8 Things Clients Do That Barbers Absolutely Hate!
Being a barber for 10+ years you experience some seriously crazy stuff behind the chair. We came up with a few funny moments and relatable scenarios that happen almost every day as a working barber. Enjoy!
1. The Phone Guy:
There’s nothing more annoying than a client on the phone, while you’re cutting their hair.
I mean, not that there’s anything wrong with talking on the phone for a quick sec to tell his wife he made it to the chair safely.
Barbers understand how life goes, and their certain calls you can’t just turn down such as; work or family issues.
The problem isn’t those types of scenarios, the problem is when clients don’t acknowledge the barber at all while they’re talking on the phone.
At the very least, stop for a damn second and explain the way you want your haircut beforehand!
Short Story:
I remember one time a gentleman was talking on his new “BlueTooth” device, and when I asked him how he wanted his haircut he looked annoyed.
As if I was the one in the wrong for asking prince Alibaba what he came in for, but he continued to talk on his Bluetooth.
He just kept repeating the words; “Cut my hair lower!” …lower? when an uneducated client asks a barber to cut their hair “lower” there’s already a plethora of issues that are about to arise.
There are about 10 different options in the mind of the barber.
Questions like; “how much lower?” or “what guard do you prefer me using?” or “should I just trim 1/2 off the top?” or “is it a skin fade up the back and sides?”
He yelled “Lower!” for the last time… and being the professional I am, I did…needless to say, he hasn’t been back since…Was I wrong?
I mean seriously dude.
2. The Cheapskate…
So after a barber finishes doing the exact haircut the client wanted.
All while receiving positive feedback during the entire haircutting process, the client then turns around and says “Can you take this part of the fade to the skin?
I know I asked for a “shadow fade” which basically means keep it at a 1/2…however, I’m going out of town & I need a skin fade to last me until I get back…”
Hear Me Out!
Doing the haircut isn’t the problem, no, no, no, at this point in the hair cutting service.
The problem is dealing with all the clients that made appointments for THAT day.
So now, everyone on a prior scheduled appointment has to wait or reconsider their arrangements, all because that “One client” decided to wait last minute to have it cut twice over…
All a barber wants is for clients to be considerate of their time. Pulling these types of stunts messes up the barbers’ entire work schedule.
This can be avoided by knowing the way the client wants his haircut the first time around.
Unfortunately, At this point all the barber can really do is smile, and say: “No problem man, let’s get this haircut looking right!”
but deep down their dying inside…
3. The Never Good Enough Guy.
Whenever a client comes in asking for a line-up, it’s either one of two things.
- Either this person is just looking to get freshened up for a special occasion.
- The money is a bit tight this week and a quick trim is all they need to look halfway decent.
Whatever the case may be, these two options are completely acceptable.
However, what’s not “Acceptable” is asking for a “Line Up” and it turning into a full-blown haircut…
The line up’s typically cost $10 so overextending to a full-blown haircut priced at $20 is really stretching the barbers’ wallet.
I mean think about it, the level of shadiness and disrespect that goes with that type of bull crap is downright wrong on all levels.
Not to mention it’s the ones that pull this crap never tip well.. or at all.
4. The Guy With The Pigeon Eyes:
When a client starts Side-Eyeing the mirror to make sure you’re doing the haircut correctly.
like, hold up, who’s the professional here?
We understand you’re afraid to get a bad haircut, trust us we genuinely do understand.
Most of the time, a quality barber is fixing the haircuts of other barbers more often than not.
*cough – sports clips!
It’s in our best interest to do that haircut correctly the first time and leave the client feeling happy and wanting to return back to the barbershop.
There shouldn’t be a gamble at all when sitting in a barber’s chair, most barbers have a social media platform you can look up.
Come on Its 2021 dude…
By doing a quick Barbershop check, Should remove a lot of fear and doubt before the barber starts going crazy with the clippers.
While saving your eyes from a lot of strain, having to look back at the mirror the entire time to make sure he/she is doing a good job.
Remember barbers are highly trained and capable of cutting your hair.
Well, They should be.
If the client is that concerned, they should bring their friend in as a genie-pig.
Just a suggestion.
On a good note, a trained barber will try his/her best to make the client comfortable.
While offering the best services they can perform.
So if you’re a first-timer, and are genuinely concerned about the barber, that is understandable.
We’re more so talking about the clients that know your skill-set first-hand and still try to make you feel like you’re not the professional.
5. The Guy That’s Already Pissed Off:
Not to often, although it does happen, is when a client comes in already up-set, long before walking into the barbershop — Already looking to start a war with somebody.
Although this war isn’t going to be “loud & distracting to the other barbers”, but rather “rude and quiet.”
towards the barber while they sit in the chair, Allow me to explain:
clears throat* Ah-hem!
Most clients are adults, but there are times when grown-ups still act like small children.
Instead of using their “Words” to explain how they feel.
They much rather make it harder on somebody else by acting out.
Here are some of the Strange things adults do when they are upset and can’t express themselves in a normal adult manner.
It’s Rather hilarious really…
These things include: “Eye rolling, teeth-sucking sound effects, head bobs, slouching over, putting their shoulders up, and locking their necks.
Anything under the sun to purposefully make it harder on the barber.
Dealing with the public you learn very quickly that adults aren’t the most mature creatures that have walked this earth.
6. The After A Workout Guy:
So What’s better than a nice run, or high physical activity?
You guessed it, going to the barbershop! – Said no one ever.
However, it happens, clients think it’s okay to come in after a full-blown workout while sweating profusely. for some crazy-ass reason.
- Close & Personal
Cutting hair is already a hands-on in your face personal experience.
As professional as a barber is, no human in the world wants to touch somebody’s greasy hair, and working out beforehand definitely doesn’t make our jobs any easier.
Barbers get paid by cutting hair, not by waiting around for the next sweat bead to drip off somebody’s nose and onto our barber cape…*barf face*
- Extra Cleaning
The amount of extra sanitation work is tremendous.
The barber cape must be washed immediately; the chair wiped down with disinfectant spray, and the Clippers, combs along with any other tools the barber used on that particular client must quickly be thrown into the same place Frodo from the lord of the rings throw the ring.
These tools have to be dried and decontaminated to the greatest extent.
More so than what the barber usually does for their sanitation routine.
what a pain in the ass this is…
- The Funk
Let’s not forget the Funk there’s nothing worse than having to stand behind someone in line at the grocery store, and they smell like old gym socks wrapped in aluminum foil baked at 350 degrees.
So why force a barber to stand there for the next 20-40 minutes until their nose falls off?
Body Oder is disgusting!
While I’m writing this post, I’m hoping to save at least one barber’s nose if I can help it.
in the words of mawie from hit Disney movie Moana, “You’re Welcome!”
7. The Bad Parenting Family:
A barber’s worst fear is when a client comes in with unruly kids and leaves them unattended for the barber to deal with.
Meanwhile, the client is on a shopping spree in the plaza.
Dear Clients, please leave your unruly children with you until you come back, at the very least stand with us and play an entertaining YouTube video.
Barbers would rather listen to “shark do do do do do da baby” on repeat, then hear them screaming at the top of their lungs & drooling on their barber capes for the next 20 minutes.
I know this as a #fact.
Barbers understand children will misbehave at times, that’s just a part of growing up.
But being there for your child during haircuts is a bigger deal than you might think.
Shedding a few Crocodile tears early will remove the fear of the hair-cutting experience.
allowing them to sit still longer as they mature into adulthood.
8. The Guy That Likes To Stare:
I’m literally laughing as I’m typing this one…
this is ridiculous.
But it happens more often than you think.
It’s bad enough to be two feet from another man’s face while performing facial services.
But then to feel as though somebody is looking back at you while you’re trying to give a haircut…
Not to mention trying to keep a straight face and remaining professional the entire time?
good luck.
At this point barbers start to think to themselves, having deep internal conversations like:
“oh looks like we have quite the looker here.”
“I hope he stops staring at me…oh good he stopped…
oh, wait, nope this guy is clearly on a mission to break some sort of staring records!”
Luckily for me, I’m to the point in my barbering career,
where I just stare back and give them a wink.
The shit we deal with on a regular basis is hilarious!
Thank you guys for reading this comical article, I needed to get this off my chest.
I know most of you can relate.
Thank you guys for reading the post, I want to tell you about our newest post in relation to the top barbering tools. If you’re curious about the haircutting industry cyclops brand as a lot to offer.
Check Out This Great Post About The Industry’s Top Reccomended Products Picked By Barbers!
8 Things Clients Do Barbers Hate: I don’t know what’s funnier, the way yall wrote the blog, or the fact you wrote exactly the kind of crap we face on a daily bases as barbers. Hilarious!
The_FakeSlimShady
Professional Barber
8 Things Clients Do That Barbers Absolutely Hate!
Being a barber for 10+ years you experience some seriously crazy stuff behind the chair. We came up with a few funny moments and relatable scenarios that happen almost every day as a working barber. Enjoy!
1. The Phone Guy:
There’s nothing more annoying than a client on the phone, while you’re cutting their hair.
I mean, not that there’s anything wrong with talking on the phone for a quick sec to tell his wife he made it to the chair safely.
Barbers understand how life goes, and their certain calls you can’t just turn down such as; work or family issues.
The problem isn’t those types of scenarios, the problem is when clients don’t acknowledge the barber at all while they’re talking on the phone.
At the very least, stop for a damn second and explain the way you want your haircut beforehand!
Short Story:
I remember one time a gentleman was talking on his new “BlueTooth” device, and when I asked him how he wanted his haircut he looked annoyed.
As if I was the one in the wrong for asking prince Alibaba what he came in for, but he continued to talk on his Bluetooth.
He just kept repeating the words; “Cut my hair lower!” …lower? when an uneducated client asks a barber to cut their hair “lower” there’s already a plethora of issues that are about to arise.
There are about 10 different options in the mind of the barber.
Questions like; “how much lower?” or “what guard do you prefer me using?” or “should I just trim 1/2 off the top?” or “is it a skin fade up the back and sides?”
He yelled “Lower!” for the last time… and being the professional I am, I did…needless to say, he hasn’t been back since…Was I wrong?
I mean seriously dude.
2. The Cheapskate…
So after a barber finishes doing the exact haircut the client wanted.
All while receiving positive feedback during the entire haircutting process, the client then turns around and says “Can you take this part of the fade to the skin?
I know I asked for a “shadow fade” which basically means keep it at a 1/2…however, I’m going out of town & I need a skin fade to last me until I get back…”
Hear Me Out!
Doing the haircut isn’t the problem, no, no, no, at this point in the hair cutting service.
The problem is dealing with all the clients that made appointments for THAT day.
So now, everyone on a prior scheduled appointment has to wait or reconsider their arrangements, all because that “One client” decided to wait last minute to have it cut twice over…
All a barber wants is for clients to be considerate of their time. Pulling these types of stunts messes up the barbers’ entire work schedule.
This can be avoided by knowing the way the client wants his haircut the first time around.
Unfortunately, At this point all the barber can really do is smile, and say: “No problem man, let’s get this haircut looking right!”
but deep down their dying inside…
3. The Never Good Enough Guy.
Whenever a client comes in asking for a line-up, it’s either one of two things.
- Either this person is just looking to get freshened up for a special occasion.
- The money is a bit tight this week and a quick trim is all they need to look halfway decent.
Whatever the case may be, these two options are completely acceptable.
However, what’s not “Acceptable” is asking for a “Line Up” and it turning into a full-blown haircut…
The line up’s typically cost $10 so overextending to a full-blown haircut priced at $20 is really stretching the barbers’ wallet.
I mean think about it, the level of shadiness and disrespect that goes with that type of bull crap is downright wrong on all levels.
Not to mention it’s the ones that pull this crap never tip well.. or at all.
4. The Guy With The Pigeon Eyes:
When a client starts Side-Eyeing the mirror to make sure you’re doing the haircut correctly.
like, hold up, who’s the professional here?
We understand you’re afraid to get a bad haircut, trust us we genuinely do understand.
Most of the time, a quality barber is fixing the haircuts of other barbers more often than not.
*cough – sports clips!
It’s in our best interest to do that haircut correctly the first time and leave the client feeling happy and wanting to return back to the barbershop.
There shouldn’t be a gamble at all when sitting in a barber’s chair, most barbers have a social media platform you can look up.
Come on Its 2021 dude…
By doing a quick Barbershop check, Should remove a lot of fear and doubt before the barber starts going crazy with the clippers.
While saving your eyes from a lot of strain, having to look back at the mirror the entire time to make sure he/she is doing a good job.
Remember barbers are highly trained and capable of cutting your hair.
Well, They should be.
If the client is that concerned, they should bring their friend in as a genie-pig.
Just a suggestion.
On a good note, a trained barber will try his/her best to make the client comfortable.
While offering the best services they can perform.
So if you’re a first-timer, and are genuinely concerned about the barber, that is understandable.
We’re more so talking about the clients that know your skill-set first-hand and still try to make you feel like you’re not the professional.
5. The Guy That’s Already Pissed Off:
Not to often, although it does happen, is when a client comes in already up-set, long before walking into the barbershop — Already looking to start a war with somebody.
Although this war isn’t going to be “loud & distracting to the other barbers”, but rather “rude and quiet.”
towards the barber while they sit in the chair, Allow me to explain:
clears throat* Ah-hem!
Most clients are adults, but there are times when grown-ups still act like small children.
Instead of using their “Words” to explain how they feel.
They much rather make it harder on somebody else by acting out.
Here are some of the Strange things adults do when they are upset and can’t express themselves in a normal adult manner.
It’s Rather hilarious really…
These things include: “Eye rolling, teeth-sucking sound effects, head bobs, slouching over, putting their shoulders up, and locking their necks.
Anything under the sun to purposefully make it harder on the barber.
Dealing with the public you learn very quickly that adults aren’t the most mature creatures that have walked this earth.
6. The After A Workout Guy:
So What’s better than a nice run, or high physical activity?
You guessed it, going to the barbershop! – Said no one ever.
However, it happens, clients think it’s okay to come in after a full-blown workout while sweating profusely. for some crazy-ass reason.
- Close & Personal
Cutting hair is already a hands-on in your face personal experience.
As professional as a barber is, no human in the world wants to touch somebody’s greasy hair, and working out beforehand definitely doesn’t make our jobs any easier.
Barbers get paid by cutting hair, not by waiting around for the next sweat bead to drip off somebody’s nose and onto our barber cape…*barf face*
- Extra Cleaning
The amount of extra sanitation work is tremendous.
The barber cape must be washed immediately; the chair wiped down with disinfectant spray, and the Clippers, combs along with any other tools the barber used on that particular client must quickly be thrown into the same place Frodo from the lord of the rings throw the ring.
These tools have to be dried and decontaminated to the greatest extent.
More so than what the barber usually does for their sanitation routine.
what a pain in the ass this is…
- The Funk
Let’s not forget the Funk there’s nothing worse than having to stand behind someone in line at the grocery store, and they smell like old gym socks wrapped in aluminum foil baked at 350 degrees.
So why force a barber to stand there for the next 20-40 minutes until their nose falls off?
Body Oder is disgusting!
While I’m writing this post, I’m hoping to save at least one barber’s nose if I can help it.
in the words of mawie from hit Disney movie Moana, “You’re Welcome!”
7. The Bad Parenting Family:
A barber’s worst fear is when a client comes in with unruly kids and leaves them unattended for the barber to deal with.
Meanwhile, the client is on a shopping spree in the plaza.
Dear Clients, please leave your unruly children with you until you come back, at the very least stand with us and play an entertaining YouTube video.
Barbers would rather listen to “shark do do do do do da baby” on repeat, then hear them screaming at the top of their lungs & drooling on their barber capes for the next 20 minutes.
I know this as a #fact.
Barbers understand children will misbehave at times, that’s just a part of growing up.
But being there for your child during haircuts is a bigger deal than you might think.
Shedding a few Crocodile tears early will remove the fear of the hair-cutting experience.
allowing them to sit still longer as they mature into adulthood.
8. The Guy That Likes To Stare:
I’m literally laughing as I’m typing this one…
this is ridiculous.
But it happens more often than you think.
It’s bad enough to be two feet from another man’s face while performing facial services.
But then to feel as though somebody is looking back at you while you’re trying to give a haircut…
Not to mention trying to keep a straight face and remaining professional the entire time?
good luck.
At this point barbers start to think to themselves, having deep internal conversations like:
“oh looks like we have quite the looker here.”
“I hope he stops staring at me…oh good he stopped…
oh, wait, nope this guy is clearly on a mission to break some sort of staring records!”
Luckily for me, I’m to the point in my barbering career,
where I just stare back and give them a wink.
The shit we deal with on a regular basis is hilarious!
Thank you guys for reading this comical article, I needed to get this off my chest.
I know most of you can relate.
Thank you guys for reading the post, I want to tell you about our newest post in relation to the top barbering tools. If you’re curious about the haircutting industry cyclops brand as a lot to offer.
Check Out This Great Post About The Industry’s Top Reccomended Products Picked By Barbers!
8 Things Clients Do Barbers Hate: I don’t know what’s funnier, the way yall wrote the blog, or the fact you wrote exactly the kind of crap we face on a daily bases as barbers. Hilarious!
The_FakeSlimShady
Professional Barber
