Fiction I know what you mean.
To be honest I've had that happen more than a few times, especially since I
hated haircuts when I was young. Seriously, I think it was more of a phobia---some stranger you just met, who may or may not be having a good day, is running sharp cutting instruments near your head and neck. Talk about awkwardness...I was so nervous sometimes I'd fidget in my seat and make the haircut lousy.
But it's all about trial and error. After enough times of going to various Supercuts and realizing there's no real danger---I was knicked on the skull and ear a couple of times and those cuts healed up pretty fast---I just started to completely relax and be at ease when the clippers start to hum.
Then I noticed when I did this, it made conversation extremely easy with the hair stylist...it's almost contagious. They start to chat with you on just about anything...the more relaxed and at ease you two are around each other, the more personal they get.
So then I started really enjoying my haircuts, and whenever I go I'd have the hair stylist do something special with each cut...sort of like their signature mark if you will. But I still told them what haircut I wanted. After all, I don't want to look like those guys in the pics Rye posted.
Then I started to give them the option of giving me whatever haircut they fancied. But I worded it wrong. I gave all the power to the girl.

I told them, basically, "go nuts!". And a lot of times they just have no idea. Reason is probably two fold: 1) women are used to being lead, not the other way around, 2) you're their customer and if they give you a mohawk when you were really looking for a fade, they might get fired.
Around this time I read The Game and then shortly thereafter joined the forum. It took a few more attempts but I changed my tactics just a bit:
I was vague in giving my directions, letting the girl basically "see" the haircut in her head then tell me exactly what she's thinking of, then reward her with a big smile and tell her she gets what I'm looking for. Couple of very basic game principles there. Occasionally she would "see" something ridiculous and I would neg her, and she would think of something else. But the vast majority of the time it's a good haircut, she is a professional after all.
Once I sit down, I just go into my relaxed state. I try to minimize my input on the haircut---it's her haircut remember, the more input and corrections you make on it the less personal it is to her---and I just chat with her. Essentially going straight to rapport building...I don't recommend breaking rapport when someone's cutting your hair. I'm not hitting on her, but I'm relaxed and in a good mood and talking with her like I've known her for ages. I do neg and tease a little in between, sort of like mini push pulls. And they always respond to that.
Of course there is always risk associated with any worthwhile endeavor. So you could end up with a less than desirable haircut in your mind. But in her mind, you look like a million bucks.
