I went to get a haircut this afternoon, but after describing what I wanted, the stylist handed me some magazines to look through since she didn't know what I was talking about. Problem was, they were all FEMALE mags.. not a male cut to be found. I told her I would just come back tomorrow with a pic. I really want something other than my usual 1.5" on top and fade down to a number 2 on the back and sides, but it's so frustrating when they just assume you want a female cut and then look at you like you're from a different planet when you say you want a male cut. Judgey little things, stylists are. At least in my area.

The best way to deal with people's misunderstandings is to speak up.  Just be polite but very clear what you are looking for.  You want a MEN'S cut not a female version of one.  Tell her your goal is to look as masculine as possible.  You really don't need to give her more details than that.  You are paying her.  It's her job to make you happy. 

You will very better results confronting the subject straight on then subtly hinting at it. 

I feel ya...I once told a haistylist I wanted short hair....and when I showed her a picture she said " YOU WANT IT THAT SHORT?!?!?!".   Way for making me feel like a freak...lol.

That very reason is why I'm timid bout getting my hair cut by someone else, I just cut it myself due to it. But either way, like said above, ya are the one paying for it, you should be able to get it any style you want without them hassling you, if they hassle you, you can always spend your money someplace else, where they'll do what you want done to ya hair.

I never had any troubles cutting my hair, even on the first time when i went from a really long and female hair to a really short and male one with a little mohawk.
maybe I was just lucky.
but just go straight to the point and say what you want. just that!

Ugh, hairstylists.  My hair grows fast and I'm cheap anyways so I always go to Great Clips, and luckily I've found one with a cool gay guy who 'gets it' and gives me the same haircuts he does his male clients.   

Before I found my current Great Clips location though, I had a terribad experience with the manager of another one.  It was this past January and I was wanting it in a longer boy-cut,( a few inches in the front and an inch or so in the back) from shoulder-length, and first she begged me to only trim it and tried to get the other stylists to convince me not to cut it short; "but it's so pretty, honey!", and then when she asked in friendly time-killing conversation why I'd moved back to my current city when I had told her I was 'back home' and I answered that I'd ended a long-term relationship, she said "oh, that explains the drastic haircut then."  Why thanks ever so for the condescending psycho-analysis, is that free with the shampoo or does it cost extra?  ><

Definitely get a male hairstyles magazine or print-out to take with you, that ought to get the point across.  A lot of the women's hairstyle magazines have sections for men's styles too.

I went to a few places to get a short cut and every time they ended up doing their own thing and leaving it looking too girly for me, and then one time I went to a men's salon and they tried to turn me away until I told them I was a guy and then the girl who cut my hair was very nice and explained how she was masculinizing the cut, but all the guys that worked there just kind of smirked at the "girl who thinks she's a guy". It sucked and made me scared to ever get my hair cut again.

Then I went to one of the cheap, supercuts type chain stores and told the girl I wanted a male haircut and she did everything I asked, cutting the sides straight instead of leaving girly points, and squaring the back. No comments on it or anything.

I still hate getting my hair cut because of the men's salon experience, but that one chain store I went to at least does what I want without making me feel too awkward. I'd love to find someone who 'gets it' though.

That's why I'm thinking of getting one of these.
http://www.aircut.com/

This is why I dislike stylists and always have. How come if I'm the one paying... they are the ones that take it upon themselves to give you what they think is best for you? Luckily I don't have to deal with that anymore. My fiancée is kind enough to keep my hair nice and tidy.

I remember that ordeal with my old hairstylist. She could not understand what I meant when I was trying to explain I didn't want the silly razored fringe and elf points in front of my ears and all that nonsense. Near the end I took to just getting a female cut, then going back home and modifying it a little. I was reluctant to leave her because she was a damn good stylist, if I was a girl I'd have been thrilled to have her. Her highlighting technique was flawless.  But it was pointless since it wasn't what I needed then.

Then I walked into a MasterCuts, told them I was Nikolai, told the stylist what I wanted, ignored her raised eyebrow at how old I was versus how old I looked, walked out with male hair. Fixed.

In their defence, the textbook definition of a good stylist is one who will pointblank refuse to do something that will look unflattering on their client. And if they think you're female, it's their job to avoid giving you a masculinising cut. We're just unusual because we aim for cuts that do not flatter us and make us look feminine. Which is confusing to anyone. Not their faults, really.

Next time go in, pick out a picture from a boy's book, and show it to them and tell them that's exactly what you want.  That's what I did and I was really pleased with the result.  Try to get a smaller, or lesser-known haircut place too.  Less people so you won't feel so on the spot.

omg.. much appreciated guys. Looks like I just need to grow a pair and walk in like I own the place. 

Yeah just don't go into asian barber shops cause you KNOW theyll be all up in your business.

I went to hairstylists for awhile. Often times they won't square off my sideburns or start the longer section in the right place. I've found that chain type places (supercuts/lemontree) tend to be worse at doing it quick and in the way they see fit.

The last time I got my hair cut I went to a barbershop. They got it completely right with very simple forward explanation.

I think Mastercuts is the best place I've ever been to. Not only do I have a girl that does exactly what I tell her to do, but she gives me a discount because she just likes doing the haircuts I want. She just gets it. All of the staff is very friendly as well, always giving me compliments...I think it helps that's she's younger and more new agey. You should try to find someone like that if you can.

Quote from: Aranikace on December 27, 2010, 11:53:20 PM
omg.. much appreciated guys. Looks like I just need to grow a pair and walk in like I own the place. 

I'll start by apologising for butting in to a guy's forum area... But I'm glad you said this Aranikace, because it saved me saying much the same thing.. And if you think it's hard getting a straight up male haircut, look at it from my point of view, I'm early in my transition and as a result, request a haircut that can be styled either male or female.. Imagine how much confusion that can cause.. I solved it by going to one of the more up market salons..

I had a same thing. When I get my first cut, I had a long and curly hair, but one man hairdresser really got me a nice cut. I was really happy. Next time I went to get my haircut, it was like 2 months after cause my hair really grows fast and one woman didn't get me the haircut I wanted. She was saying: Is this good? This long? I just looked at her and said, nope, cut it more, I want that my hair is shorter. The thing is when you try to get a man haircut they don't wanna cut it really short, they cut and then you have to come back in 1 months after to explain again, pleaseee cut moreeeeee!

I never had tooooo much hassle with my hairstylists, but it was always a worry of mine that they would cut it a femme version of what I wanted. I'm a really outgoing person though, so normally I just speak up as they're cutting and politely go 'no, much shorter please, and I don't want any of those little flicks either' etc.

My current hairdresser is a young woman, she actually loves to see me come into the store. The first time I had her I went in with the longest hair I'd had in about three years, and promptly asked her to shave half of my head She gasped and double checked with me, then went at it with gusto and a huge grin, and continued to say a lot of things like 'I wish more people were this daring!' etc. The next time I went back for a mohawk, and she was excited once again.

She told me it was rare that people wanted something different to the norm, and that it excited her to change things up and go against the grain. I think you just have to either find the right person who's willing to listen to you, or force the one you have to do what you want. Bottom line, you're the one who's paying.

NNNGHHHG barbers ! I feel your pain man, last few years I went to a more public places and no mater what I tried or said they ALWAYS want 'something feminine' in my hair. The norm of 'I pay thus I decide' doesn't really apply here, unless they read you as male they won't do what I want.

I just go to a friend now, hes a barber,he knows I'm not a woman and I pay what the other men pay.


If all else fails try a trick, say your supposed to look like a guy for a theater/schoolplay or something.

When I went to get my haircut, I went to a totally different one than I normally do. And I brought in a picture of how I wanted it. Told the lady that we were having a gender different look a like contest at our college and the winner could win up to 10,000. With that said she of course wanted to make it as much like the picture as possible without having to explain anything for yourself. Of course since I went to a different stylist than normal, it didn't turn out exactly how I wanted it, but it's hair. It grows back and you get to try again.