Going to unisex barber for men's haircut...

[perfectisolation]

Well it's about that time, and I don't know how I'm gonna get this done without telling them I want a men's cut (I have a short women's pixie atm). Which is weird, because you know, what guy tells their haircutter they want a guy's haircut, if they're a guy?? Cause if I tell them I want a layered cut, they'll be confused about if I want it cut like a guy or a girl..

Maybe I'll just make it easier, and bring in a picture. But that's kind of a girl thing to do isn't it? 

How do I go about this??

[Jamie-o]

I've had hair stylists actually suggest looking in the men's style books when I say I want a short cut.  Maybe I'm just that obvious  . But I don't think it's all that uncommon.  You just have to be specific about how you want them to finish it. (Straight across at the ears, not in pixie points, etc.)  And yeah, a picture always help.

[Lachlann]

All I did was bring in a picture of the haircut I wanted. She did it up, no questions asked.

[Ender]

My first time in a barber shop, I showed up with a short haircut that had grown out a bit and looked horribly uneven in the back.  I told her I did it myself, she laughed, (said she had had a boy come in earlier that week who had done the same thing--except he was 5!) and then gave me what appeared to be a male haircut.  She also kept talking football with me, lol.  Never had a hairdresser do that before...  they always talked about their daughters wedding or stuff like that.

I'd say it'd be easiest just to bring in a picture, though.  Be up front about what you want.  You don't have to necessarily say 'guys haircut,' but do say you want the sideburns cut straight at the bottom.  And if you still see them leaving any pixie-ish sideburns or other feminine-looking touches, just tell them to cut that stuff off and do it straight.

[Jay]

I went to the barbers on friday for the first time. I pass though so this might not help. I just told her short back and sides and short on top enough to spike. I thought about talking a picture too, however like yourself I thought yeah that was a bit girly too. Just got along with what you would like done. They might think "oh a guys haircut" but to be honest, alot of butch lesbians have a mans haircut.

Good luck and hope it goes alright, let us know and post a pic too

[Ell]

Maybe I'll just make it easier, and bring in a picture. But that's kind of a girl thing to do isn't it? 
How do I go about this??

i think that bringing a picture of a cut that you like is a great idea. forget about whether or not it's a girly thing.

transitioning means that you're moving from one to the other, not that you're awready there. if people have a problem with that, it's their problem, not yours.

-ell

[milliontoone]

I just go in and ask for what I want done with me it's usually a grade2 at the sides and a grade 4 on top although my hair is longer than that now.  I've never had any problems with it but I think it does depend on where you go, I go to a unisex barbers it's cheaper and it's all I really need I don't need a fancy haircut anyway.
When it comes to feminine stylisation just tell them to cut that ->-bleeped-<- straight across if you see em leaving little touches like pixie points etc....

[tekla]

"Short back and sides"

[Red_Rachel]

I recently took my FTM partner to get his hair cut for the first time in a LONG time (does it himself usually). He hasn't done anything to transition yet, and is pretty androgynous but assumed a woman. We went to Great Clips and just asked for it to be cleaned up, shorter on the sides and longer on the top. About an inch on the sides and an inch and a half on the top. This was in a pretty conservative part of town, but the hairdresser didn't even blink an eye and was very sweet making sure it was just what we wanted. No big deal. Just go in with confidence, knowing what you want, and tell them what you want done. They shouldn't even think twice.