Barbers use a lot of shorthand. Knowing a few terms, and bringing a photo, makes it much easier to get the cut you have in mind.
Common short cuts
- Skin fade: the sides blend from bare skin at the bottom to longer hair higher up. It can be low, mid or high, depending on where the fade starts.
- Taper: a softer version where only the sideburns and neckline go very short. It grows out more gently than a fade.
- Crew cut: short on the sides, a little longer on top, often pushed forward or to the side.
- Textured crop: short on the sides with a choppy, textured top and a short fringe.
- Buzz cut: one length all over with the clippers.
Words that help
- Tell your barber how short you want the sides, for example a number on the clipper guard if you know it.
- Say how you style it in the morning and how much time you spend on it.
- Mention anything you did not like about your last cut.
Bring a photo
A photo of the front and the side of a cut you like is the quickest way to agree on a style. Your barber will tell you honestly how it will work with your hair type, your crown and your hairline.