Article by Tim & Justin D. Follow us on twitter.

Picking out the perfect shoe is important to any barber or hair stylist because let’s face it, we spend our whole lives standing for a living. Without comfortable shoes, you will be miserable and uncomfortable and it will be hard to make it through each day.

Here are some tips for picking out the perfect footwear for you.

My absolute favorite footwear to wear in the barbershop are Nike Shox sneakers. Not only are they comfortable but they are also stylish. They feel great on the soles of your feet because they are built to have a thick sole on them and also because the shox on the back of the sneaker gives it added cushioning making. This makes them even more comfortable. New Balance are also very comfortable because they are such a wide sneaker and it is always nice to give your feet a little extra breathing room.

My second favorite footwear is the Nike Air Max. It is a toss up between the Air Max 95’s and the Air Max 360’s. They are also another sneaker that are comfortable and stylish. What makes them so comfortable are the air bubbles in the back of the shoe which helps support your feet and ankles more than the Nike Shox. They come in almost every color so you can easily match them with any outfit you would wear to the barbershop and you could also wear them as an everyday show.

Last, but not least are the all black low top Air Force One’s. They may not be as comfortable as the other one’s I wear, but they are perfect for a barbershop with a dress code of slacks or dress pants. They look good with both, but are more comfortable to stand around in than dress shoes. They are also good to wear because they don’t wear out easily so they will last a long time before having to buy a new pair.

For those of you who are stuck wearing dress shoes for work, I suggest Ecco, Diesels, or Pony’s. They are stylish and more comfortable than the other dress shoes I wear. They come in almost every color and look good with dress pants and jeans.

Dress shoes aren’t my footwear of choice, but if I have to wear them, I install Dr. Scholl’s pads on the inside to give them extra support. They are great to put into almost every footwear to help give your feet and back more support. Just a little trick I’ve learned after spending years on my feet!

If you cannot afford or choose not to spend a lot of money on your work shoes, my footwear of choice would be Reebok Classics, Asics Gels, and Adidas.

Just remember keeping your feet happy is key because you won’t stand a chance in this business without a comfortable pair of shoes! For your convenience, click here for a great resource for finding comfortable shoes at an affordable price!

Tell us your favorite footwear in your shop in the comments below. We’d love to see what the ladies recommend!