You can either describe what you want, or show a picture of a haircut that you like.

I tend to bring a picture or two of the style I want.

“I dunno. I suck at this. what do you think?”

don’t do that at the cheap joints… but otherwise it usually sets up a good discussion.

protip, if you’re wanting a men’s style… go to a barber. usually less expensive, and usually much better at men’s style. (Also, most barbers don’t care if your a man or woman or non binary. they still won’t charge you extra the same way a stylist will charge some one passing as a woman women’s rates for the same thing. it’s pretty absurd.)

I throw up some confusing explanation with gestures before my barber does the same haircut they did to me for 5+ something years. Idk what would I do if they retire.

I usually just show a picture because I never know what the styles are called, I just know I want it on my head.

Describe it however you want. If you have a decent barber, they should understand you fine and work with you.
I’ve been shy, straight forward, and all manners of sides when asking for a haircut and the biggest issue has only been the occasional language barrier.

Once you’re comfortable in a style it’ll be easier to use different wording, depending on how you want your style. For example: you most certainly can ask for clipper sizes, like “no. 2 on sides”, however if you don’t know what you want from the top you could just ask them “a bit short but matching the sides, if you know what I mean?”

Some styles have different options, such as skin fades (usually medium or high here, indicating the point where the fade reaches on the side and back of the head). If you’re unsure definitely do not be afraid of asking, if any barber has an issue with working with you they aren’t the barbers you want as they’re likely to rush the haircut regardless of what you say (in my experience), or only know limited styles/lack broader experience in hairdressing.

“Like it is now…only shorter.”

I show my hairdresser a picture of my previous haircut (or one I like).

“I’m not really sure, what do you suggest?”

If they’re good at their job, you can ask pretty much anything and they’ll ask follow-up questions. If not they’ll infer what to do or do one of the standard haircuts.

You need to be more specific. The last thing barbers need is having to guess what you want.

I get a 4 on the sides, a low taper to 0 on the back, and then say how much I want off top in inches. Letting them know how I comb/style my hair seems helpful as well.

You can also just google a hairstyle and show them a picture.

I take a selfie when I get the haircut I like and show them the picture next time. Nice and easy.

1-2 on the sides, blend to longer on top, usually comb it over messy like this, just needs to be shortened up on top.

I say: make my hair beautiful/better (in the local language). I don’t really need to do anything else, it seems to work.

Explain what you want. It’s that easy.

I did many years of “I want something simple that I can maintain easily, and will still look ok when I drag my ass out of bed at 10am, an hour late for work. Anything but a buzz cut”

Eventually I found something that I can touch up at home myself, and can explain to even the shittiest of barbers.

It’s hair. Nobody really gives a shit. You’ll get some shit ones, some good ones, a buzz cut you explicitly didn’t want. Nobody got hurt, and it grows back.