Finding a good barber is not always easy, however, there are several ways you can improve your odds. This barber will need to be talented, insightful, honest, consistent, up to date on the latest techniques, and hopefully, be located close to your residence.
Finding a great place to get a haircut can be an incredible investment in the long run. It’s not just about looking your best; it’s about knowing you will look your best month after month, year after year. A talented, trustworthy barber can change the way others see you and how you see yourself. By implementing these seven tips, it’s only a matter of time before you find a barber that’s the perfect fit for you.
1. Ask a Friend For a Recommendation
If you have a friend in your neighborhood who always has great hair, ask them where they get their hair cut. This is not only the fastest way to find a great barber, but for many people, it is also the easiest. Word of mouth is often the best way to find local gems, so next time you see your friends with good haircuts, grab their barber’s name and number.
2. Read Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are often the most accurate source of information when assessing a new barber. Positive reviews are a positive sign, but be wary of negative ones. While one or two negative reviews may not paint an honest picture, consistently bad reviews may tell you everything you need to know without ever setting foot inside the shop.
3. Find the Busiest Barber Shop in Town
A busy barber shop is often one that is filled with happy customers. If you find that it takes a little bit of time to get an appointment and that you can’t expect to walk in and get a haircut, chances are you’re on the right track. When a barber shop is busy, chances are that it has several returning customers, not just new ones. A loyal following is indicative of high-quality cuts and excellent service.
4. Follow Barbers on Social Media
Social media has proven time and time again to be an incredibly powerful tool, and that applies to finding the barber of your dreams. Search social media to find barbers in your area, especially those with a significant following. Barbers often post photos of their work or repost photos their clients have shared. Not only will you be able to see the different types of cuts your prospective barber delivers, but you’ll be able to see how they interact with their followers and clients. If a barber does great work and has excited clients filling up the comments, that’s a really good sign that they may be worth checking out.
5. Ask For What You Want
No matter how good a barber may be, they are probably not a mind reader. That’s why it’s important to be clear about asking for what you want to set both you and your barber up for success. It’s impossible to underestimate the value of bringing reference photos along for your first cut with a new barber. Even the best barber alive cannot give you the perfect if they don’t clearly understand what you want. Additionally, if your barber begins doing something that you don’t like, be sure to speak up. Your barber wants you to be happy with the result, so they’ll appreciate you politely letting them know if you’d like them to make changes.
6. Observe Barber Shop Practices
There are a few more nuanced ways to spot the perfect barber, and they require a visit to the barbershop. First, observe how long clients remain in the chair. Fifteen to twenty minutes isn’t always enough time to get a high-quality cut. A good barber takes the necessary time to pay attention to detail and make every cut a great cut. Also, keep an eye out for the products a barber shop uses. Good quality products are telling about the caliber of service a barber shop aims to deliver.
7. Choose a Spot and Try It
This last tip is a gamble, but when all else fails it’s reliable at the very least. Choose a spot that appears to be a good fit and give it a try. Sometimes it’s the only way to know for sure if a barbershop is right for you. All of the research in the world isn’t a substitute for experience, and eventually, you’ll need a haircut. The worst case scenario is that it takes a month or two to grow out a cut you don’t love, but the best case scenario is that you’ve found the perfect barber.
Hopefully, these seven tips have provided some insight into your next haircut. At 20th Salon and Barber, we’re happy to put these tips together for clients all over the United States. But if you’re looking for a San Francisco barbershop with the most talented stylists, we’re here for you. Stop by and see what all the hype is about!
