Men's Hair at McCrory Hair, What to Expect from a Proper Manchester Cut

Hi, Seamus here. Men's hairdressing has changed more in my 48 years behind the chair than almost any other part of this trade. When I started in Manchester in 1978, most men either went to a barber or went to their dad's barber. Salons were somewhere their wives went. That is not the case any more, and it has not been for a long time. This is a plain guide to what a proper men's haircut looks like at a Manchester salon these days, and what to expect from your visit to McCrory Hair on Oxford Road.

I have written it for the men who have never sat in a salon chair, or who have not been near one for years, and who are quietly wondering if it might suit them better than what they are used to. The short answer is that for a lot of men, yes it will.

Salon versus barber, what is actually different

Let me be clear at the start. Good barbers do brilliant work, and there is nothing wrong with a barber shop cut. I am not here to talk anyone out of one. What a men's hairdresser at a salon offers is something a little different, and it comes down to three things.

The first is time. A barber shop tends to run on volume. A salon chair does not. When you book with us, we set aside enough time to actually think about your cut before we start on it, and enough time to finish it properly rather than just get it off. You are not being rushed through a queue.

The second is consultation. A salon appointment starts with a proper conversation about your hair, your face shape, how it grows, and what you actually want the cut to do for you. Not a quick "same as last time, sir?" That conversation is where most of the good decisions get made.

The third is range. A barber is trained mostly in clipper work, which is a specific and skilled thing. A salon stylist is trained across cutting, scissor work, texturing, colour, and finishing, so if you want a longer look, a textured crop, a proper scissor cut on top, or you fancy taking on some grey, the same chair can handle all of it without a second appointment.

Good to know. If you are the kind of man who likes to keep his hair short and tidy, a barber will serve you well. If you want your hair to actually be styled, or you want a cut that can flex between short and slightly longer, a salon chair is the better fit.

The consultation, and why it matters more for men than most think

Men's hair is often treated as a problem to be solved rather than a feature to be worked with. That is a mistake, and it is the reason so many men have spent years with a cut that does not quite suit them.

Every men's appointment at McCrory Hair starts with a consultation. That means we look at how your hair grows, the cowlicks, the crown, the hairline, and any thinning if that is a factor. We talk about your morning routine, whether you actually want to style it or you want a cut that behaves itself with no effort. We look at your face shape. And we ask what you have liked and disliked about previous haircuts, because there is usually a pattern.

Once we understand all of that, we recommend a cut. Not the one from the photo you brought in unchanged, if it is not going to suit you, but a version of it that will. Honest advice, delivered before scissors come out.

My 30 second rule. After you have washed and left your hair to dry naturally, count how long it takes you to make it look right in the mirror. If it is more than 30 seconds of fiddling, your cut is not doing enough of the work for you. That is a problem your stylist should be solving, not you.

What we can do

The full range at the salon covers, but is not limited to, the following.

A traditional short back and sides, but with the top actually shaped rather than just left long. Textured crops and modern French crops with a soft or a sharp edge, depending on what suits. Scissor cuts on longer hair, whether you are keeping it collar length or growing it out properly. Precision fades where you want a real fade, done with clippers and finished with scissors. Softer, natural looks for men who do not want to look like they have just been to the barber.

We also cover the parts of men's hair that a lot of shops do not do well. Grey coverage or grey blending, where the point is not to hide the grey but to make it look intentional. Coverage of thinning areas, where clever cutting can do more than you expect. Beard reshaping alongside the cut, so the two match. And an honest conversation about hair loss when that is on the cards, without any pressure to buy your way out of it.

If you have curly or textured hair, we specialise in that. You can read about our curly hair specialism here, and men are just as welcome as women in those appointments.

Colour, greys, and the modern man's colour appointment

More men come in for colour now than ever. Sometimes it is grey coverage, done subtly so it looks natural and grows out without a hard line. Sometimes it is a light lift on the top or the front to freshen a tired look. Occasionally it is more adventurous, and we are happy with that too.

The important thing is that we approach men's colour the same way we approach women's. Full consultation, honest advice about maintenance, and no pressure. Full details of what we offer on the colour side are on the Colour Experts page.

The men we see. Our clients range from students at the universities across the road, to men in their eighties who have been coming to me since the early 1980s. Men in suits, men in overalls, men who look after their hair with real care, and men who just want to look right without thinking about it. There is no wrong kind of man for a salon chair.

The McCrory difference for men

We treat a men's appointment the way we treat every appointment. That means real time set aside, a proper consultation, a stylist who is trained to a high standard, and a finish that has actually been thought about rather than just cut in a hurry. It also means we would rather talk you out of a cut that is not going to suit you than push through and disappoint you.

The team is small and long-standing. You will get to know your stylist over years, and they will get to know your hair. Continuity matters for men's hair even more than it does for women's, because small tweaks over time are what keep a good cut looking sharp.

If you would like to know a bit more about how we work, Alison's introduction to me and the salon covers our approach in more depth, and you can meet the whole team on the Meet the Team page.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a proper men's hairdresser in Manchester city centre?

Yes. McCrory Hair on Oxford Road specialises in cutting and colour for men, women, and non-binary clients. Every stylist in the team is trained to cut men's hair to a high standard, whether you want a traditional short back and sides, a modern textured crop, longer scissor work, or a precision fade.

How is a men's haircut at a salon different from a barber?

A barber tends to specialise in clipper work at pace. A salon appointment sets aside more time, starts with a proper consultation, and covers the full range from scissor cuts and textured cuts through to colour and grey coverage. Neither is better than the other in absolute terms. It depends on what you actually want from your hair.

How often should a man book a haircut?

It depends entirely on the cut and how tidy you like it. A short back and sides usually needs a trim every three to four weeks to stay sharp. A longer scissor cut can happily stretch to six to eight weeks. A more textured, grown-out style can go longer still. We will give you an honest recommendation based on what you have chosen and how quickly your hair grows.

Can I bring a photo of what I want?

Absolutely, and we encourage it. A picture communicates far more than words when it comes to hair. Just be aware that we will talk to you honestly about whether the exact cut in the photo will suit your hair, your face shape, and your growth patterns, and we may suggest an adapted version. The goal is a cut you actually look great in, not one that only works on the model.

Do you do men's colour and grey coverage?

Yes. We do subtle grey coverage, grey blending, light lifts on the top or the front, and full colour work for men who want something more adventurous. Every colour service starts with a consultation and a plan for how it will wear and how often you will want to come back.

Where is McCrory Hair based?

We are on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre, a short walk from the universities and easy to reach by bus, tram, or train. Clients travel to us from right across Greater Manchester for men's cutting, colour, and specialist hair services.

Come and try a proper cut

If you have been putting up with a cut that does not quite work, or if you have never sat in a salon chair and are quietly curious, come and see us. Book a first appointment with McCrory Hair and we will take it from there. Current service prices are on the McCrory Hair price list.

Seamus McCrory, founder, McCrory Hair