THINNING SCISSORS
If the stylist uses thinning scissors on the top of your head, find someone new. On the sides and back it's acceptable, but good hairdressers will not use them.
The best way to texturize is using a technique called "shearing". A line of hair is combed up, and using SCISSORS, triangle-like snips are made on slight bias.
The most difficult part is where short hair from the sides meets the top. This place tends to create sharp edges, so you either cut it really short or some time has to be spent evening it out. If your stylist struggles here you know he doesn't know how to cut men's hair very well. Thinning scissors are acceptable here, but of course, it's still cheating.
/rage