Tim Carr Tim Carr

New Product

Some of you may have noticed that I recently started carrying a significantly larger selection of new hair care products. As of now, I proudly offer three different brands that I believe will cater to diverse needs: Organic Way (Oway), Organic and Mineral (O&M), and Intelligent Nutrients. Prior to making my selections, I researched products to ensure I brought only the best to my salon, leading me to choose these three distinctive lines. Initially, I was drawn to the idea of operating as a one-product salon, as it seemed simpler, but I ultimately concluded that carrying multiple lines would provide me with the versatility needed to meet the varied preferences and requirements of all my clients. Moving forward, I plan to have samples made for easy trials, but I wanted to take the necessary time to work with the products myself first. This way, I can accurately determine which items truly fit the needs of my salon before committing to samples of any specific product. Currently, I am actively in the process of creating a dedicated product knowledge section right here on my site, which will include detailed information about all the products I carry. However, if you have any further questions or need assistance with how to effectively use a particular product in your hair care routine, please do not hesitate to ask me directly while you are in the salon.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Ten Year Anniversary

This July it will be ten years since I started Tim Carr Hair and I wanted to thank everyone who’s been coming to the salon because you’ve made it all possible—from the people who have only came in for one haircut all the way through the people who followed me from Alexander’s for Hair to the Sola Salon on Wilshire and Bundy, the shop I rented a chair in on Sawtelle in Culver City, to the outdoor haircuts I did in the parking lot behind that salon when I was only able to offer outdoor haircuts during covid, to the Sola Salon Studios I work at now off Jefferson. There were tough times. When I first started on my own, I would hope to get at least 36 services in a week because if I hit that number I would be making a little more than I did at Alexanders for Hair, now I usually do around 65-70 haircuts a week and if I had a week where I only did 36 I would start trying to figure out what happened. Halfway through the ten years the Covid lockdowns happened and I was unable to work do to the restrictions, and then when I was allowed to cut hair again I had to do it in the parking lot behind the salon. Even when they allowed people to start working indoors again I had to stay outside because we had to be at 25% capacity and in a four chair salon that is only one person. The woman I rented a chair from cut mostly women’s hair so she needed access to the shampoo bowls to wash hair before her haircuts and to rinse out color and other chemical services so I stayed outside since I only do men’s haircuts. At first it was fun cutting hair outside, but the novelty wore off fast, especially when it started to get hot. I never envisioned myself cutting hair in a tank top and shorts when I first got into the industry, and knew I had to be looking ragged at the end of some of those hot days because people would say things like, “Thank you for doing this” after I finished their haircuts. I ended up cutting hair outside for a full year until I could start working in the salon again and six months after that I moved across Sepulveda Blvd to where my salon is now, in the Sola Salon Studios. I’ve been working in Sola for a little over three years now and really enjoy having my own private suite and I would only consider moving if everything is perfect because it’s so easy in the shop I’m in now. Perfect would mean the salon being in the same area in Culver City, affordable price, good parking, etc. I’m not even looking, nor have I been in case anyone was getting worried. Every once a while when I’m out and about in the West LA - Culver City area I’ll see a for rent sign in an empty salon or barbershop and I’ll do some research and it doesn’t come close to being as good as where I’m cutting hair right now.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Outdoor Haircuts

Outdoor Haircut.jpg

I just wanted to write a blog and let everyone know that I am currently offering outdoor haircuts. Gov. Newsom gave us permission to cut hair outside, this industry is really regulated, so it’s been the first time we’ve been allowed to do so. I am cutting behind the salon in the back parking lot. There is an alley on Sawtelle right beside the coffee shop that you turn into. I should be easy to find as no one else is cutting hair outside near me. A couple years ago I switched to all cordless clippers so there hasn’t been too much of an adjustment switching to outdoor haircuts. The only thing is I’m not allowed to do any services that require you coming into the salon so I can’t do shampoos after the cut as I normally do and right now I’m not able to offer grey blending services because that needs to be washed out. It would be best if you don’t have a ton of product in your hair as I won’t be able to wash it out, but a little is fine. Right now I have an umbrella for shade, but am planning on getting a canopy as well. We don’t get any updates on how long we’ll be allowed to do outdoor haircuts, so I didn’t want to run out and spend a ton of money only to have them tell us we need to go back in and cut hair inside. So far it’s been a great experience. The feedback I’ve been getting from a lot of people that it I wasn’t able to cut hair outside that they wouldn’t have came into the salon. It’s nice being outdoors, I did get sun burnt pretty bad the first few days, but so far the novelty hasn’t worn off of working outside and I’m having a great time seeing everyone coming back into the salon.

Tim

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Covid-19

I just posted a detailed page outlining the new procedures we will be implementing inside the salon to ensure the safety of both our clients and staff. This important information now has its own dedicated tab on the home page of our website for easy access. I genuinely believe our salon holds a significant advantage over many other establishments in the area due to its size—there are only two highly skilled hairstylists working out of our cozy shop—and the thoughtful general layout we have designed. My station is conveniently positioned right next to the entrance, allowing for an abundance of natural light and a refreshing breeze when we have both doors open.

Both of us have been diligently wearing masks inside the salon, and we have been enforcing a strict policy requiring that everyone who enters the premises is also wearing a mask. I recently read an eye-opening article about two hairstylists in Missouri who tested positive for COVID-19, having seen around 140 clients during their time working. Remarkably, thanks to the universal mask usage, not a single client tested positive for the virus, apart from the two stylists themselves. In addition to the new procedures we’ve implemented within the salon, I’ve been taking every precaution possible in my personal life to minimize the risk of exposure.

I live alone and have been steering clear of large gatherings—actually, I’ve been avoiding any gatherings altogether. I’ve opted for grocery delivery services and have not set foot inside a store since early March, prioritizing safety at every turn. To support my overall health, I work out regularly. Although I’ve been staying away from gyms for safety reasons, I have a decent assortment of fitness equipment in my apartment that effectively allows me to stay active. I also make sure to take multivitamins, drink plenty of Vitamin C and Vitamin D, and try to soak up some sun by putting the top down on my car whenever possible. Attached below are links to the informative article I referenced regarding the hairstylists in Missouri, as well as the detailed procedures that salons and barber shops are required to follow here in California.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/11/us/missouri-hairstylists-coronavirus-clients-trnd/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0OMFeEwb0AyJEIn7k2U2SNzgjApYWXbrBvLmL77zHnw9uUibMYTGtjPC0

https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-hair-salons.pdf

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Death of the undercut??

In 2019, I started to notice a significant decline in the number of undercuts I was doing. It's hard to pinpoint the exact reason for this change; perhaps it could be a case of undercut exhaustion, where people are simply looking for a fresh style to rejuvenate their look. Alternatively, it might be related to the fact that the undercut is often referred to by another name, which may affect how clients perceive it. Nevertheless, I still have a considerable number of men coming in who request undercuts, and some have even decided to try out this particular haircut for the very first time in recent months. However, it's worth mentioning that I don’t perform nearly as many undercuts as I did during the height of its popularity and trendiness. One noteworthy observation I've made is that many guys still appreciate a distinct disconnection between the top of their hair and the shorter sides, yet they are now opting to switch the location of that disconnection—resulting in a style where there's more of a pronounced distinction on the side they prefer to part from, rather than a standard undercut. I might receive more requests for these specific haircuts than the average barber in the area, largely because my Yelp page is predominantly filled with pictures of that style. The reason I emphasize using images of those haircuts is that since they're longer on top, they effectively showcase my ability to work with scissors, while the shorter sides illustrate my fading skills. Unfortunately, due to Yelp's superior search engine optimization compared to my own, when potential clients search for "haircut near me," they often come across my Yelp profile prior to my personal page.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Blog Neglect

As I get busier in the salon, it becomes increasingly hard to keep up with the blog for this site. In a typical week, I have enough slots for 78 haircuts, while back when I was more actively engaged with blogging, I was only getting about 36 guys in for haircuts in a single week. I would often bring my laptop into the salon with me, and during my downtime, I used to dedicate time to work on the blog, conducting thorough research on men’s hair trends to gather fresh ideas for my posts, as well as managing my social media accounts to attract more men into the salon. Within just a year of moving my shop to Culver City, my business doubled in size, and I’ve found myself with significantly less time to focus on the social media aspect of the business since I’m so busy cutting hair—which I consider to be a very good thing. However, I understand that content is what helps me maintain visibility in search results; whether someone is searching for "haircut near me," "best men’s haircut," or "men’s hair salon," having an active blog keeps me positioned at the top of those searches. Therefore, I try my best to keep up with my blogging efforts.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

2018 Vacation

HHey guys,

I just wanted to take a moment to give everyone a little heads-up and let you know that I will be out of the salon from May 31 to June 14 for a much-needed vacation. I highly recommend prebooking your hair service during this time, as I found that last year, the time slots filled up very quickly both two weeks before I left the salon and two weeks after I returned. I sent out an email notification last week and will be sure to send another reminder a couple of weeks before my departure. I will be back in Culver City on the 14th and will resume my normal salon hours, cutting hair, starting on the 15th. If you have any important events or occasions around that time, it would be best to book your haircut in advance to ensure you get the time that works best for you.

Best,
Tim

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

2017 in Hair

Mens hair 2017 Best Review

As 2017 comes to a close, I thought it would be a great opportunity to take a thoughtful look back at the year in men's hair. I haven't had as many chances to blog as frequently as I have in the past, but fortunately, I'm out of the salon for a few days due to the holiday. At least for the guys who come in to get their hair cut by me, the undercut is still reigning as the king of hairstyles. This particular haircut is easily the most requested service we provide in the salon. It's a great-looking cut that has remained in fashion for several years now, and I believe part of the reason so many men request undercuts from me is that I have accumulated more pictures of that particular style than any other haircut on platforms like Yelp, Instagram, and my website. This might skew my numbers a little, but it certainly showcases the popularity of the style. I tend to fade my undercuts, and because of that, it creates a striking appearance from both the front and the side—while scissor haircuts can often appear somewhat uninteresting from the side view. This unique feature leads to twice as many undercut pictures in my portfolio. I'm also actively working on improving my skills in photographing a wider variety of haircuts that I perform.

The number one haircut girlfriends have bI've been noticing a trend lately where many clients are coming in with pictures of Ryan Gosling's recent haircut. Interestingly, there isn't just a single image that stands out as the go-to reference; rather, I've seen a variety of pictures showcasing different lengths. However, all of them feature hair that’s long enough on top to be styled with a side part. This results in a relaxed, laid-back look where the hair elegantly falls to one side, as opposed to standing up in spikes. Meanwhile, the sides maintain enough length to be smoothly pushed back, creating a polished profile. This particular haircut has a versatile appeal, as it looks fantastic at various lengths. You have the option to choose one of the shorter variations of the cut and let it gradually grow into the style that Ryan models when his hair is longer. To maintain that fresh look during the growing process, I also offer a hairline clean-up service for just $10. This service includes neatly tidying up the sideburns, tapering the back, and trimming the neck area, ensuring that your hair remains looking sharp and well-groomed while it grows out.

In addition to that trend, I've observed that classic barbering techniques are making a significant comeback this year. Many men are increasingly opting for haircuts that utilize a shorter clipper blade, resulting in a consistently clean, shorter style on top. This particular look appeals to a number of guys because of its low maintenance nature at home, which makes daily styling much easier and more efficient. Typically, these cuts involve keeping the hair at a manageable finger-length or just slightly longer on top. Others are drawn to the timeless, clean aesthetic that such styles provide or may have thicker hair on the sides, finding that regularly using clippers helps to effectively eliminate excess bulk and create a more refined appearance.

I also get a decent amount of guys with long hair coming in to the salon, demonstrating a noticeable diversity in hair lengths. For the purposes of this blog, when I say "long hair," I'm referring to any hair that touches the collar or extends longer than that. While I do see a fair number of guys sporting this length of hair, I genuinely believe I would encounter even more if I had more pictures showcasing longer-haired men. Unfortunately, I didn’t take many photos when we first moved to Culver City. Back when we were in West LA, I had a fantastic spot with a neutral background inside Sola that was perfect for capturing images of my haircuts. Since relocating, I’ve been trying to find a good spot at the new salon for this purpose. The best option I've thought of would be in front of the brick wall at the bank down the street, but the challenge is that no one—myself included—wants to run across the busy street and dodge traffic on Sawtelle just to get their picture taken in that area. So, I’ve settled on simply taking pictures at the chair in the salon after I do my detailing and get the hair styled to my satisfaction.

Overall, it was a truly great year for the salon in 2017. We took the significant step of leaving Sola in West LA and relocating to Culver City in February. In the hair industry, making a move like this is often quite stressful because there is really no reliable way to predict who will decide to follow you, especially considering the notorious traffic patterns in Los Angeles. Initially, I saw a notable dip in the number of haircuts I performed during the first month after we settled into the new salon space, but fortunately, things picked up considerably as I got more comfortable and began to establish a new routine. By the end of the year, I found that I had achieved over 50% growth in my client base. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who followed me during this transition, as well as to all of the new people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting while working in the Culver City salon. You all have contributed to making this year one of the best experiences I have had in my career.

On to 2018!!

Tim

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Back from Vacation

Mens Hair Vacation.jpg

Now that I've been back from vacation for a few weeks and things have settled down a little in the salon, I thought it would be an excellent time to catch up on my blog posts and share some insights with all of you. My vacation was fantastic; it was truly nice getting out of LA for a while and having the chance to relax and recharge for a little bit. However, as the end of the trip approached, I found myself ready to return to the salon and get back to the enjoyable work of cutting hair again. Typically, I don't bring my tools home to cut hair when I’m away—most of the high-quality hair cutting tools that professional stylists use are quite expensive (especially the clippers, shears, and clipper blades), and I just don't trust checking them during travel.

The only updates I have regarding the salon at this moment are quite exciting; we’re finally getting air conditioning! Many of the guys who came in to the salon mentioned that it wasn't that bad—though perhaps they were just being polite. Regardless, working in there has been pretty warm with the hot weather we've been experiencing in Culver City lately.

Since I've been cutting hair at the Culver City location, I've noticed that they don't seem to enforce the 4-6 no parking rule on Sawtelle very consistently. This has prompted a lot of guys to ask about it while getting their haircut. Still, it's an "at your own risk" situation, so I encourage everyone to be cautious. Additionally, I wanted to share a little tip: there has been a speed trap on Sepulveda quite a lot lately. It seems like every day I observe multiple people being pulled over on Sawtelle after being caught. Fortunately, none of them were clients coming to the salon, but I thought it would be good to give everyone a heads-up. They also have several red light cameras situated right around the salon on Sepulveda, so be mindful of that if you decide to take that route to visit us.

As for my schedule, weekends have been filling up a little faster than usual. Most Friday nights, I find that I don’t have any available slots for haircuts for the upcoming Saturday, and this Friday, it's already getting late and I still have a handful of spots left. Lately, booking same-day appointments on the weekends has been challenging, especially if there are only a couple of times that work for you.

Just wanted to take a moment to check in with everybody. I sincerely hope you all had a wonderful and enjoyable 4th of July celebration. I am looking forward to seeing you in the salon soon!

 

Tim

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Salon Updates

Hey guys, it's been a little while since I last wrote anything, so I thought it would be a good time to share some updates about what’s happening in the salon. Everything continues to be going really well in Culver City, and with the recent addition of the TV, the salon is pretty much all put together and looking great. I’ve been providing about the same number of haircuts and other services as I did when I was at the Wilshire location; however, the main difference I've noticed in Culver City is that the weekend appointments have been filling up considerably faster than before. If you're looking for a haircut on Saturday or Sunday, it's definitely best to book your appointment a day in advance to ensure your spot is secured. While I generally have room for a men’s haircut or two on the same day, it can be a bit of a gamble depending on the demand. I also want to let you know that I have a vacation coming up in a little less than two months. I anticipate that appointments for the week leading up to my departure and the week after I return will fill up much quicker than usual, so if you have an event during that time that requires a fresh haircut, I strongly recommend booking in advance to avoid any disappointment. I can extend my hours in the evenings to accommodate clients within reason. Furthermore, I’m keeping my schedule open for online booking for Easter in case anyone is in need of a haircut or other services. Please be aware that hours may be shortened if demand doesn’t meet expectations—holidays can be a bit hit or miss in this industry.

 

Tim

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Culver City

I haven't blogged in quite a while, mostly because everything has been a little crazy and hectic with the move to Culver City. It hasn't really been about the physical act of moving my belongings, but more so about getting all of my crucial information updated on platforms like Google, Yelp, and my various social media profiles. Additionally, I’ve had to manage countless no-name directory sites that pop up unexpectedly, which further adds to the workload. After all that, I’ve been busy texting everyone once they make an appointment to ensure they received the email notification and are aware that I am now operating from a different salon before their appointments. I have had a few clients mistakenly go to my old spaces, so I've been doing my utmost to stay on top of these communication issues. Now that we're finally settled in Culver City, everything has been running much more smoothly, and I've managed to pick up right where I left off from the Wilshire location, while also starting to build my clientele again. One of the main changes that I've been noticing is that a lot of the guys who used to come in for evening haircuts aren't able to make it to the salon during the weekdays since the move to Culver City, so they have been increasingly making appointments for the weekend. These weekend slots have been filling up a little faster at this new salon compared to my previous one. It’s nothing too crazy to the point where someone would have to book their haircut a month in advance, but I have had some clients looking for a Saturday appointment the night before who haven't been able to get in. I do have a few guys who initially thought this new location was a bit too far for them, but they have simply been coordinating their hair appointments while traveling since we are somewhat conveniently located close to LAX. As for myself, I haven't yet had a chance to explore Culver City much, mostly just getting around down Sawtelle and Sepulveda. I'm still in the process of trying to figure out the best times to make my way back to the valley, so in the meantime, I have been heading straight home right after I finish doing hair for the day. I realize this is a bit down the road, but I also wanted to inform everyone that I will be taking a vacation during the first two weeks of June. Specifically, I will be out of the salon starting on Thursday, June 1, and I plan to return on Wednesday, June 14. It’s not a trip to an exotic destination; instead, I will be going back to Iowa to visit my family. I don’t take a significant amount of time off, and since I haven’t taken any breaks since April 2015, I like to provide plenty of advance notice since you can generally expect me to be here six days a week, every single week. For appointments scheduled between mid-May and mid-June, you might want to consider booking a little earlier than you usually would. I anticipate that my schedule will fill up quickly since I will be away from the salon for such an extended period. To accommodate everyone, as my books begin to fill up, I will extend my working days and hours in an effort to get everyone in for their appointments. I will also send out an email reminder as we get closer to the date, as I always like to keep everyone informed as soon as I have my flight booked.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

The Big Move

We finally got everything moved over to Culver City and have been getting settled in. I put some pictures of the new space in the location tab and also have some pics of the salon on my Facebook and Instagram. It's between Elena's Hair Salon and King's Kabobs on Sawtelle Blvd in Culver City. Unfortunately, Google makes you wait on a postcard with a pin code to change anything, so my address is wrong on Google, Google Maps, and Waze until I can get that switched over. It should be right everywhere else, I spent a few hours Saturday night changing everything after I closed down at Sola Salon. I've had an issue with Yelp switching back and forth between the address for the salon in Culver City and the old one, but after three phone calls and me changing it myself a couple times, I think they have it locked on Sawtelle now. We are still doing some work to the salon, there's a love seat for the waiting area we're still waiting on, the drink fridge should be coming in any time now, and Krissy is going to pick up a TV for the salon. We already have cable and internet hooked up, we're going to have a wifi hotspot in the salon too, they still have to set that up though. So far it's been  a pretty smooth transition, there have been a couple people go the old salon, and it's a little farther drive for me to get to Culver City from Woodland Hills, but everything else here has been great. Sometimes at the other space everything was so close together it felt like you couldn't even breathe, so it's been nice working out of a bigger space. With everything going on with the move, and how booked I get with haircuts during the day, I haven't had much of a chance to check out the area, and I hadn't spent much time in Culver City before doing hair here--but it seems like a nice area, I hope everyone is able to give it a try.

 

TIm

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Reminder

Just a reminder, the salon will be closed on Sunday January 29th due to the move to Culver City. We'll be moving things between the Los Angeles and Culver City salons, and both will be torn down, so I will be unable to do hair that day. The last day in the west LA suite will be Saturday the 28th, and I will start in Culver City on Tuesday the 31st. 

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Dandruff

People have been using the word dandruff as a catch-all for anytime you get flakes in your hair, but just because you have some flakes doesn't necessarily mean you have dandruff. Dandruff is large greasy flakes while dry scalp is the little white flakes in hair most people think of when they talk about dandruff. In the ten years I've been cutting hair, I've only seen actual dandruff in someone's hair two or three times. Now that we've got that out of the, I was reading a good article on GQ about habits men have that are causing their dandruff. I agree with what they wrote and don't really have anything to add to their list, but there are some environmental factors that you can't control that can affect your scalp. Except for the weather we've been have recently, Los Angeles is generally dry, and I know a lot of guys that started noticing flakes in their hair after moving to LA. The changing of the seasons can also do a number on your scalp. Even though we don't get much of a winter in LA, I do see more flakes while cutting hair this time of year. 

If you've followed the advice in the GQ article, and still have flakes, it may be time to switch to a different shampoo and conditioner. I have read good things online about Nizoral AD, but I don't have any experience with that particular product. What has worked best for me is Aveda Scalp Benefits and the Eufora Complete Shampoo with their Revitalizing Treatment. If you do everything in the article, get a good shampoo and conditioner, and still have scalp issues and see flakes in your hair, it may be best to go to a doctor. Below is a link to the article I referenced.

http://www.gq.com/story/bad-habits-causing-dandruff

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Moving

I wanted to take a moment to write a blog post to inform everyone that we will be moving to a new location, and I will be cutting hair in a lovely salon in Culver City. I will also be sending out an email with all the details, alongside this blog post, so unless you've opted to unsubscribe from Vagaro emails, you should be receiving that important information shortly. Aside from the new location of the salon, I want to assure you that everything else will remain consistent,

There will also be some benefits on your end by the move to Culver City. I haven't been able to scout it out myself, but there's a free parking lot. No more having to use the garage, valet, or walk from Ralphs. With the extra space in the Culver City salon, we'll be able to have a waiting area and you won't have to find a bench outside of the suite while waiting for your haircut like you currently do at Sola. With the addition of a waiting area, we want to serving drinks again. I don't have a timetable of when that's going to start, Krissy is taking care of that, but we are planning on having coffee, soda, water, and beer again. The beer is something that people who have been getting their hair cut by me since the beginning have been asking for ever since my former salon got rid of it, so I'm glad to be bringing it back. We're planning on getting a bigger TV, putting it on the wall, and having the same set up for sports on it as I do now with the WatchESPN, NBA League Pass, etc.

Just as it was with the move from the last salon, I'm sure there will be some people that Culver City is more of a drive for so I'm willing to be flexible with my hours. I can't open everything up in Vagaro, but if you're looking for a hair appointment a little later than you see available in the online booker so you can miss traffic, give me a call or shoot me a text and we can try to schedule a hair appointment that will work best for you. For earlier appointments, I need to know the night before so I can plan ahead since I'm driving from Woodland Hills to Culver City.

I would just like everyone to know that this decision wasn't made lightly--but this was the best of the few options that were available to me. I looked into staying at Sola, but there are no suites opening up soon enough, and there's a waiting list (which I'm not currently on) for when one does open up. Staying in the current suite by myself would cost too much, and not even an option since I'm not on the waiting list for it.  All of the other West LA salon suites are full as well. I checked with Salon Republic and Phenix. I also looked at closer hair salons to rent a chair in, but they were all very expensive, and I also wouldn't have the access I would need to work my hours six days a week. Some people at Sola offered to let me do hair out of their suite, but I would only be able to work one or two days a week doing that. I don't want anyone to think I'm just going to be bouncing around all over different salons in Los Angeles, Krissy signed a five year lease on this space, so this will be my last move until I'm able to open my own salon--which is years away at this point. With very few options, I think the salon in Culver City will work out best.

In closing, I really hope this works out and everyone is able to make it into the new space. I genuinely like cutting everyone's hair who comes in. I've had friends who don't do hair ask me how I handle difficult/rude clients and I always tell them that there's not anyone who's hair I cut that I wouldn't go out and grab a beer with. I will be sending an email when I know the exact date for the move to Culver City, which depends on how long it takes a plumber to get our shampoo bowls and sinks in. We're hoping for Feb 1st, but will know for sure after the plumber gets a chance to to look at the salon. I will send out an email as soon as I know. Stay tuned for photos or the new salon!

Hope to see you soon!

Tim

 

Update 1/3-/2017

The plumbing is done and the moving day is set. I will start doing hair out of the Culver City salon on January 31st. The last day in the Sola suite will be Saturday the 28th, I won't be working in either salon that Sunday because we will be moving things between the west LA and Culver City spaces. If you didn't receive an email, you may have unsubscribed yourself from Vagaro's emails. I will update the confirmation emails when we move with instructions for getting to the new salon, parking, etc.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

What's New in Men's Hair for 2017?

That's a good question. With 2016 almost over, I've been looking for the best answer to that on different men's fashion websites, blogs, instagram posts, and a few youtube videos. I clicked on a link that said long hair will be in and the new thing, but then when I got to the article it was all pictures of guys with fades and undercuts. I have a client who I've been giving an undercut to for a few years now, and at the beginning of 2016 he was looking for something new, checked a few websites, and found the same thing as me--that undercuts were the "new" thing for 2016. I'm not knocking the haircut, it's one of favorites to cut in the salon (and one of the best looking haircuts in my opinon, I was just using that example to make the point that men's haircuts don't change too much over time. I mean guys are still getting a haircut make popular by Julius Caesar. One thing I have noticed about the current trend for men's hair is that anything goes, which could explain why that particular haircut has lasted so long. When you can do whatever you want nothing (which exception to avant garde styles) really goes out of style. I don't know about other places, but in Los Angeles you can feel free to get that trendy undercut, grow your hair long, get a business/professional haircut, or pretty much anything you can think of. As long as it's cut properly and put together, your hair will look its best.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Holiday Hours

I just wanted to take a moment to let you all know that I am staying in West LA for Thanksgiving this year, which means I will be in the salon doing hair throughout this week. Please keep in mind that the salon will be closed on Thursday in observance of the holiday, but on Friday I will be working by appointment only. Saturday and Sunday will return to our regular hours for your convenience. This time of year is the busiest season for hairstylists, so it’s always a good idea to plan a little ahead to ensure you can secure your desired appointment. For Christmas this year, I will be operating under my usual schedule during the holiday season, with the only day I plan on being out of the salon being Christmas Day. In the past, I haven't had many guys trying to get appointments for haircuts on Christmas Eve, but just to ensure everyone has a chance, I'll leave my salon schedule open with normal hours available for online booking until the day before Christmas. The salon will also be closed on New Year's Day; however, I will be back cutting hair during my regular hours starting Tuesday, January 3rd. I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday! For New Year’s celebrations, I plan on having the salon open during normal hours on New Year’s Eve, but we will be closed on New Year’s Day to rest and recharge. After that, I’ll resume my regular hours, so I look forward to seeing all of you soon. Be sure to stop in early to guarantee that you’re looking your best before heading out to celebrate!

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Why West LA

People often ask me why I chose to cut hair in west Los Angeles instead of a place in the valley since I live in Woodland Hills, or why I just didn't move to west LA in the first place. When I was living in Iowa and looking for an apartment, almost everyone I contacted wanted me to visit their office in person before they would rent to me. The place I live at now let me do everything through email and fax, which worked out best for me. When I first came to Los Angeles, I didn't have a job or anything. After applying and interviewing with a few different places all around LA, I chose to work at Alexander's for Hair salon because of their male clientle, since I had only been cutting men's hair for a few years at this point and felt if I wanted to start doing women's hair again that it would be best to assist for a while to bring me back to speed on the latest techniques and trends. After working there for five years, a lot of guys were concerned that I would take a job closer to where I live, but in this industry, to start cutting hair at a salon that far away from where I had been working would be basically starting over since most men wouldn't drive from the west LA area out to the valley to get a haircut. That's the reason we picked the studio we did when we moved, this is the closest one to the old salon. Traffic sucks driving all the way from Woodland Hills, but I have a few podcasts I like to listen to on the way here to pass the time and I genuinely like working in west LA, being on Wilshire with all of the different places I can walk to to grab something to eat, and I know I've been saying this for years, but eventually I'll move to the westside.

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Tools of the Trade

shutterstock_153494783.jpg

Men who come into the salon are always saying, "How do I style my hair like you do?" or "I can never get my hair to look the way you can in the salon." The purpose of this blog is to help you get the right tools to use at home so you can get your hair looking its best as it does when you leave the salon.

Unless asked not to, when I get done with a man's haircut, I always shampoo it and blow it dry. I do this because after all of the tugging and pulling on a guy's hair that goes on during a haircut, I think the shampoo kind of hits the reset button on the hair, puts whatever wave you may have back in, and gets the hair to lay as it naturally would. The reason for the blow dry is because I need to see how the hair looks dry and the way you are going to style it so I can do some detailing before you leave the salon. Since I use the hair dryer on just about every man who comes into the salon, if you want your hair to look the same at home, this is the most important tool you will need. A guy may be able to get by without some of the tools I use or substitute for something different, but the hair dryer is something you can't replicate in your hair with a towel or by letting your hair air dry. 

Another tool that is good for every guy to have at home is a vent brush. You don't have to get the best or most expensive one, just about any will do. If you are using a hair dryer/vent brush combo, put your product in wet hair and brush your hair in the direction that you want it to lay, and then dry it in that direction before you start to dry it. As the hair starts to get drier, you can brush your hair as your drying it. Once the hair is completely dry, it may look too perfect for your taste. If you're a guy who likes a little messier look, just take a little product and break the hair up a little bit.

For men looking to get a nice, crisp part in their hair, I would just reccommend just using a standard comb. If you're going for a slick look, you can put product in your hair, comb the part in, and then let it air dry. If not, put the part in your hair with the comb and then follow the blow drying steps. For a sharper part you may have to go back in with the comb after the hair is dry and then set it in with a little more product. 

These are tips that I used to do back when a had shorter hair. Now that it's longer and I'm growing it out I don't want to put any heat on it so I don't use a hair dryer, and since hair is at it's most fragile when it's wet, I use a wide tooth comb out of the shower to help avoid breakage. 

With shorter men's hairstyles you really don't have to break the bank buying any of these tools. You can get a good hair dryer in the $30 range from a place like Sally's, a vent brush from there would probably be under $5, and a 12 pack of combs is in the $5 range too. The only hair dryers I wouldn't recommend are those smaller ones like you see in a hotel. They don't have a lot of power if you're trying to get your hair to go up, and even if you aren't the lack of power makes it take longer to dry your hair. 

 

Read More
Tim Carr Tim Carr

Men's Hair FAQs

I thought this would be a good place to answer some frequently asked questions that men have while getting their haircut in the salon. I will add more as they come up.

 

Does my hair grow faster in the summer?

There may be a slight shift in your hair growth do to UV exposure, but it should be marginal and mostly unnoticeable. With men who wear shorter hairstyles, I think the hot summer days make them want to get a haircut sooner, so it feels like the hair came back faster. In the summer I have some men come in to get their haircut every two to three weeks.

 

Do I need to use conditioner?

This really depends on your hair. If you come in to the salon often, and have a really short hairstyle, you might not have to use it because your hair is getting cut off before it becomes too damaged. The longer your hair is, the older the ends of your hair are, making a need for conditioner to put moisture, protein, and other nutrients back into your hair that get stripped out everytime you shampoo. For men having issues with dry or frizzy hair, I recommend using conditioner. I use it everytime I shampoo, and if I go to the gym on a day where I don't normally shampoo, I use conditioner instead. Experiment a little and you can figure out what makes your hair look best.

 

How often should I shampoo?

This is another question that really depends on your hair type. Again, if you're a guy who has a shorter hairstyle and you get your haircut often, you can get away with shampooing your hair everyday if you want. Every other day and every two days is fine too. I noticed when I started shampooing less my hair was greasy at first. This is because your hair is used to being overwashed and trying to put more natural oils back in. Over time your hair will get used to less washing. Even the most gentle professional shampoo have cleansing agents to clean your hair, which is why shampooing less is a good thing.

 

What is _________ haircut called?

This is one I don't really get behind the chair, but I see people asking in the male hair advice subreddit. Some men on there look all over the internet to try to find the name to a particular haircut when it's easier to just bring in the picture. Even if they get the name of the haircut right, there are different lengths and versions of each haircut, but with a picture everyone's on the same page. It's even helpful to bring multiple pictures if you like different things about a couple of different haircuts. It's also helpful to have a few pictures to pick out which ones will be best for your hair thickness, texture, and your face shape.

 

How do I get rid of dandruff?

More than likely, what you have is dry scalp and not dandruff. Dandruff is large greasy flakes. I've only seen real dandruff a couple times in the ten years I've been cutting hair. Since dandruff is greasy flakes most dandruff shampoos are really drying. If you have dry scalp that can make the problem even worse. The first step is to figure out whether you have dandruff or dry scalp. If it's dry scalp, you may need to cut back on how much you are shampooing. If you don't already, get a good moisturizing conditioner. A leave in conditioner will work too. If that doesn't help, there are shampoos and conditioners that help promote a healthy scalp. I've had good luck with Aveda Scalp Benefits (you can order that from aveda.com) or the Eufora Complete Shampoo and Revitalizing Treatment. For more serious scalp conditions it's best to see a doctor.

 

I'll post more FAQs as they come up in the salon, or if you have any feel free to comment below.

Read More