The Barbers Chair Mandeville Home

Best Kid and Teen Haircuts in Mandeville — What Parents Should Know Before You Visit

Sat, 28 Jun 2025 14:49:23 -0700

Finding the right place for your child’s haircut can feel like a gamble. Will they love it? Will you love it? Are we at the stage where they care more about what their friends think than what you do? It can feel like a gauntlet.

The good news? A haircut doesn’t have to be a battle. With the right barber and a little humor, it can actually be fun (yes, even for the picky ones).

Here’s what every parent should know before booking a kids or teen haircut in Mandeville, from finding the perfect style to building their confidence in and out of the chair.

The Great Haircut Compromise: What Kids Want vs. What Parents Want

I have found that the real secret to a great haircut experience is finding the middle ground between what your child wants and what you, the parent, want.

Most kids are all about the bangs or fringe — or whatever they want to call the hair that covers their foreheads. Meanwhile parents are usually focused on the practical stuff. “Please clean up around the ears and neck so they don’t look like they’ve been lost out in the bayou for a month.”

The good news is, you can have both. Whether it’s a big kid haircut or the latest trending haircut they found on TikTok, I work with both kids and parents to make sure everyone leaves happy. Confident kids, relieved parents, and no awkward mirror moments later.

We’ve all had those moments when you look in the mirror and realize it’s time for a cleanup. Maybe it’s a trim, a beard shape-up, or a full cut. You don’t always plan these things. Life gets busy, and the idea of walking into a barbershop whenever you’ve got a minute sounds convenient. But the way most barbershops work these days is a little different.

How Barbershops Have Evolved

There was a time when every shop worked on a first-come, first-served basis. You’d swing by, hang out for a while, and eventually get your turn in the chair. Sometimes that meant a long wait. Some barbershops still operate that way, but many, like ours, have added online booking and that makes things easier for both clients and barbers.

At The Barber’s Chair in Mandeville, we still have that classic, laid-back barbershop atmosphere. The good conversation, the personal attention, the quality cuts are all part of the experience. But now, you get the convenience of planning your visit so you’re not stuck waiting around for hours.

Walk-Ins Are Welcome, But Here’s How It Works

We accept walk-ins when the schedule allows. But the truth is, most of our time gets booked through appointments. That’s how we make sure every client gets the time and attention they deserve.

If you walk in and I have an opening, I’m happy to get you in. If not, I’ll let you know my next...Read More

Gift Guide for the Awesome Dads in Your Life: Mandeville Edition

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:16:38 -0700

Let’s be honest. Most dads aren’t out shopping for themselves when it comes to self-care. That’s why grooming gifts from local Mandeville businesses are such a great choice. Whether it’s for your dad, husband, brother, or that cool dad friend in your life, a little grooming TLC goes a long way.

Here in Mandeville, we’re lucky to have some great local spots where you can find gifts that will actually get used, not tossed in the back of a drawer. Here are some ideas to help you put together a simple gift that’s thoughtful, useful, and guaranteed to make him feel appreciated.

Easy Grooming Gifts He’ll Love

If he’s never treated himself to a proper shave or beard trim, now’s your chance to change that.

At The Barbers Chair, we offer:

Gift cards. Always an easy win. They can be used for cuts, beard trims, shaves, or whatever he’s into.
Beard kits. Handcrafted butters, washes, and brushes to keep that beard looking sharp. Pair this with our beard care service and you’ve got an instant upgrade.
Hot towel shaves. The kind of old-school experience most guys wouldn’t book for...Read More

Why Choose a Barber Over a Cosmetologist?: Understanding the Difference

Wed, 28 May 2025 22:28:42 -0700

A common question I hear from behind the chair at my barbershop in Mandeville, LA is, “What’s the difference between a barber, a stylist and a cosmetologist?” Understanding this can help you make the right choice for your grooming needs and save you from an awkward chair experience.

Training & Licensing: Not All Shears Are Created Equal

In Louisiana, barbers are specially trained in men’s haircutting techniques—fades, tapers, scissor cuts, straight razor work, beard detailing, and more. Many barbers are also licensed in color, women’s haircuts, and certain chemical services, but most choose to specialize in men’s grooming. One standout feature? Barbers can legally use straight razors on the scalp, face, and neck. This is a skill that adds precision and polish to any service.

Cosmetologists, on the other hand, receive very little training on men’s styles and clipper work. Their schooling focuses more on color, long-layered cuts, hair treatments, and a wider range of beauty services including nails and waxing. They’re not licensed to use open blades, meaning no straight razor shaves.

It’s true some cosmetologists can absolutely crush a men’s cut—but they still can’t legally put a blade to your skin. And while some barbers are total color wizards, they better keep their hands out of the wax pot unless they’re licensed for that too.

Important Note: Training...Read More

Built for Clippers, Not Curling Irons

Wed, 21 May 2025 20:50:44 -0700

People ask me all the time, “Why did you become a barber?” That’s just a nicer way of saying, “Out of all the career options, you chose clippers and hair splinters?” It’s a fair question.

Sometimes they ask out of curiosity; sometimes I can see on their faces that they expected a guy with a beard and tattoos, not a woman with clippers and a business license. Either way, my answer is usually the same: “This was not something I had ever considered doing. In fact, I used to look at my own hair stylist in utter fascination, thinking I could NEVER talk and cut hair at the same time.”

So how does a thirty-something mom suddenly decide to pick up a straight razor and use it on strangers?

Short version: I like working. I just never settled on a career (late-diagnosed ADHD, anyone?). After my last baby, I was job-hunting, and my husband encouraged me to pursue a career, something that could support our family if anything ever happened to him. That made sense and hair school seemed doable.

Long version? Well...

You know those career aptitude tests you take in high school? Turns out they still work when you’re a grownup. “Hair stylist” kept popping up in my top three. So I looked into cosmetology school. I knew the income potential was solid, and I was ready for the challenge. I enrolled at the Paul Mitchell School...Read More

Will AI Replace Barbers?

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:07:50 -0700

Welcome to my very first blog post. I'm a local Mandeville barber here to entertain and educate in addition to giving you the haircut and/or beard care you want. I figured I'd kick things off with a topic that’s buzzing louder than my #3 guard on my favorite clippers: Artificial Intelligence.

It seems like everywhere you turn, someone's telling you how AI is revolutionizing everything from making your coffee and raising your kids to cutting your hair while you sleep. You'd think a robot named Brad is two weeks away from giving flawless fades and offering relationship advice on the side.

So let's talk about it. Is AI coming for your friendly neighborhood barber?

What AI Can Help Barbers With

As a barber running my own one woman shop I've learned that the business side of things is the hardest part of the job. Between staying on top of hair cutting trends, juggling appointments and remembering to send out your 3 week reminder emails, finding time to learn all things marketing and how to grow a business can feel impossibly overwhelming.

This is where AI tools really shine. It won’t make my business successful, but it’s like hiring a fast and slightly robotic intern who will tells you that you're pretty (with the right prompt).

So yes, when it comes to business solutions, AI is my friend.