Hello readers and loyal MANO patrons,
My name is Bojan, Master Barber at MANO, and today I will try to answer some of your questions around what makes a good barber and how to tell right away if you’ve sat in the right chair. First off, what is good, average, or not so good varies from clients’ previous experiences and expectations. I will solely talk about what we consider a very good service here at MANO, and we hope you’ll agree with us.
First thing for me is greeting
Every professional should greet their clients with respect, a smile, positivity, and transmit the vibe that tells a client they are welcome and that you really want their business.
Cleanliness of your station and your chair
The chair should not have any hair from the previous client. Your station should look like you just opened up your shop. No signs of a previous client. Do not take another client before you check. I’ve seen many barbers being pressured to hurry up or their next client jump in right after the previous one left. Kindly remind them that you’ll need to clean and ask them to give you a minute to do so. Do not be afraid to set boundaries. If a client does not respect this, it is time to reconsider how you can strengthen your communication with clients.
Proper preparation, draping, etc.
When you put the neck strip and cape around the client, it should be done properly, not sloppy. The neck strip should go under the cape so the cape is not touching the client’s skin. The cape should cover the whole body, legs, and shoes if you have a long cape (we do have long ones that cover the feet – they are phenomenal).
Talking about personal life (problems, etc.)
Remember that clients are here to be heard, not to absorb your issues. You should always be a better listener rather than the one who is just pushing their own topics.
Technical application / Communication through the service
Try to do only one patch and then ask, “Is this okay, or do you want it shorter than this?” I’ve seen many barbers make the mistake of not communicating throughout the service. And then guess what happens — the client says, “Oh, can you do this shorter?” If you say no, you lose a client. If you say yes, you’re late for your next back-to-back appointment. You lose twice. It is not their mistake, it’s yours! Many barbers I’ve worked with will say, “Oh, this guy is difficult,” but they don’t reflect back on themselves. You didn’t communicate, and you can easily learn how to communicate better.
Do not rush if you are late
You are already late, and if your next client is going to be mad, at least justify your lateness with a great haircut. If you rush the client in your chair and still upset your next client, you will lose both.
Go over the same spots multiple times and detail as much as you can
It happens sometimes that our clippers don’t do the expected job, but we don’t realize it. Make sure you go over the same areas of the head multiple times so everything is cut evenly.
Always clean your client well after the service
I’ve seen many people doing a phenomenal job behind the chair but not finishing the service well with a proper clean-up. Make sure you clean your client very well. If they step out of the shop with hair on their head, behind their ears, or on their shoulders, they will notice that one day and start looking for a new barber who pays more attention to detail.
Give out your business card after the service and politely thank your client for trusting you
Do not finish your haircut without a proper goodbye. Goodbye is just as important as welcoming. Clients should know your name, get your business card, and leave with the impression that you truly value their business and would like to see them again.
Post outline
If you found something today you weren’t paying attention to before, and you start implementing it in your daily routine, it will immediately make you a good and reliable barber for your clients. I hope I’ve helped some of you who are just starting out and are not sure how a great service process should look. All these things can help you raise your prices in the future and elevate your name and reputation in the barbershop. Remember: if you want to be a well-paid professional, your professionalism has to have even more value than what you expect to get. Always provide more, and more will come to you.