As a personal story - one of my first freelance jobs was a for a guy who wanted to open his own barbershop. He wanted a guy with a big afro just in the process of getting it cut down (like a chunk taken out of it).
I struggled with getting something “realistic” yet “cartoony”. The guy in the chair I thought I did OK on, but he guy cutting the hair - not so much. So I did just as the other comic linked in the article suggested - look at real people. I can’t remember what I used for a reference, but it helped with getting face proportions right.
In hindsight, still not happy with it. The client gushed about liking it, although I never got paid (though I don’t think he ever opened up his own shop either - at least not under that name). And while I still dislike it for technical reasons, I think I succeeded in not repeating any tropes. (Well, other than the afro, but that was the client’s request. As the guy said, “We make the rules so we can break them.”)
Still - moral of the story - look at real people. References will enhance what ever you are working.
