Warning: your client's 'just a little off the top' might mean something else

So this guy comes in yesterday, points at his hair and says the classic line... wants just a little off the top. I ask him to show me with his fingers how much. He holds his thumb and index finger about an inch apart. Cool, I think, I got it. I do a clean inch off. He looks in the mirror, his eyes get wide, and he goes 'Whoa, that's way more than I wanted!' I'm confused... I ask him to show me again. This time, he pinches a tiny bit of hair, maybe a quarter inch. I had to explain that the space between his fingers is what I measure, not the hair he's pinching. He thought showing me the hair itself was the guide. It happens at least once a week with different people. How do you all handle the 'show me' part to make sure you're both seeing the same thing?

2 comments

2 Comments

williamschmidt17d ago

Ever have a client who uses coins as a measuring guide? My buddy had a guy hold up a dime to show how much to take off... then got mad when it was too short. I guess some folks just have their own visual language.

grant.luna17d ago

Honestly, the finger pinch is a total trap. You have to physically put your own fingers on their hair to show the exact amount you're going to cut. Just mirroring their gesture never works because everyone's brain sees it differently. I actually take a comb and hold it up to show the length coming off. Makes it a real object we can both look at. Saves so much trouble when you turn their vague idea into something solid.