do you guys tip your barbers? my mom once did but i never do..is that ok? :S

My wife has cut my hair since we got married 13 yrs ago. Whenever I get the notion that I need a hair cut I set up a chair outside and run an extension cord then she pops out shaves it all down to about 1/4 inch then trims sideburns and neck real short, dusts the bunches of hair off then I pop in and take a shower to get the rest of the hair off. Quick, simple and free.

I am very particular about how my hair is cut.

1) Must be done every two weeks or it looks like shit.
2) Must be done by the same woman. I drive home four hours to get the hair cut, because I don't trust anyone.
3) Must fit my three tier system of approval: my mother, my sister, a random female friend of choice.

Most people compliment me on having nice hair and really white teeth, so I try and take great pride in both of them.

I have a question for you guys.

I get haircuts. I go to barbers. They mangle my hair for a while, it gets short, it grows back, and the circle of life begins anew. I'm bored to tears.

I'm interested in getting my hair "styled," but I don't know the first thing about what it means to be styled and I don't want to sound like an idiot.

So tell me stuff. What options do I have, what can I ask for?

I've got typical young-Asian-male hair

I dont. I'm already paying them for the service. I dont see any need for tip.

kinda funny on topic story:
I also usually go to an old man barber who just cuts my hair and gives a shave. One time, I was with my wife in a mall in a different city, and we had some big deal to go to the next day, and I needed a haircut but hadn't had time before we left. My wife convinced me to just get it cut at this place while she got her eyebrows done. It was a very weird experience for me. this big black guy smiled and said come on back, then washed my hair and was massaging my scalp. He said, with a lisp, "Oh my, you are so tense!" He seemed to be enjoying it way too much. I'm thinking, "Hell yeah I am, I'm not used to this crap when I just want a haircut, nor am I used to some huge gay guy with frosted hair massaging my head as I sit helpless wrapped up and almost under water!"
But I said,"yeah, guess it's been a long day."
Not really funny, just amusing, I guess, but I'll never try out some place in a mall again, just stick to the dirty barbershop with old straight men talking about the weather and sports.

And yes, you should tip them!

Just go to the salon, and give them a picture of what you are looking for. Then they can usually go from there.

Don't go to one of those Borics, Fantastic Sams, Cheap Cuts type places. I have seen too many bad haircuts come from those places. ;)