Barber or Hairdresser? What Suits You in Biel

Search for "hairdresser" or "barber" in Biel and you will find both, often side by side. But what is actually the difference? And does it matter for your next haircut? Here is an honest overview so you know what to look for.

• Hairdresser (Coiffeur): in Switzerland, "Coiffeur" is the everyday word for a hairdresser. A hair salon often cuts for women and men and, depending on the salon, also offers colour, highlights or perms.
• Men's hairdresser (Herrencoiffeur): a hairdresser who specialises in men. The focus is on men's cuts, from short to medium length.
• Barber (Barbier in French): originally the one who trims beards. Alongside the haircut, beard care, razor lines and the traditional wet shave are part of the craft.

In practice the lines are blurred. Many men's hairdressers work with clippers and razors, and many barbers also cut longer styles with scissors.

A barber shines when precision over a few millimetres matters:

• Fades and short sides: transitions from skin to length, cleanly blended. We explain the variations in Skin Fade, Low Fade or Taper.
• Beard shaping: length, cheek and neck lines, the transition from beard to hair.
• Razor work: sharp lines at the forehead, neck and beard.
• Wet shave: hot towel, lather, shave and care, a ritual of its own.

If you are looking for colour, highlights or a chemical treatment, a salon with a colour service is the right place. Very long hair that you only want trimmed at the ends is also in good hands there.

Before your next appointment, ask yourself:

1. Do I wear my sides short or do I want a fade? Then a barber or men's hairdresser is ideal.
2. Do I have a beard that should be looked after too? Then a salon that does hair and beard in one appointment is worth it.
3. Do I want to keep longer hair in shape, such as a mullet or a side part? Then make sure scissors are part of the work.
4. Is it about colour? Then a salon with a colour service is the better choice.

At GYAN Hair Salon on Zentralstrasse 22 we focus entirely on men: cuts, beards and care. The men's haircut includes a consultation, a cut with scissors and clippers, and clean lines. For the beard there is the beard trim with razor lines and the hot towel shave. If you want both, choose the GYAN Classic package with haircut and beard.

Current prices:

• Men's haircut: CHF 40, walk-in CHF 35
• Beard trim: CHF 20
• Hot towel shave: CHF 28
• GYAN Classic package (haircut + beard): CHF 65, walk-in CHF 60

You can find everything else in our services overview. To read more about the salon as a barber in Biel and as a men's hairdresser in Biel, see those pages.

You can book your appointment online and get your confirmation by email straight away. Walk-ins are welcome during opening hours too: Monday to Wednesday 9 am to 7 pm, Thursday and Friday 9 am to 8 pm, Saturday 8:30 am to 6 pm. You pay at the salon, in cash, by card or with TWINT.

Whether you call it barber or hairdresser, what counts in the end is a cut that suits you. We look forward to seeing you at Zentralstrasse 22.