Once upon a time, it was an easy decision about where to get a men’s haircut. Men went to the neighborhood barbershop for a quick and simple cut, a straight razor shave and a healthy dose of camaraderie. Women headed to the hair salon for a cut or color and to connect with other women. As years passed, the lines have become more blurred – while the majority of men still prefer a barber, plenty are also going to the hair salon when it’s time for a haircut. So, where should a man go?

Barbershop Versus Hair Salon

The answer lies in what it is you want to get out of your hair cut experience!

Barbershop

Barbershops maintain that gentlemanly atmosphere of the past and are still a great place to connect with other men. Barbers are trained to perfect simple men’s haircuts using mostly buzzers, meaning the barber is the place to go if you’re looking for a fade, taper or any other cut that is best done with clippers or a buzzer. The barber is also generally the less expensive option – so if you’re looking for a simple cut at an affordable price, this is definitely the way to go.

Hair Salon

Hairdressers, who generally work at hair salons, go through a different sort of training than barbers. Cosmetology programs teach students to cut mostly with scissors and specialize in more complex cuts and textured styles. At the hair salon, you’ll also find a much broader variety of services mostly geared toward women, such as coloring and perms – and don’t expect to get a shave! But for men, the hair salon is the choice if you’re looking for a more on-trend haircut, coloring, a little pampering, or more extensive options in hair products.
The choice between barbershops and hair salons for men really comes down to what you’re looking for in a haircut. There are plenty of reasons for a man to choose to work in, or go to, a hair salon rather than a barbershop. However, sometimes it’s more comfortable to head to the barber.

If you’re interested in spending your days behind the barber’s chair, Genesis Career College offers a master barber program at our Nashville, TN and Dalton, GA campuses.