Just realized my whole approach changed after a shop in Austin

I was visiting a friend's shop down there about 8 months ago, and I saw him do something wild. A guy came in for a skin fade, but he had these really bad razor bumps and ingrown hairs all over his neck. My friend, instead of just going over it, stopped and spent a full 10 minutes just talking to the guy about his shaving routine at home. He told him to throw out his cheap, 5-blade razor and get a single blade safety razor. He even drew a little diagram on a napkin showing the direction his hair grows. I used to think the cut was the only thing that mattered, but that moment hit me. Now, I ask every single client about their at-home care, especially for skin issues. It builds way more trust. How many of you actually take time to give that kind of advice?

3 comments

3 Comments

hollym8227d ago

Wow, that's such a good point. I read a barber blog that called it "chair time vs. care time," and it really stuck with me. They said fixing a problem once saves you from fixing the same client's bad skin over and over, which actually saves time later. It's not just about the ten minutes right then.

elizabeth22027d ago

Honestly, that extra ten minutes would just cut into my next appointment's time.

casey84310d ago

Wait, you're a barber and you think like that? That's wild. I've seen barbers rush a fade and the client comes back two weeks later with a messed up hairline they have to fix for free. Those ten minutes you "save" now cost you a whole free correction later. It's basic math, but you do you.