Hair Guide · Altrincham
The Men's Haircut
and Styling Guide
What to ask for, how often to come back, and what to do with it on a Tuesday morning when you have four minutes. Written by the people who cut it.
Book a cut in AltrinchamMost bad haircuts are not bad cutting. They are a conversation that never happened. Two people using the same three words to mean completely different things, and ten minutes later the clippers are already through the side.
This guide covers the cuts we do most, how long each one actually holds its shape, and the short home routine that makes the difference between a cut that looks good in the chair and one that looks good all month.
The Cuts
Six shapes, and what each one asks of you.
Skin fade
Clippers taken down to the skin at the lower back and sides, then blended up into whatever length you keep on top. Sharpest on the day, softest after two weeks. Ask for the fade line to sit low if you want it subtle, mid if you want it obvious.
Upkeep · Every 2 to 3 weeks
Scissor cut
No clippers, or clippers only as a finishing touch. Length is removed and shaped with scissors, so the outline stays soft and the shape grows out more forgivingly. Best if you want texture rather than contrast.
Upkeep · Every 5 to 8 weeks
Clipper cut
One or two guard lengths through the sides and back with the top left workable. Quick, consistent and easy to maintain. A good default if you want the same shape every time.
Upkeep · Every 3 to 4 weeks
Restyle
A proper change of direction rather than a tidy-up: new parting, new weight distribution, sometimes a lot of length removed. Worth booking the longer appointment so there is time to talk it through first.
Upkeep · As needed
Mullet and modern shag
Short and shaped through the front and sides, length kept through the back. The modern version is far softer than the eighties original, and it lives or dies on how the disconnection is blended.
Upkeep · Every 6 to 8 weeks
Grown out and long
Longer hair still needs shaping. Weight removed in the right places stops it going triangular, and a light layer through the crown keeps movement without thinning the ends.
Upkeep · Every 8 to 12 weeks
At Home
A five step routine that actually holds.
- 01
Wash less than you think
Two to three washes a week is enough for most hair types. Rinsing daily is fine; stripping it with shampoo daily is what makes scalps oily and ends dry.
- 02
Towel dry, do not rub
Squeeze the water out rather than scrubbing. Rubbing roughs up the cuticle and is the main cause of frizz in wavy and curly hair.
- 03
Product goes on damp hair
Almost every styling product works better on damp hair than dry. Warm it between your palms first so it spreads evenly instead of landing in one clump.
- 04
Match the product to the finish
Clay and paste for matte texture, cream for soft movement, pomade for shine and control, salt spray for grit and volume. Start with less than you think and build.
- 05
Dry with direction
Thirty seconds of blow drying while pushing the hair the way you want it to sit does more for the shape than any product. Finish on cool air to set it.
Questions
The ones we get asked most.
How often should men get a haircut?
It depends on the shape. A skin fade looks its best for around two to three weeks. A scissor cut holds for five to eight. Longer hair can go two to three months between shape-ups. If you are unsure, book the next appointment based on when the shape starts annoying you rather than the calendar.
How do I ask for the haircut I want?
Bring two photos: one of the front and one of the back or side. Say what you like about the picture rather than naming a style, because the same name means different things to different barbers. Also say how much time you are willing to spend on it each morning, as that changes the cut we recommend.
What is the difference between a barber and a hairstylist?
In practice the line has mostly gone. Barbering leans on clipper work, fades and outlines; hairdressing leans on scissor work, layering and colour. Our team works across both, which is why we call it hair rather than barbering.
Do I need to book, or can I walk in?
Appointments are booked and paid online. Walk-ins are taken only when there is space, so booking ahead is the reliable option.
Where can I get a men's haircut in Altrincham?
UNDERFOUND is at 11 Oxford Road, Altrincham, a few minutes from the Interchange, and we take bookings from Hale, Bowdon, Timperley, Sale and across Trafford.