I have worked in several barber shops in Texas; about 7 in 2 years time. Most of the owners don't understand how to run a barbershop, most are not full service shops; this makes these shops limited service shops. The barbers in Texas, all that I have run across only cut hair. The barbers in Houston in the black barber shops don't offer shampoos, color or texturizers. These are services that a good barber should offer. Other services are lacking these are just a few of the basics from my observation. Most of the barbers cant or wont use sheers to cut hair, I think that is a lazy barber. A good barber should have at least basic knowledge of all his tools and equipment.
Why have your clients going home with do it your self kits when you should be offering these services. If you go to Atlanta or you will see barbers doing a variety of services that the clients want.
While you have your client in the chair you should offer him the shave or shampoo or color what ever suites that particular client and enhances his appearance. As a barber part of your job is to pamper your client. You are suppose to make your client look as good as you can you should at least ask if they want their nose hairs cut, offer to cut the hair from their ears a shave beard or mustache trim. You can ask them; have you ever thought about coloring your hair? If you notice that they are coloring their hair you can remind them that you offer those services. He or she may not know; especial if you don't have a sign posted with the services that you offer and a price list.
You should have learned all of this in school, but I am speaking on my experience with working in barbershops in Texas, and Houston to be more specific. I have worked with a few good barbers but even those guys offered limited services. The barbers most of the ones that I have worked with are all about a dollar. Most of the so called master barbers are not masters at all many think they know what it is any many define it according to their personal limitations a true master barber should be one that offer all barber services to his clients and conducts himself or herself as a professional at all times. If you believe that it is gay to shampoo hair or other basic barbershop services you will always be a borderline barber and not a master barber and that's ok some body has to be second best and some one has to come in last too.
Part 2
I was trained to offer many services to be able to do men and woman's hair some of my school goes above and beyond what an average barber does. We were taught to do color and perm relaxers and the whole nine. The poor quality of schools in Houston as well as low standards in the barber shops in general are what make Houston so over populated with barbers and barber shops. I guess a bad economy is pushing a lot of people that would ordinarly be doing something else into the barber business it appears to be a field with money and money can always be made cutting hair it is a matter of building up client and that can go many ways most of the shops don't put any advertising all that I have worked in do not spent any money on advertising. You are responsible for that completely on your own. Some owners might get a few fliers made up for you, but most wont it is all on you. Most of the shops are not well lit or they are a front for other business activity. The people in Houston most it seems have no loyalty they will go any place and get a haircut. What ever they are closest to. This makes it hard for a barber to build a business the barber business from what I have seen in Houston is rather inconstant, you can hardly depend on making a set amount of money. It seems like it takes years to get established before one can make a living from just cutting hair.
All barbers cut hair that is the same across the board. Every city state and region has its own culture and sub culture. Barbers are at the center of what makes any place the way it is. People will set trends and styles change. The styles and the look of the people in any area speak for what the trendy styles are; if they are done well or not. In areas where barbers are not doing much, more people will be doing their own hair, or going to a friend or some one in the neighborhood.
Some places are known for having quality barbers and stylist; others have a bad reputation for not being so good. There is a need for better schools. A good school will produce good professionals to work in the hair care business. Money is the main motive of most people in all business. Greed overrides quality every time.
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