Had a client ask for a 'simple trim' and then pull out a picture of a completely different haircut

This happened last Tuesday with a regular who comes in every six weeks. He sat down, said the usual 'just a little off the top and sides,' and I got my clippers ready. Halfway through, he stops me and pulls his phone out. He shows me a picture of a guy with a skin fade and a hard part, which is nothing like what he asked for. I had to explain that we were already past the point for that style with the guard I'd used. He just shrugged and said 'oh, I thought you'd know.' It made me realize how often people don't know how to describe what they want, or think we can read minds. Now I show them the guard before I make the first pass, every single time. What's your go-to move to make sure you and the client are on the same page before you start cutting?

3 comments

3 Comments

max_torres4416h ago

Ever think about asking them to describe the picture instead of just showing it? I make clients tell me what they like about the photo, like "keep it longer here" or "make it sharp there." It forces them to put it into words and you catch if they're actually clueless about the style they picked.

seth_singh2010h ago

Spot on with asking for a description. It cuts right through the vague ideas. I mix that with what vera_lewis2 said about multiple photos. If their words don't match the common thread in the pictures, you know they're just picking random stuff they saw online. It saves everyone from a bad result later. You're basically making them prove they know what they actually want.

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vera_lewis212h ago

My cousin's a tattoo artist and she says this happens constantly, people bring in a picture of a full sleeve when they booked a small wrist tattoo. It's that same gap between the image in their head and the words they use. I always ask for three reference photos now, not just one, because it shows me the common details they're actually looking for. If all three pics have the same type of fade, then we're talking about a real style and not just a random photo they liked once.