Choosing a barber/stylist

Late in the summer of 1968, when I was 6, my father walked me down to the local barbershop for my first professional haircut. School was to begin in a few weeks and my parents felt that since I was entering first grade, I was old enough for the real thing. Until that point, getting a haircut meant sitting on a stool in the kitchen covered in a towel as my father worked his way around my head with an old pair of Wahl clippers.

I had been to the barber with my dad, but never as a customer. Tom the barber was a nice old man who used to give me a lollipops and I was now promised more as a reward for sitting in his chair. When my turn came to climb up, they had to put a board across the arms so I could sit tall enough for the barber to reach. Incidentally, not having been blessed with a great deal of height, I think I was in high school before they removed the board. Thus began a grueling ritual that I would dread for many years to come.

The clacking and pulling of the blades, my head being twisted and forced into unnatural positions and the indignity of sitting on that board all conspired to make a simple visit to the barber an occasion for angst. Having played pee-wee baseball that summer and never gotten to first base (it still gives me nightmares when you consider it was tee-ball) and the imposing figure of Sister Bernice threatening the eternal fires of hell for minor infractions each day, it’s a wonder that the addition of a monthly haircut didn’t send me right over the edge. To be fair to Tom, I wasn’t exactly the easiest client to deal with and after many years he retired from exhaustion and died soon after. My mother still insists I single handedly drove the man to an early grave.

As a teen in the 70’s and early 80’s, I frequented many unisex salons searching for that one stylist who could make me look cool. Usually what I received was akin to a moussed light bulb with the edges squared off. When the stylist finished blowing me dry I would run home - hoping I wouldn’t be seen by anyone I knew - and stick my head under a faucet. Not a ringing endorsement to say the least. It wasn’t until my brother’s wedding that I found someone who understood what I was looking for. John was my brother’s guy, a licensed hairstylist who was also classically trained as a barber. His technique was amazing. The cut I received was lean on the sides, balanced on top and the faded neckline was awesome. As he deftly worked through the haircut, my trust in his abilities began to grow. By the time the product had been applied, my self-esteem had risen to an all time high. It’s an experience that defies description but as anyone who’s found a great barber or stylist after years of bad haircuts can attest, you intuitively know the moment a great haircut happens. Like it or not, the way we feel about ourselves is directly tied to how we look. A lesson I learned that day as I strutted out of the shop.

A great haircut shouldn’t cost a fortune but you must also bear in mind that the cost shouldn’t be the over-riding issue. There are many good stylists who do great men’s hair, find one you can afford who makes you feel cool and don’t settle for anything less. The type of salon you choose and your comfort level within the salon is also a factor. Many salons today are male friendly and some even have specific men’s sections. Check out the salons around town and near work to see if you would feel comfortable hanging out inside. One of the best ways to find a great salon is to ask others. Talk to your buddies or the guy at your gym with the cool look, or perhaps you can enlist the help of your girlfriend or partner. It’s also acceptable to ask the salon receptionist if they employ a stylist who specializes in men. However you decide to find your next barber or stylist, keep in mind that a great haircut is a sign of healthy self-esteem.

As my father used to say "if you’re not going to do it right, don’t do it at all". Remember that the next time you have to choose between quality and price.