Summarized below are a number of haircutting terms; these are provided so that you are able to better communicate with your barber when trying to describe your preferred haircut. If you'd like to learn more about the basics of hair itself, you may also want to read the male pattern hair loss page, which has a section devoted to explaining hair structure and growth patterns.Arch
The area just above and behind the ear; the outline of the cut connecting the sideburn area to the hair at the side and back of the head. Everyone has a natural arch, and many barbers will try to trim the arch in a way that simply cleans up and enhances the natural arch. Cutting a lower-than-average arch can minimize large ears, and cutting a higher-than-average arch can make small ears appear larger. However, if an arch is trimmed too high or too sharply without proper blending, it may look awkward when it grows out.
To follow are a few common short haircut style names and illustrations. Keep in mind that barbers (and individuals) in different parts of the country or world (or even across town) may interpret these styles differently, or may have popular local names for them. Some style names are fairly generic, and can vary quite a bit in length and style interpretation (for example, there are many ways to cut an "ivy league," and a "crew cut" can vary a bit in overall length), so until you are your barber know get to know each other, be specific about your length preferences, how you prefer your hair to be tapered, and so on.
Beginning with the ancient civilizations of Greece, Rome, and Egypt, barber shops have historically been a place where men have gathered for not only a haircut, but often for friendly talk about local happenings, politics, news, weather, sporting events, and anything else under the sun. Barber shops in various historical periods provided services in addition to haircutting, such as baths, massage, shoe shines, food and drink, entertainment, tooth pulling, blood letting, and even surgery! Prior to the advent of an easy-to-use, mass-produced safety razor in the early twentieth century, a large percentage of men would visit a barber regularly-- sometimes several times a week-- to have their faces shaved. All these factors went into making the barber shop an important gathering place in the lives of many men throughout history. 
A barber (from the Latin barba, "beard") is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, give shaves, and trim beards. In previous times, barbers also performed surgery and dentistry.[1] In more recent times, with the development of safety razors and the decreasing prevalence of beards, most barbers primarily cut hair. Some hairdressers consider the term derogatory.
