If you’re trying out a new barber or attempting a radically new haircut, there’s a chance it won’t work out as well as you planned.

Much like changing up your fashion style, the first step to avoiding a poor outcome is knowing exactly what kind of look you want.

The second is understanding how to communicate with your stylist effectively.

In this article, we’ll give you the tools you need to leave the barbershop with a sharp-looking haircut. 

BUSINESS MAN’S HAIRCUT

Most popular among working professionals who require a conservative look. Normally, hair is cut with a slight taper on the sides and back and the top is left long enough to part and comb to the side.

FADE 

The term “fade” has now become the popular term for an aggressively tight taper. Hair at the sides and back are cut as close as possible with clippers and “fades” or tapers up into almost any length on top. In some cases, this haircut is mistakenly called a “military reg,” which is misleading because each branch of the service has different regulations regarding hair length.

LOW SKIN FADE

This is a vacation of the fade in which the hair is shaved below the midpoint between the top of the ear and the round of the head and fades evenly into the length on top.

HIGH SKIN FADE

This is a vacation of the fade in which the hair is shaved above the midpoint between the top of the ear and the round of the head and fades evenly into the length on top.

HARD PART

This is a term used to describe when a part is shaved into the hair with a trimmer or straight razor.  A hard part requires frequent maintenance as the short hairs in the part line grow out quickly and will stand up straight on most men.