I've been overdue for a cut for about 6 weeks or so. Probably for all that time I thought about giving somebody else a try. So, today I did.
A little description about my up to now current barber is in order. He knows my head. I've been going to him for about 6 years. He can be done with me in less than 10 minutes. Good haircuts overall. To be fair, he does cut a lot of hair, so in everybody's best interest he tries to keep things moving along. I appreciate it and so does everybody else. We don't talk above and beyond the general accepted pleasantries. It seems like someone is always swinging thru the door and he needs to engage them for the rest of my time I'm in the chair. So, I feel hesitant to compete for air time. Little personal connection. He doesn't remember my name, either.
When I leave the chair, hand him the fee and tip and head for the door, there is ALWAYS a ton of hair all over my face, in my ears , and some on my shirt and pants as well. It is mandatory that I head straight home and shed everything and take a shower.
Today, I went to a guy named Nino. I described the best way that I could what kind of cut that I'd like and tried to remember the cutter number (3, I think). It took him about the same time for a cut as my usual guy. Throughout the experience we discussed straight shaves and why for the most part doesn't do them anymore. We spoke about ancestries, a few other things, and he asked me my first name. I asked for a neck shave, he said certainly. He brought out a shavette, put in a new DE blade, and some canned goo. Did a nice job. When he was done he took a reasonably stiff brush and brushed away almost all of the stray hair on my face and clothes. As a finishing touch he sprayed a paper towel with what afterwards could have been Pinaud Citrus Musk and gently applied it to my neck. Nice effect.
In the end I just about received an identical haircut as I usually do. When I walked out the door I felt good. I got some personal attention from Nino. He cleaned me up very well, and left me with a nice scent afterwards, As I left he said to me "there's always a blade ready for you" and called me by my first name too.
It was a very nice change indeed. Will I patronize my old barber again? - Certainly. Will I see Nino again? - Certainly.
Am I done with trying out new barbers? Certainly not. I think I've just begun...
A little description about my up to now current barber is in order. He knows my head. I've been going to him for about 6 years. He can be done with me in less than 10 minutes. Good haircuts overall. To be fair, he does cut a lot of hair, so in everybody's best interest he tries to keep things moving along. I appreciate it and so does everybody else. We don't talk above and beyond the general accepted pleasantries. It seems like someone is always swinging thru the door and he needs to engage them for the rest of my time I'm in the chair. So, I feel hesitant to compete for air time. Little personal connection. He doesn't remember my name, either.
When I leave the chair, hand him the fee and tip and head for the door, there is ALWAYS a ton of hair all over my face, in my ears , and some on my shirt and pants as well. It is mandatory that I head straight home and shed everything and take a shower.
Today, I went to a guy named Nino. I described the best way that I could what kind of cut that I'd like and tried to remember the cutter number (3, I think). It took him about the same time for a cut as my usual guy. Throughout the experience we discussed straight shaves and why for the most part doesn't do them anymore. We spoke about ancestries, a few other things, and he asked me my first name. I asked for a neck shave, he said certainly. He brought out a shavette, put in a new DE blade, and some canned goo. Did a nice job. When he was done he took a reasonably stiff brush and brushed away almost all of the stray hair on my face and clothes. As a finishing touch he sprayed a paper towel with what afterwards could have been Pinaud Citrus Musk and gently applied it to my neck. Nice effect.
In the end I just about received an identical haircut as I usually do. When I walked out the door I felt good. I got some personal attention from Nino. He cleaned me up very well, and left me with a nice scent afterwards, As I left he said to me "there's always a blade ready for you" and called me by my first name too.
It was a very nice change indeed. Will I patronize my old barber again? - Certainly. Will I see Nino again? - Certainly.
Am I done with trying out new barbers? Certainly not. I think I've just begun...
