Haircuts

[Chris]

Barber or Salon? Why? I vacillate back and forth and can't seem to settle on one over the other. Something nostalgic about a barber shop, but salons seem to offer more up to date options.

[maunahaole]

Power clipper with a 1/8" guide over my laundry tub.

[robin3mj]

It's a haircut. There should be no such thing as up to date or out of date.
I went to a salon owned by my wife's uncle who cuts hair for Clinton, Michael Douglas etc.
Once.

Barber.

[jscottyk]

Power clipper with a 1/8" guide over my laundry tub.

Same here except no guide and blade set to minimum. Occasionally I will seek out a barber just for the nostalgia but it's hard to justify doing it regularly when it seems even that is now $20.

[chasea]

A stripper cuts my hair in my living room.

I have to sweep, but don't have to travel.

Plus, you know, she's a stripper.

[Eric Estlund]

My dad was a career barber and stylist. He was the shit in 70's San Francisco before moving to New Hampshire and being forced to change his approach.

My last good hair cut was from him. After a few sub par for-hire jobs (including the worst haircut of my life for my wedding day) I've been doing myself with his hand-me-down clippers. At least I'm getting my money's worth.

Ignore the label, and go to the person who gives you what you need. Anything else is just spending money to sit in a fancy chair.

[sonny]

you're going to the wrong barber if he's not "up-to-date"--whatever that means

my man will offer you a beer, cut your hair and lecture you about the importance of properly manscaped eyebrows, then do your eyebrows because you agree they are important, and get a proper tip for $30
can't beat it

[cody.wms]

Power clipper with a 1/8" guide over my laundry tub.

Same here. I'm bald, so the options are limited. Sometimes I get fancy and cut my beard too.

[false_aesthetic]

My dad has been going to the barber, Steve, once a month, for ~35 years (longer than I've been around). Even now, he'll drive ~50 miles to see the dude. My dad's seen Steve battle cancer, talked with him when his wife had cancer, watched his kids grow up, etc. Steve's done about the same. I used to ask my pop, "Why do you keep going to Steve? You live so far away." His answer was, "Because he's my barber."

The dude I go to now isn't as awesome as other barbers but he has no problem doing anything from a proper shape-up to shaving a 16 year old with a straight razor just to make the kid feel grown up. He also happens to have a superb hip-hop selection playing all the time. Most importantly, he makes this guero feel comfortable.... I never got any of that at a salon.