Pro tip: Haircut that took 10 minutes vs 45, which one do clients actually pay for?

I was working at a booth in the Denver Barber Expo last month and watched two guys do the same fade. One took 10 minutes, the other took 45 with all these details. The 10 minute guy got way more customers in his chair. Makes me wonder if we overcomplicate things for money or just for pride. What do you all think, speed or polish?

3 comments

3 Comments

laura_wilson5d ago

Used to be all about the details myself, chasing that perfect blend and crisp lines. Saw a guy at the same expo who did a fire fade in under 12 minutes flat, and his chair was nonstop while the perfectionist next to him barely had clients. Totally changed my mind on this. Clients don't know about the extra steps you took, they just care if it looks good and feels worth the price. Speed matters for your bottom line, obviously, but also for client satisfaction since nobody wants to sit forever. Still believe in quality, but not at the expense of wasting people's time.

david_palmer4d ago

That 45 minute detail guy probably spent 15 of those minutes just futzing with lines nobody would ever notice. I watched a buddy do a straight razor shave and line up in 8 flat at a competition and the crowd went nuts. People just want to look clean and get on with their day. @laura_wilson hit it right, clients dont know what a "perfect blend" took versus a good one, they just see the result. I think there's a middle ground though where you pick the 2 or 3 things that actually matter to the eye and nail those fast, then move along. Otherwise you're just showing off for the mirror, not the customer.

brian_hart4d ago

My buddy Mike tried that whole "take your time and be perfect" approach for about a month and his chair was empty half the day. Switched to a quick, clean 12 minute cut that focused on the three things clients actually notice and his bookings doubled within two weeks. Clients don't pay extra for the time you spent fussing, they pay for looking good when they walk out.