Bad Barber

Welcome to Bad Barber, the little West Village barbershop where you're the new barber, and the sign out front says exactly what the neighbourhood thinks of you.

Big-headed customers sit in your chair, mumble what they want in a wah-wah trombone voice and show you a photo of the cut. Then it's you, a pair of clippers and a full head of real-looking hair, every strand of it simulated. Hair only gets shorter: once it's off, it's off. No undo.

THE TOOLS OF THE TRADE
• Clippers with guards #0 to #6, for fades, tapers and buzz cuts
• Shears (scissor over comb) and thinning shears for the longer stuff
• A straight razor for line-ups, skin fades and shaves
• A comb, a spray bottle and a blow dryer to finish him off. Soak him, cut him, blow him dry: that's the works, and it tips extra

16 CUTS ON THE BOARD
Buzz cuts, crew cuts, skin fades low, mid and high, tapers, caesars, high-tops, pompadours, textured crops and side parts combed in wet, plus beard trims, line-ups, goatees, mustaches and full shaves.

THE MIRROR NEVER LIES
Hit Done and he has a good long look at himself. Missed a bit? He'll point it out, and you get one touch-up. Then come the stars, the tip and the review. Take too much off and he won't shout. He'll just stare at you. Which is worse.

A DAY AT THE SHOP
• Walk-ins from all over the city wait on the bench, and they won't wait forever
• Regulars who warm up to you, tip more and send their friends
• "Your call" customers who only tell you the vibe, and "surprise me" customers who leave it all to you
• Sneezers, ticklish necks and the odd customer who nods off mid-fade
• Hot streaks that multiply your tips, a goal every day and a timelapse of every cut

FROM BAD BARBER TO LEGENDARY
Every cut earns XP. Climb from Bad Barber to Okay, Decent, Good, Great and Legendary Barber, and watch the sign out front get fixed up as you go: a spray-painted X, a cardboard patch, fresh paint, then gold leaf. Better barbers get braver customers.

DO UP THE SHOP
Your tips go in the tip jar. Spend them on a lollipop jar, a big fern, an espresso machine, a neon OPEN sign, a hot towel warmer, gold clippers and Clippers, the shop cat. Each one helps.

BARBER SCHOOL
Not ready for real customers? Practise any cut on Manny, the shop's mannequin head. The pro walks you through it step by step, and does one side for you to copy on the other.

SHOW OFF
Share a before and after of your best work. Or your worst.

GOOD TO KNOW
• Plays fully offline
• No ads, no in-app purchases, no tracking

Made in a tiny lab by Nashtendo.