Barber vs. Stylist

March 31, 2010, By Jeff Waddle 0 comments

Barber or stylist? It’s the age-old dilemma guys face, right up there with paper or plastic, Ginger or Mary Ann. But choose you must about every three weeks or so, or find yourself soon looking like an aspiring rock star or an extra on the Broadway revival of "Hair."

The choice is yours and if you chose unwisely, take comfort in knowing you’ll get a Do Over in a few weeks. While there are generalizations and vary by hair pro, consider these thoughts to help you choose.

If you want to:

• Get a basic short cut. Barbers tend to get out the clippers and buzz away until the hair is in short supply—think military buzz cuts and similar traditional men’s styles.
• Color your hair. Stylists work with women who color their hair a lot more than men, so they typically have more experience with washing away the gray than barbers.
• Try a new style. Again, since stylists tend to work more with women, they usually are more experienced at suggesting and crafting new styles for men as well. Women wear their hair longer so if you’re looking to grow your hair out, a stylist who cuts and styles a lot of long hair could likely handle your new hairdo, too.
• Keep it low maintenance. If you’re a wash ‘n go guy who bristles at the thought of hair gel or a hair dryer, barbers know how to keep it simple.
• Save a few bucks. Barbers tend to be cheaper, but not always given the growing popularity of chains targeting men that feature stylists at reasonable prices. Shop around.
• Have a style that demands product. Salons where stylists work often offer a full line of hair products. So, if you like a little spike in your hair or something similar, a stylist should know how to help you pull it off and keep it that way.

Regardless of who they are, keep going to him or her if you’ve found someone you like and trust to cut your hair. They’re priceless because when you look good, you feel good. And we all could use a dose of feel good these days.

Jeff Waddle is a featured contributor to ManoftheHouse.com.