Just tell her straight if she asks, My image is everything to me and I hadn't realised that until I had it cut differently by someone else what a difference it has made to me , you don't mind me using her do you ?? she will say no not at all....
She found this out by default , i too had the same barber for years same cut etc etc then he went and retired leaving a younger man in charge of the shop, First time i went i thought i will give him a chance , that was 7 years or so ago, it took about 6 months to have my ears out of my hair and now i have more street cred and am far happier about my hair .............