Barbers

I tipped $2 on $8 for a high-and-tight the other day. Thing about barbers is, you'll probably want to settle down with just one that really knows how your hair grows and what you like, so you've got to cultivate a good relationship with them, since they'll be determining a major part of your appearance about once a month.

I add an extra 50p to q £3.50 beard trim.

I like a no.4 all over. I only have it done once every two or three months, and I do it myself two out of three times. Ain't no relationships bein' cultivated there.

Mind you maybe I could do with switchin' my style up a bit.

Not that there's much to work with up there.

What makes you go with a barber instead of doing it yourself, if the results are the same? Money burning a hole in your pocket or something?

OTM - if I could pull off the "one length, all over" look, I would do it. It simply doesn't look good on me. So, I need someone who knows what they're doing.

That said, I usually tip the same amount I would a waiter or bartender.

Reasons:
1) I can only imagine that, b/c it is SUCH a custom to do so here in the States, that they are not paid a livable hourly wage

2) Their tip is usually tied to the quality of the actual cut provided - but they usually get a couple of bucks on top, anyway.

I certainly do wish that I could pull off the all over one length. Maybe I should try it after my friend's wedding - I'm in it, so I don't want to show up looking all bad for his pictures and such.

Last haircut cost me $16 and I paid $30. I like the guy and the haircut is probably worth more than that. Last trip to the salon cost my wife $350 (including coloring+highlights), so I don't really feel like my pocket is hurting when I'm paying an order of magnitude less.

What makes you go with a barber instead of doing it yourself, if the results are the same?

Can't be bothered or don't have the time. I always find it a chore to do it meself, and I've never had a pair of clippers that work as well as barbers' ones seem to.

A little while ago I had a bog standard no.4 all over that took almost an hour. Was the best no.4 all over I've ever had - and not just 'cause it was done by a pretty girl.

Next time I went back there it was a guy and he cut my ear.

I had one barber back home that was the shits. When you go in there and get a cut that you like, he fills out an index card for you with all the proper dimensions of the cut. next time you come in he pulls out the card and can pretty much duplicate the same cut as before.

Plus dude has a fridge stocked with beer and sodas and also provides snacks.
Regular cuts where $14 so i would just give him a 20

> Next time I went back there it was a guy and he cut my ear.

Okay, remember what I said abut finding someone you like and cultivating a relationship?

Yes, you give him a £10 note, thank him and turn around. I can't see how this is difficult?

Exactly. (Franco, my barber, has put his prices up - I give him the same tenner, it just means the tip is smaller)

'Cause I don't wanna pay £10 for something that takes 20 mins and I can do myself. But I don't really want to do it myself. Ok I am just a curmudgeonly tight bastard, ya got me.

'Cause I don't wanna pay £10 for something that takes 20 mins and I can do myself.

Explain exactly how it is that you are bitching about paying for a haircut instead of doing it yrself, then.

If you want price-controls on haircuts, go back to communist russia or something.

In Soviet Russia, Barber shaves you!

Last Christmas I gave the girl who cut my hair a candy cane on top of the £5 charge. The joy it brought to her face was something to behold.

Of course, I'm not great at reading people so I may have got that wrong.

libcrypt is married to a ridic Kerry-bashing meme

Always always tip or just buy a clippers set and get a pretty girl to cut yr hairs with it. It makes for a fun pseudo-platonic relationship. You're at their boob level and they touch your ears. Better than a strip club and you get a hair cut. (This was me and a beloved man's whole relationship, me buzzing his hair every three weeks and laughing and flirting ass off.)