At a salon, a clipper cut will usually mean putting guards on a clipper and cutting the hair to the specified length, so in general, a short buzzed style. Some barbers prefer to cut all standard ,medium to short styles clipper over comb, so it could also mean a regular haircut. Even for short buzzed styles, clipper over comb typically produces a superior taper and overall haircut to clipper guards but clipper over comb probably isn't the clipper method being used for the lower cost salon style but rather guards as already mentioned. A barber is usually a good choice for a standard medium to short style while a stylist is usually a better choice for longer styles where the ear is covered with hair. Regardless of stylist or barber, it is best to see one who one knows is good with the desired style. A good barber can usually design a regular haircut or one of the short pomp(pompadour) styles-crew cut, ivy league(long crew cut), flat top crew cut- to fully suit most young guys. Most girls are fine with whatever standard medium to short style a guy chooses to wear as long as the style fully suits and is kept clean and looking well groomed and the guy doesn't spend a lot of time on his hair. If a guy wants to go to a shorter style for the summer or one of his sporting activities, that is fine with most girls even when she prefers that he wear a somewhat longer style. Hair grows at an average rate of 1/8" per week. A photo is the best way to describe a style to a barber or stylist.
regular haircut:
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/55c5c155a74bf22b_large
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/80803651238e0738_large
ttp://oi54.tinypic.com/1445gn5.jpg
http://books.google.com/books?id=SyvUJSdj4aAC&lpg=PA1&pg=PA7#v=onepage&q&f=false
ivy league(long crew cut):
worn spiked up....
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/45368d8c59451f3a_large
ttp://oi50.tinypic.com/1fdywx.jpg
ttp://oi46.tinypic.com/sgpjs7.jpg
worn down and brushed to the side...
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/d2e97250e0614ff6_large
medium crew cut:
http://books.google.com/books?id=x0EEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&rview=1&pg=PA44#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/ae218215599f9a96_large
ttp://oi48.tinypic.com/2i209b6.jpg
ttp://oi49.tinypic.com/iqzl80.jpg
short crew cut:
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/dfbf10e504bce8a1_large
Some barbers consider that all crew cuts should have a flat top, so it is best to not rely on words alone for even a widely recognized style like a crew cut.
flat top crew cut:
http://oi48.tinypic.com/f0dumb.jpg
ttp://oi50.tinypic.com/2ymzhq8.jpg
ttp://oi48.tinypic.com/k4b29f.jpg
ttp://oi50.tinypic.com/2v33tok.jpg
regular haircut to summer crew cut:
http://books.google.com/books?id=gEwEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PP1&pg=PA46#v=onepage&q&f=false
Search the internet for images of football(soccer)star Lukas Podolski for examples of ivy league and crew cut styles. A minute dab of control wax aka butch wax will keep the hair looking well groomed at crew cut and ivy league length. A butch comb also helps with grooming the short pomp styles- the small, flat, plastic, oval, pocket brushes that one finger fits through and barbers sell for about a dollar. A boar bristle military brush is usually available for a few dollars and while too large for a guy to carry in his pocket, is nice to have at home.
ttp://oi55.tinypic.com/xf83tc.jpg