Gents, do you ever get asked if you want "squared or tapered" at the barbers anymore?

I'm in my late 40s and as much as I haven't been to the barbers since pre Covid, I have never been asked this and I started going to the barbers on my own in the early 90s, so I have absolutely no idea what it means.

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foxhill_matt@reddit

Yes, they always ask me. I generally don't care as I don't have to look at the back of my head.

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mailywhale@reddit

I'm interested in the fact you look at any of you head?

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foxhill_matt@reddit

Reflections innit

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mailywhale@reddit

Something I should do more of

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BellendBuilder@reddit

A copy and paste from a comment I made to another Redditor but..

Basically squared they just yeet it all off in a horizontal line. Used to have to have it cut square in the Army.

Tapered, it’s faded in gradually along your natural hair/neckline so it looks more natural and grows out better.

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SnooCakes1636@reddit

Swear we must live in a simulation. I’ve just got out of the barbers chair and was thinking exactly the same thing.

More reminiscing about how my grandad used to take me to the barbers as a kid (only adult that could deal with my meltdown as was terrified of being cut), and that segued into a memory where I remember asking both him and the barber what the difference was…I was no older than 4 at the time!

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Low-Rooster5398@reddit (OP)

When sitting in the chair and looking in the mirror, I often remember looking back in the mirror as a kid too. Wtf is that all about? It's like a weird time machine.

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And_Justice@reddit

Never been asked this, wtf does it mean?

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thatguysaidearlier@reddit

Duck's arse vs flat horizontal cut at the top of your neck.

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BellendBuilder@reddit

A copy and paste from a comment I made to another Redditor but..

Basically squared they just yeet it all off in a horizontal line. Used to have to have it cut square in the Army.

Tapered, it’s faded in gradually along your natural hair/neckline so it looks more natural and grows out better.

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And_Justice@reddit

Is that just what we call a fade now?

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BellendBuilder@reddit

Same principle mate yeah but it’s just specifically for your nape.

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Low-Rooster5398@reddit (OP)

At the back at the bottom, squared is cut straight across, tapered is more like a V shape, so the hair "tapers" down.

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atsevoN@reddit

You can only taper shorter hair as it gradually gets shorter towards the hairline, if you want to keep a more “natural” hairline with length then you can’t get a taper. Been getting low tapers for years.

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farfetchedfrank@reddit

They ask me if I want it square or natural and I always say natural then I say "that's great" when they bring out a little mirror to show me the back of my neck.

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mailywhale@reddit

Never heard this, don't know what it means

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clanshephard@reddit

"alright boss, hows it going, what do you want?"

"not bad mate, no2 back and sides, shortened and thinned out on top, square the back and feather the fringe, cheers"

"no probs boss, not working today"

"afternoon off"

same haircut since 1991, just part of the ritual now.

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aspannerdarkly@reddit

Now you mention it, I had my hair cut the other day and for the first time in ages I wasn’t asked this.

When I always choose the natural/tapered option although I honestly don’t know what the difference is meant to be

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BellendBuilder@reddit

Basically squared they just yeet it all off in a horizontal line.

Tapered, it’s faded in along your natural hair/neckline so it looks more natural and grows out better.

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Brian_from_accounts@reddit

Asked every time

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pinpoint321@reddit

I have been asked this many times. I picked Tapered years ago and have stuck with it since without ever really knowing what it meant.

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JP198364839@reddit

No, and I’m thankful as I never knew the bloody answer.

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GlitchingGecko@reddit

Yes. I always say, "Whatever you think looks best, I can't see it either way."

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buscemii@reddit

I get asked every time and I probably always alternate my answers cause I have no idea what I have / what I like lol

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Alternative-Bee2962@reddit

I'm 44 and I have never been asked this and I wouldn't have a clue what it even meant 😂

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

I don't think I've ever been asked that.

Maybe it's from the "something for the weekend, sir?" era.

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Low-Rooster5398@reddit (OP)

Don't know, think it's been about 10 or 15 years since I was asked. Wonder why it's died out, maybe people don't want tapered haircuts anymore.

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BaBaFiCo@reddit

Taper is the default, surely? I don't get asked any more but I sure don't receive squared.

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

Yeah I'd say taper was the default as well.

Though I suspect the barber will be able to tell what you had last time and if you don't say, they'll just do that.

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Low-Rooster5398@reddit (OP)

Is it? I thought squared was the default 🤷‍♂️

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Exotic-Astronaut6662@reddit

Armed forces haircuts always had to be square, no idea what it meant-it would be in the dress regulations anyway but I never needed to look it up.

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mdmnl@reddit

Up until recently, yes. Last few haircuts they haven't asked. My answer would be the same anyway - I don't know the difference and I don't care.

If I don't have my glasses on, I can't make out what they're showing me in the mirror-in-mirror. They could write their initials in there and I wouldn't know.

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