April /2001 |
Barber didn't ask
By Rick
I've been going to the same barber for a few months in
Springfield, VA at a shop called Gents. His name is Aaron. He's a young guy
(almost 27) with a buzz cut. He spends about an hour with each customer cutting
his hair, which usually gives me lots of time to watch other guys getting their
haircut first and plenty of chair time for me. I know, some of you will say no
barber would take an hour but he does and I invite you to time him yourself.
Anyway, the last time I got my haircut when he asked if I wanted the
usual I said, "I guess so, unless you think there's something that would
look even better?" I was hoping he'd suggest going a little shorter. But he
said, "Yeah, that's a good cut for you" and ended up doing just about
the same haircut -- low to medium tapered crewcut, with 1/2" on top.
Yesterday, I went back. It had been 4 weeks since my last cut. I get in
the chair, he puts the cape around me and just starts buzzing away in back. He
doesn't say anything about how I want it cut or ask if I want the usual or
anything. This strikes me as unusual, but it's like he read my mind. I knew that
I was going to end up with the haircut he wanted to give me or at least the
haircut he thought I wanted and I wouldn't even need to ask for it! So I didn't
say anything and just trusted him completely (turned away from the mirror
without my glasses on -- I was totally at his mercy).
During the haircut I can feel he is going tight on the back and sides.
When he steps away, I feel the close buzz on the back and sides. When he is
finally done -- about an hour and 5 minutes later he spins me around, hands me
my glasses and holds a mirror up to the back. WOW did he go short on me! It
looks to me like he used a 0 down low and the #1 and 1 1/2 almost all the way to
the crown. The top is more like 3/8" and it is all perfectly blended
together and perfectly tapered all around. He is one awesome barber. I gave him
a $7 tip on a $13 haircut.
I think it's a bit risky for a barber to go shorter on a customer without
asking, but in this case it was exactly what I wanted because I would
undoubtedly have chickened out, even though I wanted a shorter cut for the
summer. I'm anxious to see what he does next time -- ask, don't ask and do the
same cut, or don't ask and go even shorter. If he doesn't ask, I'm content to go
along with whatever he does.
What do people think. Do you think he's one of us? Aaron, are you out
there dude?