I paid $70 (!) for a hair & beard cut in order to look sharp for a job interview. Not only was I unhappy with the result, but I got told at the interview that I looked “scruffy”! Extremely disappointing and embarrassing.
Prior to this cut, I’d only ever gotten compliments on the well-groomed nature of my hair and beard, and every one of my friends said that the cut was a significant downgrade. (So it’s not like the barber had some kind of terribly difficult starting point to work from.)
I recently moved to Portland and, being socially awkward, I put off getting a haircut for five months. I had a barber I went to often back in my hometown who I would show photos to, and he would know what to do. When I finally decided to go to a new barbershop, I walked in without an appointment. When the receptionist asked me what I was looking to get, I said maybe two inches off, not realizing it was too little for the look I wanted. The only available barber overheard this and said he was ready.
Once I sat down, he didn't even ask what I wanted before he started cutting. When he finished, he gave me my glasses and said he was done. It was 10 minutes. I knew this wasn't what I wanted, so I told him and showed him photos to explain better, but he got visibly irritated and still didn't cut it the way I wanted. The entire cut took about 20 minutes. I was so uncomfortable that I just said it was fine, paid, and even tipped out of guilt. This was an absolutely awful experience.
