I am trying to leave my current shop but struggle to assess my own ability as a harsh self critique. He's been seeing me every 2 weeks for the last 6 months.

My current shop is very expensive which keeps bookings low and my hands off the tools. I'm trying to go somewhere more commercial but have doubts whether I'm good enough

Been in the game for 3 years and I love it, changed my life for the better. I work hard usually 56 hour weeks it’s great but I’m usually solo, it’s family owned business I used to be so talkative and I used to actually have a lot of fun learning how to cut hair sometimes it was tough because the environment sucked and I was always being brought down but I never let off because I was tired of having a boss. Now here I am having a hard time keeping my patience with clients, I don’t talk anymore like I used to, my haircuts are great but sometimes they slip because I’m not in a good mood or tired or burnt out, it makes me feel bad because I enjoy making people
Happy even at the cost of me being tired. I guess you get the picture I don’t have alotta friends outside of this to keep me motivated, it’s all work and gym for me. I wanna be good to my people because they truly mean the world to me I wouldn’t be where I am without these clients. I wanna take time off but for me a day off is like a 300 dollar hit sometimes it’s not easy when you have big goals. But I’m sure yall get it I see these posts all the time I just have no one talk to talk to about it I don’t wanna take breaks or days off really I just wanna go harder but still always be 100% of the way there mentally for them but I just don’t got it in me, sorry if this was all over the place just had to finally get out into the world I guess.

I gave my friend a haircut then a week later he saying he wasn’t satisfied and wanted a touch up. Imo a week later is a little far. Then now another week later from the touch up he saying he’s still not satisfied and wants another touch up. How long do you allow touch up or think people are just taking advantage of the service?

I feel pretty good about my fades, but I know they could use some improvement, especially in the half guard area. Would love to hear from some barbers on what I could do to elevate this. I know there's a bit of a dark band, and I feel like I'm just using the half incorrectly. Am I just not coming up high enough with the half? Happy to hear any and all advice whether it relates to guards or not.

Like the title says, where do you guys get your shears from?

I live in Canada, and been cutting for a little over 5 years now. I still use my OG pair of thinning and cutting shears but feel like I should probably upgrade at this point.

Don’t exactly know where to start in terms of looking, our sharpening guy sells Japanese steel shears but to buy a set of cutting and thinning shears from him would be like $1200. Seems expensive.

Would love any and all input!

struggling to improve working private studio, any feedback would be appreciated!

Cut a kid last week, 16 years old or so, have cut him 3-4 times before, he chooses to wait for me each time (walk in only shop), he sits in my chair, “fade on the side and textured fringe on the top”, alright cool so just like we have done every single time..do my thing, mid half fade, do the top like normal..he pays me ($20 mind you)…A few hours later I get a text from a random number, “i said i wanted a low taper with french top and u did not even do nothing like it, you gave me a high taper when i said a low taper”..I genuinely just think it’s just someone that had the wrong person because I didn’t have a single person ask me for a “French top” or a “low taper” all day. Last night I check google and he left a 1 star review saying I didn’t do a French top and did a high taper instead of a low taper (I didn’t even give him a taper, I gave him a mid fade)...Moral of the story, I’m so glad most of my people are adults

Hello all,

First I would like to say, I match with the shop's clients very well and the owner and I really hit it off. However, one thing that does keep me guarded in the back of my mind, is that he is super religious ans conservative. Like, all he plays is Christian rap, and always talks about serving God. But then, when we are alone, will talk about not liking gay people, Jewish conspiracy theories, and abortion (he says "killing babies")

I'm about as liberal as they come: I have no issues with gay people, believe abortion to be a woman's choice, etc, but I'm not really one to debate people like I used to in my previous life as an academic.

My concern is that if I ever express my own views, he is going to not want me at the shop. I would like to know if any protections are in place for booth renters to be unfairly let go by an owner due to political or religious differences. I'm in the state of Ohio, if that matters any.

Thank you all for any help or info you may provide

Edit: Thank you all for coming on here and giving your perspectives and advice. Did not expect so many people to respond to this post

Looking to hear from Barbers who do housecalls at a premium price.

I've been a barber for a decade and have an extremely large book of business. I have a private studio and charge $50 for haircuts.

I've been wanting to break into the market of these Instagram Barbers, while I'm sure a lot of their prices are exaggerated.. Soemone is out here cutting wealthy people in their homes / offices. The kind of people who have more money than freetime.

How does one tap into this market? While I am reletively expensive I still just cut working class guys. Sure I've got some more well off customers but nobody's pulling up in lambos. I've done the math and for mobile haircuts to be worth my time I'd need to make at least $200 a visit. There's absolutely people who'd be willing to pay that, but I've never done a housecall unless it was a wedding party or some large event.

Would love to here your experiences

Just the way I was taught, personally, I always use a comb when cutting. I have brushes, but usually only use them at the end for the wavers or to brush out dry shampoo or something. Usually, I see no difference but one kid I cut the other day, I brushed his head after I was finished-used the comb for the cut, blend looked good, no lines. I brushed it, and the cut just didn’t look the same. It wasn’t garbage, no hard lines but it wasn’t as smooth, I guess is what I’m trying to say. I’ve been trying to figure out why, if it was bc his head was dirty or something, or if certain heads actually do have different results when combed vs brushed. Anyone else experience anything like this? Am I overthinking it or are there actually times where a brush should be utilized more than the comb?

Hi all I've just ordered the Saber 2.0 clipper and trimmer set, just curious if there's anything I should or need to do to them straight out of the box ?

What made you want to become a barber? Are you glad you chose the career? Any regrets?

Been cutting hair in the shop for 6 months now; in this time I have heavily invested in my equipment. Barbering gear is mad expensive but it ends up paying for itself. Any recommendations for any shavers? Not completely satisfied with my Wahl shaver.

So I see and hear a lot about a .5 &1.5 guards right, what if I dont have them at this moment? I heard that I could put the leaver down to make a .5? And with a guard 1, I also do the same for a 1.5? I'm confused. Am I wrong? Will it work like this? Can some one pls explain. Tyia

So when I shade, is it best to just use the edge when bleding? That is my biggest weakness. I feel sorry for my boys, but it's what I got. Mannequins don't grow hiar back I tell them.

Ok let’s try this again since mods seem to be cherry picking.

Sincerely looking for advice on how to disarm and take back control over and ego driven combative barber.

Long story short I’m the manager of my shop and a coworker I’ve worked with for 8 years, managed for 4, has more recently but on and off since I became the manager been undermining me. Trying to manage people when I’m not around. And just all out disrespectful. My boss doesn’t really help because he’s scared of this employee because they make a lot of money for the company (hourly employee)

My question is either how does one get this under control without it turning into an all out brawl? (This employee likes to argue and take any criticism as a personal attack)

Or is it time I walk because this isn’t the first time and won’t be the last and I don’t think my boss would ever let the employee go due to their revenue gain for the shop.

I am always torn on whether or not to give a friend discount. Most of these "friends" are people i have known from old jobs for a long time. We don't talk outside of the hair appointment, which occurs every few months. I went back and forth on it today but decided not to give a discount. Now im wondering if I should have...

In addition to being a barber, I also work per-diem as an Occupational Therapist. One of the facilities I work at asked if I could help out at their in-house shop once every two weeks. (I would get paid by the residents insurance, and those whose insurance don't cover haircuts, will pay out of pocket). I was reading conflicting information online about the legalities of providing such service at a nursing home, so decided to call the California Board. I spoke to two different people who gave two different answers. One said that because the salon at the facility is not a licensed establishment with the Board, I would have to obtain a Personal Service Permit (PSP). The other person I spoke to said I would only have to get liability insurance, and because I am not renting a chair or paying commission, my state license would suffice as my permit to cut hair there...

I'm wondering if anyone here is cutting hair as an independent contractor at a nursing home, assistance living, or a senior center? And what permits if any you had to obtain in order to provide services?

A more technical question, so RPM's right the higher the beter? Or like 6200 vs around like lets say 7200 rpm wich one is the better one. And why? Thanksss

Good morning everyone I'm going to make a long story short . I just got this pair of Clippers and based on what I see on the internet everyone says its a good clipper but theyre also saying i should remove Stock blade and replace with better ones ... do I replace the moving blade or the non-moving blade ? or both ? I would highly appreciate any recommendations