this advice.
TIP#3: HE ASKS THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
A good barber will ask for your feedback during and after your haircut. Master barber Von Jackson says a good barber will say things like, “What do you like about your hair?”, “What don’t you like?”, or “Do you want to change your style?”. During and after your session, he could ask things like, “Ok ba sa’yo ganitong haba?”, and “Ok ka na ba sa gupit mo sir?”.
The right barber will want your buy-in on your haircut, even during the session to prevent unwanted results. Of course, a bad one will wait until the end so you’re left feeling short-changed.
TIP #4: YOU ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Not all barbers are talkative and like to talk shop. An expert barber might even be quiet, so it’s important that you ask the questions. What else does this get you? You get to gauge how reliable he is, how dedicated he is to his craft (and job!), and if you can count on him to be there the next time you come in for your usual cut.
For example you can ask the following questions:
“Bro, ilang taon ka nang barbero dito?” (Bro, how many years have you been a barber here?”)
“Gusto ko kasi ng ganitong gupit, sa tingin mo, bagay ba sa akin?” (I like this haircut, but do you think it suits me?”)
“Saan ka nang barber shops nanggaling?” (Which barber shops have you worked in before?”)
TIP #5: YOUR BARBER SHOULD RECOMMEND THE RIGHT GROOMING TIPS AND PRODUCTS
A good barber recommends GATSBY products (*wink, wink*) and grooming tips that are actually helpful. Seriously speaking, barbers who know their stuff know a lot of grooming hacks that are good for their loyal customers. Whether it be styling pomade, gel, hair spray, styling wax, or even hair treatment, he should know how to guide you in maintaining your ‘do.
Finding the right barber 4 you gives you that extra boost of confidence as soon as you get up the chair and face the world.
Sources:
ArtofManliness.com, How to Pick a Barber