Every man needs a reliable, skilled barber in his life. Having a regular barber will ensure you get a consistent, sharp, haircut with every visit.

Good barbers have a memory like an elephant. As you visit a reputable barber regularly, he will become familiar with the many contours of your head, the complexities of your hair type, and will know how to cut and style your hair just the way you like it. You will be able to walk in and simply ask for “the usual.” Plus, your barber can become a good friend, someone you can be comfortable shooting the breeze with and look forward to seeing every few weeks.

Finding the right barber is vital for any man who wishes to maintain a well groomed appearance. Having the same reliable barber for many years reduces the stress that comes from getting your hair cut by someone you do not know.

But how does a man go about forging this important relationship and finding a good barber? How do you know when a barber is a keeper? The following are some tips that you can use to choose your barber at Gentlemen’s Barbershop.

Ask Family and Friends

If you are new in town or are not happy with your current barber situation, the first thing you should do is ask people you know for recommendations. Especially seek out recommendations from men who always seem to have great haircuts. Chances are they have a good barber that would be more than happy to recommend to you.

Ask our receptionist for suggested barbers. Be sure to tell the receptionist what type of hair you have, what day of the week works best for you, if you prefer a male or a female barber, or any other questions that you would like answered. Some men choose by the amount of small talk they can make while cutting hair. If you do not like making small talk, ask for a barber that will quietly cut your hair.

Look for Confidence

This is a person you are going to trust your image to, so you want a barber who is supremely confident in his abilities to sculpt your hair into a masterpiece. Confident barbers will look you in the eye, smile, and give you a firm manly handshake when you first walk in. If a barber you visit for the first time avoids eye contact and give you the limp fish, it could be a warning sign that he is not that confident in his abilities. You also want a barber who can confidently tell you what would work best for you depending on your requests and your face shape/structure.

Personal Presentation

Give a new barber the once over. How is his personal grooming? Is his shirt pressed and clean? This kind of attention to detail will likely carry over into the haircuts he gives. A great barber takes his personal appearance seriously because he’s in the business of helping men with their personal and professional image.

Be Specific

Remember to be very specific about the cut you want when seeing a barber for the first time. Some men bring in photos to further illustrate their desires. For example, do you prefer a neckline that is “natural/tapered” or rather one that is “straight or rounded.”

Get to Know Your Barber

When you visit a new barber, he is essentially applying for a new position as the go-to man for all your grooming needs. Get to know your new barber on a personal level. Focus your question on two areas: the barber’s experience and the barber’s personality.

To get an idea of the barber’s experience ask him how long he has been cutting hair,  where he has barbered, and generally how busy he is. Great barbers have lots of clients. If he tells you he is on his feet from open until close and that you need an appointment to see him, you have probably found yourself a quality barber. If he says that he spends most of his time playing checkers and that you can walk in any time, well there is probably a reason for that.

After you get an idea of his experience and how in demand he is, ask some questions to get a feel for his personality. After all, you will possible be spending 30 minutes with this person at least once a month, maybe more if you go in every to weeks. Part of the appeal of the barbershop tradition is the camaraderie men enjoy there.

Change Barbers if Needed

If you are unhappy with how the barber cuts your hair, switch to a new one. You have no obligation to continue seeing him if you do not like the way that he handles your hair.

Age Matters

Looking for a barber to cut your child’s hair? Where you take your son or daughter for their first haircut is a critical decision! One bad haircut experience could mean years of difficult trips to the barber shop. At Gentlemen’s Barbershop we have Master Barbers who specialize in cutting children’s hair and enjoy working with younger clients. If you are making an appointment for a child under the age of 5 for the first time at Gentlemen’s, we highly suggest you start them off with one of these barbers!