new thread
First off, I am petrified of going into any barber shop because usually the barbers are all guys with some type of military buzzed style and when they see a guy with long hair the first thing they do is pull out the Oyster Clippers which can remove a lot of hair very quickly.
salons on the other hand and I am referring to reputable salons not some type of "super cuts" or "fantastic sams" strip mall "salon" which hires just out of school grads, but real professionals that will work with you rather than resort to taking something that took a considerable time to grow and shear it off. if you ask for a consultation they will give it. barbers are not in business of giving consultations. they're in business to do one thing-give very short haircuts!
what are your experiences with both and which of the two would you prefer to go to if at all?
My experience with both is that they are all hacks. They both take great joy in doing what they want, not what the customer wants. I've had bad experiences with both.
Not only the Oyster 76 clippers, you're forgetting about those Wahl Super Tappers and Balding Clippers hahahaha.
I would include in that list of salons the "Great Clips", I'm not from the US, but I heard a lot of this salon messing up with many people's hair and not doing what you want.
Well, I can't tell you exactly because in all these 2 years and 4 months without a haircut, I didn't even stepped in a barbershop or a salon for a trim yet.
But I can share you my past experiences with my short hair period and all you said about barbershops is true, these places are full of guys with buzzcuts, flatops, ivy league and other types of short haircuts, they don't even care how you want your hair to look like, just buzz the sides and the back and cut the top with scissors and voila, you got a haircut in barbershop.
In these times, I've always complained to my barber about the bad spots he left in my head (such as single strand longer than the rest of hair), the day I went into a salon with my mother, they gave me the haircut exactly what I wanted, but when arriving at home, my father saw my hair and sent me back to the barbershop saying "You call this a haircut? This isn't a haircut, it's just a trim, go back in there and get it shorter as possible and for secure reasons, I'm going with you" and I left the barbershop with #2 on the sides and the back and #4 on the top (always been like this for years, since my childhood and during my youth days).
Anyone could be a barber nowdays, just buy a pair of clippers, scissors and a comb, they don't even care how it's going to look, the shortest, the better.
In my opinion, I would say that the services at the salon is 10x better than in a barbershop and it often costs a bit more, but it pays the price for what you're looking for.
Take care my friend!
The only time that I have been in a salon was 9 years ago I was pissed at my hair dresser and got a buzz cut then shaved my head for 6 years. I have not had a hair cut or trim even in over 3 years now since I got over the shaving smooth and just read what I read to grow it out having hooked up with a really hot long haired young man with but long wavy locks. He smiled I melted and that is the story I reveal to my friends a handsome young queer with long hair dressed in full leather and so proud of it. I have arrived it seems at the long hair that I have always known was in me and I am responsible for me so I cannot blame anyone else.
Haven't been to a barber since Feb. of 1964. last salon I was in was owned and operated by my partner, a fellow long hair. he is retired and still trims my hair every couple months to keep it at mid back length.
I wouldn't go so far as to say they're "all hacks" but if you love your long hair you want to exercise caution when doing business with someone whose livelihood is based on cutting hair. I think it's not as much a matter of the salon or shop as the person. The best way to find a good one is to ask someone (usually a woman) with very well trimmed long hair. Ask her who she goes to. People serious about this stuff even follow their stylist when she/he moves to a new location.
That said, I'll have to admit I'm more like Rktect. I haven't been inside a barbershop in decades. I did do the stylist thing a decade or so back when I had an office job, but most of life I've just trimmed it myself.