What to ask for when you walk in (and what not to say).
How to describe the haircut you want at Wally's in Daisy Hill. Clipper numbers, fade heights, photos, and the phrases that confuse barbers.
Tell the barber what you want kept and what you want gone. Then how short, in numbers, photos, or by pointing at the bit you mean. The whole conversation in the chair takes about 30 seconds.
Most blokes overthink this. You don't need barber language. You need to say what you want and what you don't.
How do I describe the haircut I want?#
Start with the top. Then the sides and back. Then the beard if you've got one.
Top first, because that's the hardest to fix if it's wrong. Say how much length you want left. Two finger-widths. An inch. Long enough to push back. Short enough to not need product. Any of those work.
Sides and back next. This is where you say "fade" or "tapered" or "same length all over". If you want a fade, say where it starts. Low (around the ear), mid (above the ear), or high (around the temple).
Beard last. Tidy the edges. Take it down a number. Leave it alone.
Three sentences. Sit down. Sorted.
What do the haircut numbers mean?#
The numbers are clipper guards. The guard is the plastic comb that snaps over the blade. Bigger number, longer the hair gets left.
| Guard | Length | Looks like |
|---|---|---|
| #0 | bare blade, ~0.5mm | skin fade base |
| #1 | ~3mm | very short, scalp showing through |
| #2 | ~6mm | short, no scalp |
| #3 | ~10mm | short crop, shows hair colour |
| #4 | ~13mm | medium short, soft to the touch |
| #6 | ~19mm | long crop, brushable |
| #8 | ~25mm | longest standard guard, comb-able |
So "a #2 on the sides, scissors on top" means clip the sides to about 6mm and leave the top to be cut by hand. "A #1 fading up into a #4" means start nearly bare at the bottom and blend into about 13mm at the top of the fade.
If you can't remember a number, that's fine. Use your fingers. Show the length you want with a gap between thumb and finger and the barber will match it.
When do I bring a photo?#
If you're after a specific shape (textured crop, mid-fade with a side part, low taper into longer length on top), bring a photo. Two photos is better. One from the front, one from the side or back.
Photos save the conversation. They also give the barber permission to push back if your hair won't do what the photo's doing. Some cuts need a certain hair type. The barber will tell you.
A photo plus a number is the strongest combo. "Like this photo, but tighter on the sides, maybe a #1." Done.
If you don't have a photo, point. Touch the hair you want kept. Tap the spot where you want the fade to start. Hands work.
What NOT to say#
These are the phrases that make a barber ask you four follow-up questions.
- "Give me a fade." There are six fades. Low, mid, high, skin, taper, drop. Pick one or describe where you want it.
- "Just a trim." A trim of what, by how much? Half an inch off the ends? Tidy the neckline? Both?
- "The usual." Not if it's your first time at Wally's, mate. We've never met your hair.
- "Do whatever you think looks good." You'll get something safe. If you have an opinion, say it.
- "Short on the sides, long on top." This is the most-said sentence in barbering and it means nothing on its own. How short. How long. Faded or one length on the sides. Scissor-cut or clipper on top. Add the detail.
- "Like last time." Only works if it was the same barber and they remember. Otherwise, photo or describe.
None of this is rude. Barbers ask follow-ups because the answer matters. Skip the back-and-forth by being specific up front.
Walk in when you've worked out what you want. Or walk in and we'll work it out together. Shop 10, 3/5 Cupania Street, Daisy Hill QLD.
Ask before the chair.
- 01
- Can I bring a photo of the cut I want?
- Yes. Photos help us nail it first time. Two angles is better than one.
- 02
- What's a number 2?
- A #2 clipper guard cuts hair to about 6mm. Short, but the scalp doesn't show through.
- 03
- How do I describe what I want if I don't know what it's called?
- Point at the bits. Top, sides, back, beard. Say what you want kept and what you want gone. The barber will name the cut.
- 04
- What if I don't know what I want?
- Say that. Then say what you've had before that you liked or didn't like. The barber will suggest something. You can say yes or no before the clippers come out.
- 05
- Is a fade the same as a taper?
- No. A fade goes to skin or near-skin at the bottom. A taper just shortens the hair at the neckline and around the ears, with no skin showing.
- 06
- Can I change my mind halfway through?
- Yes, before the length's gone. Once the clippers have done a pass, the hair's on the floor. So speak up early.