Modern barbershops

Tom · January 15, 2010, 09:41:10 PM

I haven't been able to get a decent haircut in 20 or 30 years. The real barbers have disappeared. What ever happened to those haircuts I got in the 40's, 50's and 60's? You know, the haircut that was called a ....haircut! .

A plain old haircut was trimmed fairly close to the head around the ears and tapered up the side of the head. Then it was short enough on top to comb, but not so long as to hang in your face or get into your ears if it got wet. If you got into a fight, it was short enough that the other guy had trouble getting a handful of hair, but long enough to keep a swung stick from breaking the skin.

I've got pictures of me as a kid with a plain old haircut. Jr. Sample wore one.

Now there are hairdressers who don't want to cut your hair off. If they do cut it off, they dont' know how to leave a part or where the part goes. The closest thing I have found to a Barber says that what I want is a "High and Tight". Never heard of such a thing. I've been to the $25 dollar hairdressers, $18, and the $12. While I can get my hair cut at one place for $5, I've chosen to get it from one that is $8, mainly because the woman...... yeah Lord, A Woman!, speaks English and it's in my dialect.

Today, I got one. The hair is short, OK. But their is no hair on the down side of the part and longer hair on top of my head is cut even and combed forward. I got home and my shirt, chair, table and all is full of three inch long hair that she didn't clean from my head. There was no trimming done in or on my ears, eyebrows or nose. My neck and hairline wasn't shaved. It wasn't even cleaned up with one of those new little clippers that is supposed to cut close.

I miss the conversation and visiting that men used to have in the barbershop but even will forgo that if I could get a decent haircut.

Bro. Noble · January 15, 2010, 09:59:45 PM

Well, Tom, it could be worse.

My barber can cut hair just like you mentioned. The conversation is most often about fishing, but gets over in to hunting, ball games, politics, and food. The place is usually full, but most ore just loafers. I really enjoy going there, but it's been so long since I had any hair on top of my head that I don't remember where the DanG part even was >:( ;) :D

DanG · January 15, 2010, 10:10:40 PM

DanG Noble, your eyes must be worse than I thought. I mean, the part is probably what, about six inches wide, and you STILL can't see it? Jeeze! :-\

WildDog · January 15, 2010, 10:13:30 PM

I bought my wife a Wahl clipper set and the little triming clipper with some good scissors and havn't been to a Barber for the last 10 yrs, she is the only one that cuts it the way I like.

My ex wife used to cut it but the outcome was usually dodgy, I went to work one evening shift following the haircut and when I was checking prisoners through the window in the cell doors one guy looked back at me and said "S**t chief I hope you gave that barber a smack in the mouth" I made the mistake of telling my ex.

Magicman · January 15, 2010, 10:50:36 PM

I haven't been in a barber shop since 1972. I sleep with my barber....

Dan_Shade · January 15, 2010, 11:11:59 PM

Tom, at least you have hair!

I live near a military base, and there are a few decent barbershops around. The one I go to used to be better, but it's still suitable.

I just do a "#2 and enough to comb over up top" which is pretty much a "high and tight"

pigman · January 15, 2010, 11:45:29 PM

I am like Magicman. No, I don't sleep with his barber, I sleep with my barber. There is not much work in cutting my hair. :(

Brucer · January 16, 2010, 01:13:37 AM

Well, my hairdresser does an excellent job, and won't charge me either. That's 'cause I paid her way through hairdressing school ;D.

Jeff · January 16, 2010, 01:46:34 AM

My Sister Lynda has cut my hair for probably the last 32 years. She never when to Cosmetology school like my Sister Jill did. Jill, she does NOT cut my hair. I was her guinea pig while she was in school, and to make a long story short, her, along with her straight razor, will nver be allowed access to the back of my neck again.

My idea of a good haircut these days is, for the first three weeks, no comb needed. Go to bed, get out of the shower, work in the woods all afternoon. still looks the same if its short enough. When I have to start fussing with it, add another 3 to 4 weeks before I finally go get it cut again. I actually enjoy getting my hair cut, but I usually put it off until somebody starts mentioning the unibomber.

beenthere · January 16, 2010, 01:54:30 AM

Quote from: Jeff on January 16, 2010, 01:46:34 AM
............
My idea of a good haircut these days is, for the first three weeks, no comb needed. Go to bed, get out of the shower, work in the woods all afternoon. still looks the same if its short enough. When I have to start fussing with it, add another 3 to 4 weeks before I finally go get it cut again. ..........

Exactly how I feel about it too.

ErikC · January 16, 2010, 02:21:12 AM

That's exactly how I like it too. Have been getting my haircuts from Sarah since we got married, and she does a good job, doesn't take her over 5-10 minutes.

IMERC · January 16, 2010, 03:29:47 AM

Quote from: Tom on January 15, 2010, 09:41:10 PM

I haven't been able to get a decent haircut in 20 or 30 years.
The real barbers have disappeared.
What ever happened to those haircuts I got in the 40's, 50's and 60's? You know, the haircut that was called a ....haircut! .
I miss the conversation and visiting that men used to have in the barbershop but even will forgo that if I could get a decent haircut.

you need to move......

fishpharmer · January 16, 2010, 03:44:08 AM

I get my haircut by a good ole timey barber. He works in a 3 chair shop that used to be a good ole barbershop. My son likes going there, he likes the warm shaving cream on his neck and the way the straight razor cuts so close. Now, the owner is retired and two women hairstylist have moved in next to my barber. It sure is loud in there anymore ;) I don't stop there if the barber's truck isn't parked outside.

easymoney · January 16, 2010, 05:19:57 AM

you usually have to seek out an old time barber shop not one of those hair saloons. the one i go to still knows how to cut hair and yes if you will sit and listen you can learn a lot about anything from faming to hunting maybe a little politics thrown in. the person that usually cuts my hair is a very well endowed lady ( i use the term lightly) and i do not dare tell her how i want it. when she gets through i look at it and compliment her on what a fine job she did. i do not dare say anything criticle to a woman with a straight razor in her hand.

thecfarm · January 16, 2010, 06:58:36 AM

My wife cuts my hair too.I like it short.Like I tell the guys at work,I like it this way so when company comes all I have to do is make sure I have a clean shirt on. They can't figure out if I mean it or not. :D

IMERC · January 16, 2010, 07:03:05 AM

why bother with the clean shirt....

if they're good friends they'll never notice one way or the other...
if they're not it may encourage them not to return...

ouachita · January 16, 2010, 07:24:24 AM

I have been going to Linda (my barber) for the last 28-29 years. She does a fine job. Since I moved to Arkansas, I found a barber who is very good and tells me about all the good fishing holes. I'm letting my hair grow longer now that I'm in a colder climate. I'll be visiting down in Texas in late March and go the Linda for a trim.

When I was in high school (56-60) I was a 1st Sgt. in ROTC. Several of us would go to a retired USMC barber. His shop was in his home. I would arrive at 0555 hrs. He would check to see if anyone was in the parking lot at 0600 and I would get a very good haircut before sunrise for inspection later in the day.

SwampDonkey · January 16, 2010, 07:29:08 AM

Well, that's your trouble right there Tom. You gotta go to the $5 one. Where I go it's at a residence and she don't take long and never any screw ups. Of course, what can go wrong when your bald and cutting what's left down to 1/4". :D

Ironwood · January 16, 2010, 08:15:55 AM

My Barber (Sam Gelfo) passed a few years back, 94 and was still cutting every day. He had been at since he was twelve preping the men for shaves in his Dad's shop in the same town. His partner had been cutting hair w/ him for 70 years. The partner lives on, he is in his late eighties or early ninties. There where numerous articles in the papers about these two over the years.

I have two barber shops right down the street, Sam's lod partner is working across the street w/ a guy that I dont particularly like so, he's out. The gal that cuts my hair runs a good shop, by appointment (I dont have time to waste sitting around)

Good barbers still exsist in certain parts of the country. I have NEVER slept w/ mine!!

Ironwood

WH_Conley · January 16, 2010, 08:17:24 AM

I figure I got more than $5.00 in a hair cut. Been married to the barber for 35 years. I used to go to the barber shop til they all retired, then the beauty shop til my wife had to re do the last cut at home. Didn't see any point of paying and then her re doing it. I don't over do the hair cuts, 1st one is about April, last one about September. :D

Raider Bill · January 16, 2010, 08:36:49 AM

Funny I just had this conversation with a friend the other day. Theres a older barber just up the street that gives a nice mans cut for $10. Trims your beard, shaves your neck everything. I just for kicks like to get a shave while there as soon you will not be able to get a barber shave due to it being another lost art. He vacums off all the trimmings, bay rum and talc powder when done.
I go through spurts going years without a cut at all. I'm back into them now being all civilized. :D

My Dad who will be 94 next month goes every week to the same guy for since I was a small kid. You can pretty much set your watch on his schedule. It's not that his hair grows that fast but more for the social hour or sitting around and gossiping.

I have noticed that as I age the hair in my nose ears and eye brows seem to grow 5 times as fast as the hair on my head.

Larry · January 16, 2010, 08:48:22 AM

I used to get my hair cut at a private men's club. The barber got his training in the Navy during WW-ll. After the war he started a barbershop in a small but bustling town. As time went on the health department outlawed straight razor's, lather, and brushes. Our barber didn't know how to cut hair without those essential tools so he changed the barbershop to a private mens club. One of our local politicians suggested to the health department they show the barbershop as closed.

I now get my haircut at another small shop. They cut hair the old ways minus the razor. Trim nose, eyebrow, and ear hear. When complete, they have a cool machine that massages the back/neck. They also know where the fish are biting. Kathy has suggested I get my hair cut at her hair salon and save 2 bucks

...naw and no way.

Burlkraft · January 16, 2010, 09:02:18 AM

Quote from: beenthere on January 16, 2010, 01:54:30 AM
Quote from: Jeff on January 16, 2010, 01:46:34 AM
............
My idea of a good haircut these days is, for the first three weeks, no comb needed. Go to bed, get out of the shower, work in the woods all afternoon. still looks the same if its short enough. When I have to start fussing with it, add another 3 to 4 weeks before I finally go get it cut again. ..........

Exactly how I feel about it too.

I thought you just cut yer hair when ya shave :D :D :D

Bro. Noble · January 16, 2010, 10:16:39 AM

When I first left home for college, I asked the guy in the next apt. if he knew a good barber. He offered to cut my hair so I asked him if he was experienced at it. He said "sure, I cut all the guys hair on the swimming team"

DanG I sure wasn't thinking >:(

WildDog · January 16, 2010, 02:46:20 PM

My best friend as a kid had 3 brothers, one Saturday all 5 of us were walking to play Rugby League and the brothers dad, who ruled with a heavy fist booked the brothers in for haircuts at the Barbers before the games and gave the oldest $5 for the cost. They got to thinking that $5 coud be better spent on food so borrowed their mothers scissors. After the game and the money spent on sweets we got down to "Barbering" business down by the creek. It was a shambles and the 5 of us all copped the strap.