| Have you been considering cutting your hair very | | | | With all that said, where should you go to figure this |
| short? Or shaving your head? Depending on your age | | | | out? |
| and genetic predilection, your hair may be thinning or | | | | I know that you are a creature of habit - it's |
| balding. Or you may be like GQ's Adam Rappaport | | | | effortless and simple. So it's probably safe to assume |
| who this month suggests "taking it all off" as a bit of | | | | that you have been getting your hair cut in the same |
| gleeful rebellion he feels seasonally as he (almost) | | | | way at the same place for years. Maybe you never |
| shaves his head. Wearing your hair shorter is by far | | | | had a resource (you do now!) to find out what other |
| the best option for thinning hair as opposed to longer | | | | options there are? Let's check it out: |
| (think dreaded comb-over), and it may be a fun easy | | | | Barber? |
| care seasonal option for you too. | | | | Salon? |
| But how short should you go? As now know, your | | | | Discount national chain hair cutter? |
| grooming decisions, just like your clothing sends a | | | | How much should you pay? What do they charge? |
| message out to the world around you. Let's make | | | | What are the advantages and disadvantages? |
| sure that message is the one you want to be | | | | Regardless of where you go, the quality of the cut |
| sending. | | | | you get will depend on the experience of the cutter, |
| The first consideration is aesthetic. Will it look better | | | | along with their training background and ability to |
| than what you are doing now? Consider the shape of | | | | transmit your wishes from your words to the cut. |
| your head before you go super short or shaved. | | | | For this reason I am generally not an advocate of |
| "Your head should be symmetrical, with a smooth | | | | discount chains where stylists may be starting off, or |
| roundness in the back from the top of the head to | | | | transition more than established barbers and salons. |
| the occipital bone. An angular skull with protrusions or | | | | A barber is likely going to be very experienced with |
| "lumps" (generally found in the parietal ridge and | | | | clipper technique and short haircuts.A possible |
| crown areas) will not look as good when shaved. You | | | | downside is that if the barber is "old school" you may |
| should also be aware that if you have certain traits | | | | get a too conservative looking cut. Certainly there |
| (protruding ears, scars on the scalp, etc.) they will | | | | are stylists at salons who are clipper experts but you |
| become more pronounced by shaving the head." says | | | | may not have to pay that much for a simple or |
| By the way, this site has a fun virtual | | | | traditional cut, if that is your preference. |
| try-on-different-hair-with-your-photo product that I | | | | A barber will charge about $12 to $20 for a men's |
| sometimes include in my virtual consultations when | | | | cut. A Salon will charge from $25 to $50, with cuts |
| my client is considering a significant change. | | | | from the "master" or owner upwards of $75 or |
| The second consideration is what message a shaved | | | | more. |
| head or crew cut sends. In "our" generation crew | | | | There is also the "salon experience" to consider. If |
| cuts are often reminiscent of boyhood, and what | | | | you like the idea of taking half an hour off every |
| your Dad may have worn. You may remember that | | | | month for a relaxing experience at the salon then the |
| cut you got looking terrible because the barber used | | | | price is not for the cut - the cut is a by-product of |
| the same size guard all around your head. A modern | | | | the experience. That's just fine. |
| crew cut today is more graduated, for example, the | | | | Here's my advice: |
| barber may use a number 3 or 4 guard on top | | | | Consider a little change, or at least getting some |
| moving down to a 2 then a 1 on the sides. | | | | additional information about a different cut or style. |
| Additionally crew or buzz cuts have a military | | | | If possible, get a couple of referrals from likely male |
| connotation, especially the Flat top crew cut variation. | | | | friends as to where they go, in a location that you |
| On an older man this exudes leadership, but possibly | | | | would find convenient over time and at a price you |
| in an aggressive kind of way. Picture a military cut on | | | | can live with. |
| a man - I would more likely choose him to carry me | | | | I like the idea of investing in one high end |
| out of a burning building than be my analyst - right!? | | | | "conversation and cut" with the owner, with the plan |
| In general, these kinds of hair cuts suggest a persona | | | | to duplicate it by his staff later for affordability. For |
| that is powerful and masculine, but possibly ridged | | | | example, book an appointment with the owner for a |
| and inflexible. Add somewhat dramatic or | | | | first time cut, and asking him or her to recommend a |
| conservative to the mix and you have the full picture. | | | | stylist at the shop who will duplicate the cut in the |
| If this message is the right one for you to be | | | | future at the standard stylist rate. Have the stylist |
| sending, that is, it matches your personality, you | | | | come over and meet you and ask the owner to |
| don't have an issues with people being intimidated by | | | | describe the cut to the stylist. While you are there |
| you then by all means enjoy the ease of a very | | | | don't be shy - ask about the products you should be |
| short or shaved look. | | | | using, and the ways you should be caring for your |
| If however, you realize that a softer more | | | | hair. If you were considering hair loss products (like |
| approachable look fits your goals better, perhaps as | | | | Rogaine) ask. If you were considering coloring (never |
| you date, or work in a consulting or people oriented | | | | do at home) ask. Ask about skin care products and |
| profession you may find that the softness of a | | | | sunscreens for men's heads. Get as much information |
| somewhat longer look will work best. Not "long", just | | | | out of the experience as you can. |
| a bit "longer". | | | | And then, have fun with your new look! |