Aibu to be furious with barber

[BillywigSting]

So I took ds for a much needed tidy up haircut. It was a bit longer than in the 3rd pic. He chose a style he likes and that will be ok with school.

The blurred out pic is ds, the other what he wanted.

He previously had lots of beautiful blonde curls. They have given him a number 4 and cut his ear.

I know I am probably being a bit dramatic but I could honestly cry. His hair grows really really really slowly too. This is only his fifth or sixth haircut ever because it's curly it stays short for ages.

I refused to pay because it looks nothing like what he asked for. He's upset about loosing his curls and I'm not sure school will be overly happy with it either.

[ScrewyMcScrewup]

It's hair. It looks fine. The barber didn't shave CUNT into it.

Do an Elsa.

[Grumpelstilskin]

Just seen the update with the new picture. You are being extremely unreasonable. And very out of order for not paying. The hair isn't shorter than the sample hairstyle. Your son has just got very thin hair. It looks way better than the curls though.

[Refilona]

I see the “after” picture now. I think the main problem is that your son has much thinner hair than the boy in the picture so it’s never going to look as big. In the future you should take a picture that is more realistic, like this one coolmenshair.com/wp-content/uploads/curly-haircuts-for-little-boy-1-1.jpg . But it’s a nice haircut, and the curls will show up again in a month or two.

[BillywigSting]

He is five. He typically goes six months between haircuts because his hair being fine and curly, grows exceptionally slowly.

We were fully aware it would not end up looking exactly like the photo he wanted, it was more like that was the general length he wanted at the back and sides.

That middle pic has been cut with scissors and clipped at the ears. My ds has been shaved.

They also cut his ear right where his glasses sit.

[AngelinaNeurosurgeon]

If you showed the barber the middle picture as what you wanted then I don't see the problem, albeit it's a little shorter. And even at the length you say you wanted he wouldn't have kept his curls.
I don't think you're helping your son by making a fuss and refusing to pay - he's going to go I to school thinking he's had a terrible haircut when he hasnt

[itswinetime]

I can't see why school would have an issue with his hair. I agree it's not what you wanted but I don't think his hair could do what he wanted and I still don't see you thought he would keep his curls even if they did exactly what you asked.

Also the photo you used isnt just a cut it's a style there is loads of gel and product on the boy in the picture.

[Bunnybigears]

The barber should have explained that his hair was too fine for that haircut that's why it looks so flat. Lesson learned dont go back to that barber and try and pick more realistic hair cuts. Number 4 should be fine for school, the hair isn't actually that short it's just fair and thin so looks like there is not much there.

[GirlcalledJack]

I’m not sure how you thought your DS would be able to have hair like the middle pic?
His hair is naturally too thin and to keep curly hair straight it has to be cut very short, literally a few CM’s length.

It’s like someone with poker straight, thin, short hair asking a hairdresser to make into a shoulder length Afro.

I also wonder if he is upset in loosing his curls or is picking up from you that you’re upset he has lost his curls. It’s his hair, he has to live with it please tell him how much more grown up it makes him and how lovely it looks even if you hate it.

[capaciousbladder]

He has a short back and sides. It's as close to the picture as possible with the difference between model and boy. If you want curls, you have to keep length. I think the barber has done what was asked and you reacting like this will do your son no favours. Unless you specifically told the barber to keep the curls, YABVU and owe them money and humble pie.
I have no idea why a school would object to short back and sides. If you're burdening your son with such concerns, again, you get to where the IABU badge. Sorry.

[Reters]

YABU to be furious. If he had taken a tiny bit off, you would be going back every 2 weeks.

[Grumpelstilskin]

@FlopsyMopsyRabbit Oh, feck off! There are just 3 minutes between I was typing and posting while OP finally managed to upload the right picture.

[IWouldPreferNotTo]

Is this no short hair in school a new thing? I remember in secondary school buzzcuts being very common and my friend had a number 2 throughout school

[NanooCov]

I don't think it's particularly short. Have you washed it since it was cut? Looks like they have put "product" on it. Might be better without.

[NunoGoncalves]

I think an essential part of being a boy/man is coming away from the barber shop moaning about how much they took off. If they can find one who actually cuts their hair just how they want it, they will stay with them forever and ever and never move away for fear of having to try 329 new barbers before they find a good one again.

[BillywigSting]

It is very short.

A few mm where it should be around an inch.

He is upset about loosing his curls on the top (the side ones he isn't bothered about) because he gets lots of compliments on them, even from strangers.

If they had cut it as long as they were supposed to he would have kept his curls on top and I could have blown it straight whenever he wanted.

There is no product on his hair.

[SparkiePolastri]

and I'm not sure school will be overly happy with it either

School won't give a fig. It's a normal haircut seen on countless boys.

[Boysey45]

I think it looks nice OP.
Go back and pay the barber tomorrow, theres nothing wrong with it.

[Bunnybigears]

Why didn't you just ask for a short back and sides then?

[HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone]

I don't see how this hair cut you think he should have would work in practice. You wanted it cut shorter like the picture but to still be curly on top. However to keep the curls you need to keep the length.

Yes the barber should have told you it was not a haircut that could be achieved on your son but I think you are unreasonable to blame the barber for the cut. It is as close to the picture as possible given his thin and curly hair.

You were very unreasonable to not pay and any angst he has over his new haircut has probably been magnified 1000x by you telling the barber it didn't look like the picture and refusing to pay for it.

[Moanymoaner123]

But there was no way the example you gave the barber would have ever been possible with fine curly hair. The barber has cut it short so that it would look straighter like the photo as you asked. You owe the barber an apology and his money. Next time be more realistic about what can be achieved with the hair your son has.

[FullOfJellyBeans]

I think you're letting your disappointment get the better of you. Why on earth would school complain about his hair cut (unless there's a rude word shaved in the back you forgot to mention)? I don't see how you would get the photo you asked for since his hair is curly.

[pictish]

Ok...my thoughts for what they’re worth.

1. Most barbers exclusively do crew cuts or short back and sides and a scant few variations of the same. Your son’s haircut (as it is now) is essentially what they do. Next time see a hairdresser...the word stylist applies to their skill set.
   

1. His hair was never going to look like the picture owing to the dissimilarities in hair type anyway. It’s patently not a style with any curls involved. He was never going to keep his curls asking for that cut. A stylist would have explained that to your son instead of bashing in and just doing the bog standard barber cut. “So short round the sides and longer on top then.”
   

1. Haircuts are often purposely cut on the short side. This is so the cut will last longer than a fortnight.
   

Your lad’s haircut is fine. In two weeks it’ll just be him.

[PotteringAlong]

I’m not seeing the issue here...

[AguerosAngel]

Totally agree with PP’s, your sons hair was NEVER going to look like the middle photo, it’s too thin and curly.

YABVU and bang out of order to not pay, you need to return to the shop, pay and apologise profusely!!

[motherofdxughters]

YABVU and rather odd not to pay considering your sons hair is thin, fine, very fair and curly meaning even in the same style it'd be flat and lifeless. You should go back and pay and choose a different barber (and a more realistic hair cut) next time.