subject: Looking for a New Barber and What to look for [print this page] Looking for a New Barber and What to look for
Try a generic web search Google will help you find high-quality barbers are in your area. For instance, if you just look up Dorchester, Massachusetts, you can type in "Dorchester + Barber" and you will be directed to a map of all Styling Barber Shops in that area. You will also be able to see that there listed with a link to there websites.
In addition to the name and address of a shop, Google web searches will often have reviews below. These can be great resources, although be warned: Occasionally competitors will go onto their rival's pages and write bad reviews. So take these reviews with an appropriate grain of salt.
Ask your coworkersYou might notice that certain people around the office have nice haircuts. It seems strange, but asking a coworker where they get their haircut can not only be informative for you, it can be a nice icebreaker and show that you are interested in what they have to say. Don't be shy. Go ahead and ask. One warning: It might not be appropriate to ask your boss where he or she gets their haircut, because that could be seen as sucking up.
Check out Yelp!Yelp is one of the best tools for searching for businesses, because it features easy-to-understand reviews written by consumers. You can even link your Yelp profile with your Facebook, which makes it pretty easy to see what people in your social circle are doing.
Unfortunately, Yelp is only available for certain cities, but it is growing. You can check out Yelp to see if your city is included.
The Yellow Pages If you are a little intimidated by Yelp, taking a look at an old fashioned phonebook can get the job done. After all, that's how people found businesses for years before the Internet came on the scene. And most barber shops will still list themselves in the phonebook.
Walk around downtown If your town has a main street or a downtown area, you'll often be able to find a barber shop by simply walking around. Sure, you won't necessarily know if the place is good, but if you are feeling adventurous you can go ahead and try out a place. After all, your hair will grow back eventually.
Look for age Some barber shops will say on their storefront what year they opened. If a barber shop has been around for 20 years, that means it is probably doing something right, and its costumers must be coming back month after month for a reason. Of course, this could also mean that people afraid to hurt their barber's feelings, so they keep coming back despite sub par service.
Try it out on a short-term basis If you have narrowed your choice down to a few barbers, but are too nervous to take the plunge, consider going in and having just a tiny trim done. This way, you can see how the barber shop works, without having to risk making a drastic change to your hair. It might seem like a waste of money, but it could be worth it.
The bottom line At the end of the day, a barber is just a small part of your life in a new city or one you have lived in all your life. But having someone that is dependable, that can provide good conversation and a good haircut, can help ease the worry about how you look. That's why it's more important than you might think to find the right one. Good luck!
