HOW TO RECOGNISE A BAD HAIRCUT

10 September, 2021

Years ago I was on flight back from the US with a very gregarious and successful hairdresser who sat on the plane and pointed out all the $8 haircuts to me. In those days, I wasn’t initiated in the ways of barbering. I sat aghast as suddenly all the heads he pointed out morphed into hideous cuts. How could I have been so blind? Ever since then, whenever I see a nasty, badly done fade or squint flat-top, I hear Marcus’s southern drawl dripping with disgust.

The sad thing is, too many folk fail to recognise a bad haircut until they get a good one, and so wander through life unable to fathom why style eludes them. Some even put price before a pucker new look. I know – how could they? Obviously, the route to a great cut is to find a great barber, but to find that great barber, you need to distinguish between the good, the bad and the ugly, and so dodge the $8 bullet. Here’s how…

1. The fade is the ultimate barbering skill, tapering short into long in a way that matches the contours of the head and masks any imperfections (just in case you had any). It takes good training, years of practice, good hand-to-eye coordination and a steady hand. Our guys receive ongoing training even after their fades are perfect, because being good is never good enough at Jacks. We always want to be better.

2. Another clear sign of a bad haircut is how quickly it grows out of its tailored finish. Good cuts will last longer, allowing you longer between appointments. Did you know your hair grows at different rates across your scalp? Which is why a cut just doesn’t grow to be a longer version of the original style but instead ends up looking like Worzel Gummidge. A good barber will approach a cut with an eye to how it will grow out. Skilful stuff.

3. I’ve known some guys who are convinced there is nothing to be done about their cow’s lick or sprouting crown, but they are wrong. Camouflaging errant growth patterns is tricky, but it can be done. If cipf-es.org your barber just shrugs his shoulders and says, ‘tough, mate’, then you need to find a new barber.

4. The very worst in our profession know only one haircut; they just cut longer or shorter versions depending on the client. Sadly, there are a lot of barbers like this. Doesn’t bode too well if you are after an on-trend look to impress the ladies. Don’t be curtailed by your barber’s lack of skill. Our chaps and chapesses know how to cut hair to suit you and to suit the fashions.

5. The finish to any look is almost as important at the shape, and a clear way to spot a bad haircut is to check out the finish. Is the neck line flawless? Does the hair blend between temple and stubble or beard? These are important considerations when competing in the highly groomed stakes.

6. Finally, how does the hair sit when it’s free of product? Now we love product; you can’t get a pompadour to last through breakfast without some American Crew Super Glue or some beachy bed-head curls without some Jacks of London True Gent salt spray, but sometimes, just sometimes, you will want to venture forth with virgin hair. This is the ultimate test. Only an excellent cut will allow you to sally forth confidently.

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CALLING ALL STUDENTS!

Calling all students! The summer is almost over and you’re probably switching your brain on to all the things that you’ll need for the new term… you’ve brought your study pack, sorted out your accommodation and worked out how much you can spend on your social life BUT are you in the know when it comes to your hair, skin and beard?

CHOOSING THE RIGHT HAIRCUT FOR YOUR FACE SHAPE

Choosing the right haircut is never easy, and like a lot of things is not exact science. Take a look at our advice or ask one of our barbers for advice when you next visit a Jacks store.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR BARBER

Getting through to your barber is not always easy, as you’ll probably not know the technical jargon needed to emphasise precisely what you want. So we decided to put together a guide to help you let your barber know exactly what you want.

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T's & C's

Our Returns Policy

We will only accept returns if the goods are unopened, unused and are in a resalable condition. By this we mean that all packaging and or cellophane wrapping and tamper resistant seals must be intact.

If this is not the case then the item cannot be returned. If the goods are faulty or damaged please contact us on customerservices@jacksoflondon.co.uk or 01428 717479 and we will advise you on the next step.

Customers would bear the full cost of returning the goods. Any damaged or defective items would be replaced without charge and the cost of return postage refunded. Please keep proof of postage. Jacks of London will replace any faulty items with the same product, however if the product is no longer available, will refund the original card used to make the purchase. Our returns policy is valid for 28 days from receipt of goods.

Credit card refunds would be to the card used for the original purchase. Allow at least 2 billing cycles for your credit to appear on your card statement.

Please wrap your return products in the same packaging in which you received it and enclose a brief explanatory note including your name, order no and reason for return. Return to: Returns Department, Jacks of London, Derwen, Star Hill, Churt, GU10 2HS United Kingdom

Shipping policy

We will dispatch your order on the day of receipt if we receive your order before our 2pm cut off time on weekdays, and if we have the order in stock. Weekend orders will ship on the following Monday unless it is a Bank Holiday.

If we do not have your order in stock, we will contact you by e-mail or telephone. We will inform you when we expect that part of the order to arrive and you will be given the opportunity to cancel that part of the order. Alternatively we may send your order in more than one package if some items are not in stock; however we will only charge you one postage fee.

Jacks of London uses Royal Mail as its shipping company. Please allow a total delivery time of 3-5 business days for UK addresses (although items are likely to arrive sooner) for all Royal Mail First Class packages.

For Next Day Delivery packages Jacks of London uses Royal Mail’s Next Day Service. Delivery is guaranteed next business day before 5:30PM. Your valid order must be with us before 2pm to guarantee dispatch on the day of your order.

At this time Jacks of London are only able to deliver to addresses within the UK and Ireland.

Getting in touch

If you have an issue with your order, a particular product, delivery or simply wish to get some advice on our product range then please get in touch with us in one of the following ways -

Post

Jacks of London
Derwen
Star Hill
Churt
Farnham
GU10 2HS

Email: customerservices@jacksoflondon.co.uk

Telephone: 01428 717 479

Our hours are 9am to 5pm

You can also visit our main Jacks of London website at www.jacksoflondon.co.uk which provides further information or our social media pages as per below -

Twitter - @jacksoflondonuk

Facebook - jacksoflondonbarbers

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Ingredients found in Head Strong Defining Paste

Aqua (Water), Ceteareth-25, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cetyl Alcohol, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Tapioca Starch, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Pumice, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, VP/VA Copolymer, Glycerin, Lanolin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), PEG-12 Allyl Ether, PEG-12, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Citronellol, Galactoarabinan, CI 77499 (Iron Oxides).

Ingredients found in Hold Tight High Shine Pomade

Aqua (Water), Ceteareth-25, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, VP/VA Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-12 Allyl Ether, Parfum (Fragrance), PEG-12, Disodium EDTA, Dehydroacetic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Citronellol.

Ingredients found in Motion Hold Styling Cream

Aqua (Water), Ceteareth-25, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Tapioca Starch, Cetyl Alcohol, Cera Alba (Beeswax), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, VP/VA Copolymer, Glycerin, Lanolin, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), Styrene/Acrylates Copolymer, PEG-12 Allyl Ether, PEG-12, Disodium EDTA, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dehydroacetic Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Trideceth-7, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Citral, Citronellol.

Ingredients found in Urban Hold Sea Salt Spray

Aqua (Water), Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Polysorbate 20, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Parfum (Fragrance), Lactic Acid, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, PCA, Limonene, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Linalool, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Citral, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Citronellol.

Ingredients found in Hassle Free Shampoo

Aqua (Water), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Quaternium-80, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum (Fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Polyquaternium-10, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Phytantriol, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Formic Acid, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Lecithin, Citronellol, Citric Acid.

Ingredients found in Hassle Free Conditioner

Aqua (Water), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycol Stearate, Cetyl Esters, Cetrimonium Chloride, Behentrimonium Chloride, Amodimethicone, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Sodium Benzoate, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum (Fragrance), Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Lauryl Alcohol, Trideceth-12, Glycerin, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Phytantriol, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Myristyl Alcohol, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Lecithin, Citronellol.

Ingredients found in Bulk Up Thickening Shampoo

Aqua (Water), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Ethyltrimonium Chloride Methacrylate/Hydrolyzed wheat protein copolymer , Glycerin, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Chloride, Acrylates/Palmeth-25 Acrylate Copolymer, Glycol Distearate, Laureth-4, Quaternium-80, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum (Fragrance), Phenoxyethanol, Polyimide-1, Potassium Sorbate, Polyquaternium-10, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Disodium EDTA, Panthenol, Phytantriol, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Formic Acid, Avena Strigosa Seed Extract, Lecithin, Citronellol, Citric Acid.