I know that feeling. They’re getting harder and harder to find. I still miss the barber I went to when I was in mid-20s. No other shop I’ve found has ever lived up to it.
Barbershop haircuts and styling
- Thread starter Hercule
- Start date
Ah, yes. That would put me in the late 1970s early 1980s at that age. My barber always finished with a neck shave and around the ears with hot lather dispensed from the machine that sat on the counter, using a straight he'd strop on the leather strop hanging from the chair. Then either Pinaud Clubman or Lilac Vegetal, finished off with a dusting of Clubman talc with a horsehair neck duster.
If I close my eyes I can still imagine it, and smell it. Those were the days. Seems nobody neck shaves any more they just tidy up the back of my neck with the clippers now.
If I close my eyes I can still imagine it, and smell it. Those were the days. Seems nobody neck shaves any more they just tidy up the back of my neck with the clippers now.
We actually have a couple of old school barbershops that only recently opened up by me. They're in tiny store fronts on the Ave's and usually only have 1 or 2 chairs. But they dress old school, they decorate their shops old school and do everything the old fashioned way. They look very cool and I'd like to go in, but I have a good barber already.
My guess is the hipsters love them because they all have beards and these old school shops do a lot of beard work.
It's nice having them around.
My guess is the hipsters love them because they all have beards and these old school shops do a lot of beard work.
It's nice having them around.
- Thread starter
- #44
The nostalgic old school look is something many younger barbers seem to latch on to these days. At least the ones I've been to in recent memory. It's a rich heritage to embrace. I think its nice to see and I find it rather inviting.
I’m cursed with fine straight hair. When I was young my Mom tried like crazy to part it on the side, but it just fell right back to what it wanted to do. Getting it cut was always an adventure because every mistake was obvious. All the way through my first couple of years in grad school, it was a chop and I didn’t know any better.
I was in NYC at the time and a friend suggested I give his barber a try. Natale was old school. Commuted to work in Manhattan from Queens, 2 chair shop and he was always the only guy in the place. He only used scissors and cuts were appointment only. I can’t count the number of times guys would walk in off the street and he would say, “I cut by appointment only and don’t use clippahs.” Even after I moved to Philly from NYC, I commuted every 2 months for a haircut on Saturday. I finally stopped after he developed cancer.
After that, I knew what a good cut was and it took me about a year of bad chops and trial and error to find a new stylist. It was in a salon, but boy does she cut my hair well. She’s changed salons a few times and I always follow her. A cut costs about $35 and I tip $10. It’s worth every penny. I’ve been going to her for 20 years now.
I was in NYC at the time and a friend suggested I give his barber a try. Natale was old school. Commuted to work in Manhattan from Queens, 2 chair shop and he was always the only guy in the place. He only used scissors and cuts were appointment only. I can’t count the number of times guys would walk in off the street and he would say, “I cut by appointment only and don’t use clippahs.” Even after I moved to Philly from NYC, I commuted every 2 months for a haircut on Saturday. I finally stopped after he developed cancer.
After that, I knew what a good cut was and it took me about a year of bad chops and trial and error to find a new stylist. It was in a salon, but boy does she cut my hair well. She’s changed salons a few times and I always follow her. A cut costs about $35 and I tip $10. It’s worth every penny. I’ve been going to her for 20 years now.
I think it is interesting how much the postings in this thread reveal about how much affecton, good feelings, and loyalty we each have to individuals we think have given us excellent haircuts! Otis, wherever you are, this one is for you!
Years ago, from about the early 80s until I moved to Asia in 1995, I used the same guy in a 3 man place called The Barber Shop in Tackett St, Ipswich. It was great as the 3 guys had been mates for years so the banter and mickey-taking that went on was hilarious. I used to really forward to a hair cut!
In Jakarta, a girlfriend introduced me to the salon experience, including manicure and pedicure, I tried quite a few. Same in Bangkok.
Since coming here, I have moved to a No2 clipper cut and started going to Jermyn St, as it is near the office but now I am being retired - long story - I tried one of these Japanese QB House outlets. They have a 10 minute time limit, no appointment system, and only cut the hair, no eyebrow or beard trimming. Instead of a wash, they "air wash" at the end (they vacuum your head), but it is less than half the price and to be honest it looks the same result.
In Jakarta, a girlfriend introduced me to the salon experience, including manicure and pedicure, I tried quite a few. Same in Bangkok.
Since coming here, I have moved to a No2 clipper cut and started going to Jermyn St, as it is near the office but now I am being retired - long story - I tried one of these Japanese QB House outlets. They have a 10 minute time limit, no appointment system, and only cut the hair, no eyebrow or beard trimming. Instead of a wash, they "air wash" at the end (they vacuum your head), but it is less than half the price and to be honest it looks the same result.
I have always used independent shops as my regular/repeat barbers. The few haircuts I have gotten from chains have been regrettable, every one.
I'm an easy client. Taper the sides, short in the front, part on the left, give the cowlick some length. Senior rate was $17 last time, but they should have raised it before now. I take either of the two chairs. Yes, I tip the barber, owner or whoever it happens to be. I handed over a $20 and $5, "I'm a senior, keep the change." These guys will recognize me after a few more visits.
My last barber before the current guys was the best ever, but his health has gotten so bad that when he manages to open the shop he can barely stand up and move enough to get a haircut completed in less than an hour. I had to move on.
I remember most of my barbers, all the way back to the mid-70s. Pat and Dan took care of me from the mid-90's until a couple years post-covid.
I'm an easy client. Taper the sides, short in the front, part on the left, give the cowlick some length. Senior rate was $17 last time, but they should have raised it before now. I take either of the two chairs. Yes, I tip the barber, owner or whoever it happens to be. I handed over a $20 and $5, "I'm a senior, keep the change." These guys will recognize me after a few more visits.
My last barber before the current guys was the best ever, but his health has gotten so bad that when he manages to open the shop he can barely stand up and move enough to get a haircut completed in less than an hour. I had to move on.
I remember most of my barbers, all the way back to the mid-70s. Pat and Dan took care of me from the mid-90's until a couple years post-covid.
