Why did he choose to become a barber?
– He has two trainings: first, landscape design, and second, project management. After earning his first diploma, he quickly found work in a private company, where for two years he prepared soil in pots for a salary of twenty-five thousand rubles a month. Growth stalled for several years. He retrained, and after finishing college he found that managerial experience was required. He decided to switch direction and learn barbering from a trusted master, one of the best in Moscow. Today he earns at least one hundred thousand a month, and that figure reflects his status as a beginner who has only studied for a year. Before that, he had similar earnings doing hands-on model work.
What is the difference between a barber and a hairdresser?
– Barbers focus on men’s haircuts, while hairdressers are generalists. Their techniques differ too. For instance, a hairdresser tends to work with the entire hand, using all fingers and the thumb, while a barber trains with the lower part of the hand to ensure sharp, precise cuts.
Because the technique varies, universal masters often cut women’s hair as if it were men’s. Therefore, specialized work is valuable, and it is best to consult highly skilled professionals. Barbers are trained to tailor a haircut to a man’s face shape and hair growth patterns, with style choices that suit men. This reduces hairstyle errors that might occur with a female cut. Hairdressers, on the other hand, are not inferior; the key is finding a competent specialist, regardless of the field.
– Why are barber prices higher than those in hairdressing salons if universal specialists are not worse?
– First, in a barber shop, a highly qualified professional will indeed cut the hair. Many salons meet strict requirements, from appearance to information. Also, barbers typically study trichology, the science of hair and scalp, and undergo extended training. During probation, a barber’s fate hinges on whether clients return. If there aren’t returning customers, the probation fails.
Second, barber shops invest in expensive, high-quality equipment. For example, a hair clipper in their salon costs thirty thousand, while market options are often around a thousand.
Third, service matters greatly. Good lounges offer complimentary beverages such as beer, whiskey, gin, or champagne, plus desserts and a coffee machine with roasted beans.
– There is a belief that barber workers do not welcome women as clients. Is that true?
– Clients have their preferences. Some feel that women disrupt the “boyish atmosphere.” Just like in men’s and women’s locker rooms, men visit a barber shop for the decor and the experience. They don’t receive manicures nearby, and conversations about new dresses do not take center stage. They can relax with a drink and discuss personal issues openly, even if that seems blunt to some. Staff treat women with courtesy, though a few clients may frown on women entering. There are regular female clients who want a masculine haircut. For example, one client returns monthly for a specific crop that leaves a centimeter of length on the crown and front while the sides and back are shaved. This illustrates steady demand for a particular aesthetic among women as well.
Is it possible to get infected at a barber shop? The concern often arises because of sharp tools. If safety standards are neglected, infections could occur.
– All instruments in the shops are sterilized using dry heat. They are first wiped with alcohol, then heated in a dry chamber, and finally treated with alcohol again in the view of the client. The devices are immersed in a special solution weekly. Tools for each client are kept separate and replaced after each service if there is a high flow of customers.
In place of traditional razors, long-used shavetkas with replaceable blades are common. Even if a minor injury occurs, the blade is changed immediately.
For added safety, every barber keeps a separate comb for clients with sensitive scalps, such as dandruff or psoriasis.
– Do difficult or scandalous clients come often?
– They are rare. Not long ago, a man with alopecia asked for a dramatic alteration and then changed his mind. The master explained the situation and, despite a big discount, the client left unhappy. Another incident involved a hyperactive six-year-old who cried and resisted. The staff stayed patient, explained it would be over soon, and eventually the session ended with a calmer space in the lounge and a rescheduled appointment for others.
In most cases, challenging clients are those who love a haircut but then complain to friends. In those moments, the shop offers a complimentary cut to make things right. Generally, objections are uncommon, and when they arise they are resolved quickly.