The biggest difference I see in my chair isn't the haircut, it's the prep

I've been cutting hair for 6 years, and for the first 3 I was rushing through pre-shampoos and hot towel wraps. Figured it was extra fluff for people paying $60+. Then I started my own cleaning business and realized it's the same principle. A clean canvas makes the final product look way better. Now I spend a solid 5-7 minutes on the wash and conditioning before I even touch clippers. The difference in how clean the fade looks and how the hair behaves is night and day. Clients notice too. My retention went up maybe 30% after I slowed down that part. Anyone else find that the prep work matters more than the actual cut?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_ryan2d ago

Wait, are you really saying 5-7 minutes of washing makes that much difference? I mean, I get the idea of a clean canvas but I've been cutting for 8 years and I spend maybe 90 seconds on a dry cut with zero prep. Most of my clients just want in and out quick, not some spa treatment that drives up the price. If your fade is solid, itll look clean regardless of a fancy shampoo job. I've had dudes come in with hats and product caked in their hair, wiped it off with a towel, and still gave them a crisp fade that held for weeks. Honestly, slowing down prep just sounds like a way to justify charging more for time you're not even cutting.

grant_perry2d ago

Eight years in the chair yourself and you've seen the same thing, man. I get tired of barbers acting like a wash is some magic fix when a solid fade and a clean line do all the work anyway. Sometimes less fuss really is just more for the guys who don't wanna sit through extra steps.