IS A TRIM THE SAME AS A HAIRCUT? READ THIS!

What’s The Difference Between A Trim & A Full Haircut? Find Out Here!

A trim is cheaper than a full haircut, right?! Those words will give any stylist some serious scaries. Whether it’s removing one inch or four, there’s no question—stylists are using their time and skills to create the client's request. We asked our friends on Facebook helped answer some common questions with advice on how to handle these situations.

Do What The Paying Client Wants (But Make Suggestions)

No doubt our ultimate goal is to make our clients happy, but at what point do you sacrifice your professional opinion for a smile in the chair? Here's what some stylists from Facebook say:

“Do what the client wants. Then, encourage them to come in regularly. I have long hair myself and asked a co-worker to just trim my ends and she cut off two inches! I was furious. I asked her why, and she said, ‘Well, it needed it.’ Don’t do that to your clients. They might not come back.” – Dan Forest
“I tell my clients to hold up their fingers and show me how much they want off. Because I tell them, what your trim means and what mine does will probably not be the same.” – Kim Current Knauff
“I ask, ‘What is YOUR version of a trim?’ I also ask for them to show me what they think an inch is (picks up four inches of hair.) They have no clue. Finally I spin them around and hand them the mirror to see what everyone else sees. If you can see through it I suggest cut it off (shrieking!).” – Ryan M Wade

Our everyday picks for haircuts or trims:

ARC™ Scissors PARAGON II—for dry-cutting masters that need a scissor to work as hard as they do. Durable blades and precision tip allow scissors to push through any texture of hair while creating soft detail.

ARC™ Scissors PHANTOM II—excels in wet, dry and precision cutting for the all around cutter that wants to transition through techniques seamlessly.

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It’s Never Just A Trim, It's Always A Haircut

When your client requests "just a trim" what goes through your head? Are you wondering if they just aren't willing to pay for a haircut or do they actually not want to remove length?

“I correct my students all the time. I tell them, we are not gardeners. We are cosmetologists. Gardeners ‘trim’ hedges, we ‘cut’ hair. Ugh, I hate the word ‘trim.'” – Kris Watts

“I never use the word ‘trim.’ I tell clients that it doesn’t matter how much I take off, it’s what I leave on that counts and that’s what they are paying for.” – Janet Lapalapa

“It’s funny how many people think that a trim should be cheaper. Do they NOT understand that it takes just as long to take half an inch [off] than to take five inches? Same amount of work. It’s the time they’re paying for, not the amount of hair on on the floor.” – Theresa Halpin

What Is A Clean Up Or Dusting?!

Take a look at this pic we posted below! When a client asks for a just a dusting, what number are you assuming that request means?

“Five is a dusting, everything else is a cut! If you’re handling all of the hair at once, it should be priced accordingly (although I have taken care of loyal clients by not charging for a dusting after a lengthy and expensive chemical service)!” – Heather Sung

“What I consider ‘just the ends’ or ‘dusting’ would be a five. I won’t charge for that after a lengthy color service. A trim is four. What they need is at least a three if not I would try to convince my client to at least a two! Price accordingly.” – Kerri Treubert

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