When I first got here, I struggled with that too. Some barbers are good, but not every shop is consistent. What helped me was checking a few spots people mentioned on best barbershop austin — that guide gave me a decent idea of which places focus more on detail and which ones are more quick-cut chains. I eventually found a barber who talks through the cut first and doesn’t rush, which made all the difference. Austin definitely has good options, just takes a bit of searching.