If you have curly, coily, or wavy hair, you already know the problem. You sit down, you explain what you want, and you walk out with something shorter and squarer than you asked for. Then you wait three weeks for it to grow back into itself. That happens a lot, and it is avoidable. All six barbers at The Parlor in Libertyville cut every hair type and texture — not as a slogan, as the actual job. This post covers what makes textured hair different to cut, and how to ask for what you want so you get it the first time.
What Counts as Textured Hair?
“Textured hair” is a broad term. It covers anything that is not straight:
- Wavy. Bends in loose S shapes, often flat at the root.
- Curly. Forms defined loops or spirals.
- Coily. Tight, springy curls, sometimes zig-zagged rather than round.
Most people are a mix. You might have looser waves at the front and tighter curls at the crown. That is normal, and it is one reason a single clipper setting across the whole head rarely looks right. But the word that matters more than any label is shrinkage.
Why Curly Hair Gets Cut Too Short
This is the single biggest reason people leave a barbershop unhappy. Curly hair shrinks as it dries. Hair that hangs four inches long when it is wet can sit at two inches once it dries and springs up. The tighter the curl, the bigger the difference.
So if a barber soaks your hair, combs it flat, and cuts to the length you asked for, that length disappears when it dries. You asked for two inches on top. You got two inches — wet. Dry, it is one. Nobody did anything malicious. The hair just was not cut in the state you actually wear it in.
The fix is to say it out loud. Tell your barber the length you want when your hair is dry, and point to where that sits. That one sentence removes the problem entirely.
The Consultation Is Where This Gets Solved
Every haircut at The Parlor starts with a conversation before the clippers come out. We listen first, recommend second, and cut third. No assumptions, no rushing. At the end we check in, so we know the style actually works for you and not just under shop lighting.
For textured hair, that conversation is doing more work than usual. It is where we find out:
- How your hair falls when you leave it alone
- Which parts are denser or looser than the rest
- Whether there is a cowlick at the crown you fight every morning
- How much length you actually want once it dries and springs up
- What you did not like about your last cut
Two minutes of that saves twenty minutes of correcting. Our barbers have trained deliberately across hair types and backgrounds — Black hair, White hair, Hispanic hair, Indian hair, Asian hair; straight, curly, wavy, and coily. Our clientele reflects Libertyville, and the range in the chair reflects that too.
What to Ask For on a Textured Cut
If you want more control over the result, these are the things worth naming.
- Ask for weight to come out, not just length off. A lot of curly hair does not need to be shorter. It needs to be lighter. Taking bulk out underneath keeps the shape without losing the length you like.
- Say whether you want a soft or sharp outline. Blunt straight-across ends leave a hard line that curly hair tends to fight. Cutting into the ends at an angle lets each curl keep its own shape.
- Mention how the sides should meet the top. A blend that looks right on straight hair can look like a hard step on coily hair. Tell your barber how gradual you want it.
- Bring photos. Two or three, on your phone, of hair that behaves like yours. Still the fastest way to get exactly what you want.
If you are not sure what to ask for, say so. “I don’t really know what to ask for, this is what I don’t like about it right now” is a genuinely useful starting point, and we will work from there.
Can I Get a Fade With Curly Hair?
Yes. Fades and tapers work on every curl pattern, they just need a different approach. On tight curls the transition needs to be gradual, because the curl springs up and can make a fast blend look like a step. On looser waves the fade can go higher before it starts to fight the top.
The most common request we get is a curly top with a taper on the sides — length and shape kept on top, cleaned up around the ears and neck. It grows out well and it does not need much product. If you want the full breakdown of every fade height and how to ask for one, read our complete fade haircut guide.
To see the range before you book, the gallery of our work has real cuts from all six barbers. Find one close to what you want and mention it in the chair.
What About Kids With Curly Hair?
Curly kids’ hair is often the first place a bad cut shows up, usually because someone rushed it. We do not rush it. We have done a lot of first-time kid cuts, and we know how to make it calm.
Kids’ haircuts are $30 at the first-time walk-in rate, and all six barbers cut kids’ hair. Parents wait in the same room as the chair, not behind a wall, so you can stay close and see what is happening. Family-safe music, sports on the TV, free drinks and snacks while you wait.
Bring a reference photo for your kid too — it works exactly the same way it does for adults. And if it is a first haircut, say so when you arrive.
How Often Should I Come In?
Less often than someone with straight hair, usually. Textured hair hides growth better. A tight fade on straight hair looks untidy in two weeks. The same fade on curly hair often holds its shape for three or four.
What tends to go first is the outline — the neckline and around the ears. If the shape on top is still fine but the edges look fuzzy, a line-up plus beard is enough. It is $35 at the walk-in rate, takes about twenty minutes, and buys you another couple of weeks before a full men’s haircut.
How Do I Know a Barber Can Actually Cut My Hair?
Fair question, and one worth asking before you sit down. Three things to check at any shop:
- Ask to see their work on hair like yours. Any barber who cuts textured hair regularly will have photos. If they cannot show you, that is your answer.
- See if they ask questions before starting. A barber who asks how you wear it, and what you did not like last time, is paying attention. One who reaches straight for the clippers is not.
- Mention shrinkage and see what they say. If you say “it shrinks a lot when it dries” and they adjust for it, you are in good hands.
At The Parlor, all six barbers — Nikko, Damian, JoJo, Leo, Erick, and Brian — cut every hair type. You can read about each of them and book whoever you like, since each keeps their own Booksy calendar.
Come In and See
We are at 1039 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL 60048. Open Tuesday through Friday 10 AM to 7 PM, Saturday 9 to 4, closed Monday, and Sunday by appointment. Free parking in the lot. Cash, card, Venmo, and Apple Pay all work.
Walk in during opening hours and we will give you an honest wait time, or book your barber on Booksy if you want a set slot. Full walk-in pricing is here — flat rates, no surprises, no upselling. Call or text (224) 513-5681 if you want to ask about your hair before you come in. We would rather answer the question than guess in the chair.
Clients drive in from Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, Lake Forest, Gurnee, Grayslake, Round Lake, Waukegan, and Great Lakes. Whatever your hair is doing, one of us has cut it before.
Curly and Textured Hair: Quick Answers
Can a barber cut curly hair properly? Yes. A barber who works with textured hair regularly will start with a consultation, ask how you wear your hair, and account for shrinkage before cutting. At The Parlor in Libertyville, all six barbers cut every hair type and texture, and every haircut starts with that conversation.
Why does my curly hair look too short after a haircut? Because it was probably cut wet. Curly hair shrinks as it dries, sometimes by half. If your barber cuts to length while the hair is soaked and combed flat, that length disappears once it springs back up.
How do I ask a barber for a curly haircut? Bring two or three photos of hair like yours, describe the length you want when the hair is dry rather than wet, and say how you actually wear it day to day. That covers almost everything a barber needs.
How much is a haircut for curly hair in Libertyville? The same as any haircut at The Parlor. First-time walk-in rates are flat: $35 for a men’s haircut, $30 for kids, $35 for a line-up plus beard, and $50 for a haircut plus beard. No surprises, no upselling.
How often should I get textured hair cut? Most clients go three to four weeks between full cuts, since textured hair hides growth better than straight hair. A line-up in between keeps the edges clean and stretches the time between full cuts.
