A barbershop is a small space. A busy day at Xin Fade means we're seeing someone new in the chair every 45 minutes from 9am to 8pm. Most of it goes smoothly, and the occasional hiccup is just part of the job. But there are a few things that make the whole experience nicer for everyone, and they rarely get written down.
Book, then show up on time
This is the big one. Canggu traffic is famously unpredictable — you don't need us to tell you that. If you've booked a 2pm slot, assume Batu Bolong will have a scooter backup at the junction and leave five minutes earlier than you think you need to.
If you're running more than 10 minutes late, send a quick message. We can usually shift things by a few minutes, but we can't if we don't know.
Cancel early if you can't make it
Everyone plans a surf that runs long, or a scooter breakdown, or just a day they don't feel like leaving the villa. That's fine. What makes it hard is a no-show — someone who books a slot and doesn't message, doesn't answer calls, and we keep the chair free for them while other people ask if there's space.
A 30-second WhatsApp message an hour or two beforehand is all it takes.
What to do with your helmet
Most studios in Canggu have a rack or a shelf inside the door. Hang it up — don't set it on the floor in the walkway, especially if it's still wet from the ride over. If you don't see the rack, just ask.
Come with dry hair if you can
Soaked hair from the rain or a post-surf rinse takes extra time to dry and it's harder to cut evenly. If you've just come from the beach, a quick towel rub before you walk in saves everyone ten minutes.
It's not a hard rule — if you show up wet, we'll work with it. But it's one of those small things that makes the cut sharper and the visit shorter.
If you don't know what you want, say that
The worst consultation is the one where someone says "whatever you think" but clearly has an opinion. The second worst is the one where someone tries to describe a picture they saw three weeks ago and can't find anymore.
If you're unsure, say you're unsure. Show us a photo if you have one. Tell us what you don't like, even if you can't tell us what you do. Honest uncertainty gets a better result than a vague guess every time.
And finally — tip (or don't) with confidence
We wrote about this in more detail last week, but the short version is: tipping is not required. Rounding up is appreciated if you liked the service, but no one is judging you either way. Just be relaxed about it.
A barbershop should be the most low-pressure errand you run all week. A little bit of thought from everyone in the room goes a long way to keeping it that way.