I hate looking for a place to get a haircut and invariably when I find a place I like they close down, move across town, retire...etc. Most of this week and last I drove around on my lunch hour looking for a place. Today I was coming back to the office after giving up and I see one of those white, red, and blue barber signs, like the old poles you used to see all the time. I had to search the strip center before I actually found the shop, it was by itself, tucked away and up some stairs. As I walked up the stairs it was like going back in time.. the paint was completely different than the rest of the strip center. I found the old door and went inside. There was 2 old fashion barber chairs that looked like they were from the 20's.. must have taken 4 guys to carry them up the stairs. There was 4 old cafeteria chairs against one wall. The wall had 5 or 6 kentucky derby pictures and a poster of some of the creepiest clowns I have ever seen. I wanted to snap a picture of that poster to use for defense if I got mugged.. super sad, creepy looking clown faces on it. Anyway, I wait for my turn and get in the chair. One thing I hate is telling the "stylist" how to cut my hair.. I don't want to look in a magazine or try some whacked out new cut.. I want my hair cut, end of story. I told him "short, but not to the skin" he nodded his head and threw a sheet over me with one fluid motion, he had done that a few 100 thousand times before. He goes to town with a cutter that clacked louder than a diesel truck and smelled like an old sewing machine. I closed my eyes and I could see and smell my Grandma's old singer machine. He finishes the top and I hear something behind me like he is making espresso, as he turns around I can smell the shaving cream and it is just on the edge of hot as he put it around my ears and neck. I saw the straight razor about an inch from my eye as he started to shave in front of my ear. I haven't had a haircut with a straight razor since i used to go to my Grandfather's barber shop when I was like 8.. He finished up and turned the chair around and I had the perfect cut, I couldn't have explained it any better. I am all for new technology, I work on it every day.. but sometimes the old ways are best ways...I have always felt true craftsmanship is something to be cherished and celebrated and as I get older and see less and less of it I feel like it is even more important. For the best haircut I have had in years he charged 10 bucks.. I gave him $15, shook his hand, and told him I would be back.. I sure as hell hope he doesn't retire anytime soon..
. Anyway there's no straight razor or hot lather but the guys pretty funny and gives a good haircut. I love walking in, sitting in a chair, and not having to tell him how to cut my hair.
!) but this guy is 4th generation barber. Has all kinds of certifications and stuff. The first time I walked in he got me in a chair right away, looked at my head and said "Holy $#!+ I finally get to have fun!" and proceeds to give me the best hair cut I've EVER had till that point. After going to him for a year I went but he didn't have a free chair. So he kicked me to his subordinate, and while she wasn't thrilled, she did a REALLY good job. There a normal haircut is $21. They only charge me $17, but I still give them $25. It just seems fair. Although that might be cause when I'm getting my hair cut I also get 2-3 redbull and vodkas.
