Marcus and I even go to the same barber, although I have a slightly better haircut.

March 28, 2006 7:00 AM

Haircuts for guys. There are tons of sites/pictures/info on women's haircuts, little for men. What are some sites for inspiration for my next cut?

Gentlemen, do you leave new cut ideas in the hands of the professional, or do you go somewhere for an idea of what you want when you're ready for a change?

posted by striker to clothing, beauty, & fashion (21 comments total)

I would advise going to a moderately priced hairdresser who has a good qualification. Also, take some idea of what style you want, but only if you are sure that the style will be . Using that of a film star or a famous person is usually a very bad idea- their stylists usually have degrees in hair-styling or design, and so can pull off any particular image.
As for the hairdresser choosing new styles, I would advise it only if you know them very well- it's all very well to end up with something new and exciting, and quite another for them to decide that it would be "shocking" and "postmodern" for you to walk out with a tall Simpson-style beehive.
posted by malusmoriendumest at 7:17 AM on March 28, 2006

Indie rock bands. Fashion shows. The streets.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 7:18 AM on March 28, 2006

How about looking at celebrity pictures? There's certainly no shortage of them online. Think of some celebrities whose look and style you admire and see if you can find a hairstyle you like.
posted by apple scruff at 7:18 AM on March 28, 2006

Never, ever go to Supercuts.
posted by The Jesse Helms at 7:18 AM on March 28, 2006

1. Go to your local barbershop
2. Do not go to a beauty salon. Those are for women.
3. Talk to your barber about what you're looking for and what he thinks would 'fit' you.
4. Get your hair cut.
posted by unixrat at 8:19 AM on March 28, 2006

Good question! I was just thinking of asking Mefi for an education in getting a good haircut. I seem to be missing a basic vocabulary, much less an understanding of how to describe anything more ambitious than a "regular cut."
posted by sudama at 8:24 AM on March 28, 2006

unixrat writes "1. Go to your local barbershop
"2. Do not go to a beauty salon. Those are for women."

I used to have similar notions but I was very much disabused of them when I decided to try a moderatedly-priced salon. The difference was amazing. Perhaps there are barbers out there that really know what they're doing - but at $12/head it doesn't make sense for the averafe barber to spend enough time or get the right/continuous training.
posted by mullacc at 8:34 AM on March 28, 2006

My brother sent me The Hairstyler site a while back. Has lots of male celebrities with different cuts (I mean, several styles on the same guy for each) with nice explanations of the kind of hair and face shape it'd work for.
posted by occhiblu at 9:05 AM on March 28, 2006

but at $12/head it doesn't make sense for the average barber to spend enough time or get the right/continuous training.

Sure it does. A barbershop's business model is dependent upon repeat customers, whereas a beauty salon works on the upsell of high-margin frou-frou hair care products, dye-jobs, one-time styling appointments and the like.

A barbershop depends upon a wide base of return customers.
posted by unixrat at 9:07 AM on March 28, 2006

I think the distinction is in hair length. If your haircut will involve a razor as the primary cutting implement, you want a BARBER. If it will involve scissors solely, you want a HAIRSTYLIST.

Barbers will often (but not always) know what would look good on you. You can just ask. Since it will grow out in three weeks anyway, you don't have much to lose. If they suck, go to a different barber in the future.
posted by jellicle at 9:12 AM on March 28, 2006

unixrat writes "A barbershop depends upon a wide base of return customers."

I always got crappy haircuts from barbers and kept returning because of your rule #2. And, for a lot of men, they either like a style (short buzz-cut or something) that is very simple or have easy to tame to hair. I have thick hair and several unfortunately-located cowlicks, plus I like a style that favors scissors or straight razor over clippers. For $12 it doesn't make sense for the barber to provide me with what I need or want.
posted by mullacc at 9:43 AM on March 28, 2006

have easy to tame to hair

Good god. That should be "easy hair to tame."
posted by mullacc at 9:46 AM on March 28, 2006

unixrat writes "whereas a beauty salon works on the upsell of high-margin frou-frou hair care products, dye-jobs, one-time styling appointments and the like."

I'm not sure what the standard is, but most of the stylists I've used are independent contractors. They essentially rent a chair in the salon. The salon makes additional money from the sale of products, but the stylist relies on his/her book of repeat clients. That book of repeat business could include higher-cost dye-jobs, but I believe those are needed less frequently than most men get their hair cut. The salon relies on you as a repeat customer just as much as the barber does.
posted by mullacc at 10:03 AM on March 28, 2006

The notion that a salon depends on products is insane. Yes, they make a money from those products, but do you really think that's where the big money is? Jesus.
posted by FlamingBore at 10:13 AM on March 28, 2006

1. Go to your local barbershop

Another vote against barbers here. I have always had better success with salons. In my experience, they are more willing to find out what you want and to suggest a cut/style thats works for you.
posted by The Deej at 10:33 AM on March 28, 2006

1. Go to your local barbershop

I haven't seen a barbershop in ages. But then I go to Supercuts because I don't really care as long as my hair is out of my eyes.
posted by octothorpe at 11:41 AM on March 28, 2006

Definitely rip photos out of magazines or catalogs or what have you. A stylist at a salon who has been properly trained -- which means going to training sessions with Sassoon or what have you -- will be able to figure out what you're going for and recreate it as best as possible given your particular hair qualities. I've had good luck with this method in the past, though of course my hair never looked quite like the photo simply because Ben Stiller's hair isn't as straight and thick as mine.

On the more general tip, I would suggest that even if you just want a "short back and sides," if you're serious about having a nice haircut you'll get best results from a stylist rather than a barber (and you'll avoid Supercuts like the plague). I used to get my hair cut very short, and after years of very average 15 minute clipper cuts I decided to splurge on a stylist. She used scissors exclusively and took a full hour to do the job. The results were markedly better, and the cut looked good for longer.

So if you've got the means, find a stylist who charges, say, $40 to $50 for a men's cut and give him or her a shot. It may sound cliche, but look for a place where all the stylists have awesome haircuts. They all tend to cut each others' -- and their own -- hair, so if they look good chances are you will too.

I can't recommend going to one of the high end places where they've got one person to wash your hair and one to cut it (and you tip each one separately), but just below that level is, in my mind, the sweet spot. Of course, if you need your hair cut once a month that may not be cost-effective. Maybe you can find a place where you can come in for a quick, free cleanup between appointments, some places do that.

Oh, and I recommend the American Crew brand of hair products. The Fiber in particular is very good if you've got shorter hair.
posted by schoolgirl report at 12:20 PM on March 28, 2006

Hmm, it looks like your in Oklahoma...

Salons Near You

Call some up, ask if they have a stylist who is experienced with men's cuts. The place I go to has books of men's styles like compilations of women's cuts.

(disclosure - $40 haircuts are on of my very few vanities)
posted by PurplePorpoise at 12:34 PM on March 28, 2006

Really, the answer is "find an Aveda salon."
posted by The Jesse Helms at 1:12 PM on March 28, 2006

When I (female, admittedly) was struggling with new haircut inspiration, I turned to Livejournal communities for help (a very underrated resource). Through these, I found that a small group of users had made Photobucket galleries of good examples of haircuts/styles/colours - two of which were dedicated to men. 99% of the cuts demonstrated are obviously quite young/edgy/hip etc, but at the very least, if you hate them, you know what you don't want. Here's one, here's the other. Try those on for size.
posted by saturnine at 2:15 PM on March 28, 2006

The best inspiration would be to find someone locally who has hair that is of a similar texture to yours and ask where he gets his haircut. Barring that, ask around for suggestions on a decent salon from friends with well-styled hair.

Once you find a place, make sure you go back to the same person unless you feel it's a bad fit -- if you're not satisfied the first time, you'll at least have a basis for comparison and be able to articulate your preferences better as time goes on. I know some stylists will do the same haircut to exhaustion, but the good ones will keep abreast of current styles.
posted by mikeh at 2:40 PM on March 28, 2006