What's your favorite barbershop and why?

Southtown Barbershop in South Saint Louis, just two blocks away. I live in a blue collar neighborhood close to factories and police and fire stations. The barbers give a discount to union workers, cops and firefighters.

But the men and woman who work there have tattoos and pompadours, but we always talk sports. They serve soda, Pabst and Johnny Walker. Cash only. Lots of Clubman, Lucky Tiger and Suavecito.

I love that place.

I'm a little confused by the question.  Favourite barbershop?  Like you have more than one?  You don't change barbers like you change shoes.  I am currently on my second barber.  In my life.  Both Italian barbers, the first one (Tom) I went to from my first "professional" haircut at age 5 until I was 40 when he retired and the current one (Gerry)  I've been with from 40 to now (55).  I'm noticing that Gerry is getting older and talking about retirement which I find disturbing.  I detect a trend!  I  believe in building a relationship with your barber, he might give you a bad haircut now and again but who doesn't have off days now and then.  They're human.  Over time they figure out how to work with your head and give you what you want.  You can make it harder by changing styles frequently or make it easier on everybody and just pick a style and stick with it for a few decades or, if you're lucky and the hair stays in, for life.  The barbershop is a comfortable predictable place.  You've got three chairs and never more than two barbers and old issues of Playboy (great articles) bay rum and a straight razor on your neck. There shouldn't be any women either so you can speak freely without the risk of offending delicate sensibilities.  You stick with one barber, its about loyalty and respect.  If you've ever seen the Clint Eastwood movie, Gran Torino you know what I'm talking about.  "Get off my lawn" is right up there in the pantheon of great movie lines with "I''ll be back"

Haven't been to a barber in over 20 years. My decision to start cutting my own hair came about through getting a REALLY good hair cut.

ONE time.

I became privy to the steps a good barber takes to achieve a good cut. The downside was the realization I was paying for inferior haircuts since most barbers didn't cut hair the way that one barber did. So instead of paying someone else to screw up my hair, I decided I could screw up my own hair for free.

This revelation was similar in some respects to discovering what it takes to obtain a really good shave. The obvious similarity is, I don't have to pay someone else to do what I can do more efficiently than someone else.

And save money in the process.


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Hey SABOTEURw, I like your logic.   Its like going to a restaurant and paying big bucks for bad food and/or service.  Hell, I can make bad food myself for a lot less money and serve it to myself in a bored and disinterested way as well.  Who needs to eat out and pay for that.  You realize that people may draw inferences based on the fact that you cut your own hair so you have to be sure to do a good job.  I think I would miss the regular interaction with my barber otherwise I would seriously consider cutting my own hair as well.  I think the #2 or #3 on the clippers all over would do it - I have trouble with the fade

Hey SABOTEURw, I like your logic.   Its like going to a restaurant and paying big bucks for bad food and/or service.  Hell, I can make bad food myself for a lot less money and serve it to myself in a bored and disinterested way as well.  Who needs to eat out and pay for that.  You realize that people may draw inferences based on the fact that you cut your own hair so you have to be sure to do a good job.  I think I would miss the regular interaction with my barber otherwise I would seriously consider cutting my own hair as well.  I think the #2 or #3 on the clippers all over would do it - I have trouble with the fade

Well, I've had a fair bit of practice. Having cut my own hair for 30 years it's pretty much a no-brainer now. Thoroughly wash my hair (leaving it slightly wet), slap a #2 blade on my shaver and GUIDE. The hardest part is lining my neck so I don't leave a weird angle. Fade? Close the razor gap.
Easy-Peazy.

This is NOT to say I haven't experienced some "OOPS" moments. To avoid this I refrain from cutting it unless I feel like focusing my full attention to it. But, the one thing that's consistent (and reassuring) since I've been doing this is:

It always grows back.

I don't socialize so there's never been a concern about what people think. Helpful too that I wear a wave pattern that masks the fact I don't have a professional cut.

I'm a lot more concerned about what passes for a mustache. It's a collection of straight hair that grows at various angles that give the appearance of a mustache when closely grouped and carefully maintained. Hard as hell to trim. Cutting one wrong hair throws the whole thing off. Go from one side to the other "carefully" snipping to give a balanced appearance...stand back and discover the mustache has disappeared.

It takes Herculean effort to simply line it or just trim (not cut) obviously out of place hair. My restraint gets better, but I'm repeatedly reminded it's far better to just leave the damn thing alone.

what's your favorite barbershop and why do you like it so

What say you?

~~~Hi Will, thanks for asking!

I'm probably the odd man out but, I haven't set foot in a barbershop since we lived in the lower Fla. Keys.  Last proper hair cut for me was in 1998, and there was a gal that owned her own shop in Marathon (Maritza) that I entrusted to take care of my hair, and back then, I wore it conservatively short.  Not anymore=:-)

This is a fairly recent photo of me I posted for a wrist watch forum I belong to

Love the locks, Jake!

Thanks for the attaboy Freddy=:-)  Most of the time I tie my mane in a pony tail and tuck it all up under a bandana I fashion into a hat.  Started wearing the bandana hats when we first moved to the lower Fla. Keys back in 85' when I saw a lot of guys down there wear them, and these guys had short, long, no hair and used the bandana to keep the sun off their heads.  The bandana really is nice cheap easily laundered hat and as far as my long hair goes, as mentioned, most of the time it's up under a bandana.  It's way too hot here in north central Fla. to wear my hair ala natural most of the time, but once in awhile, I'll let it all hang out=:-) The Mrs. likes my hair long and since it's one of the things I can do for her to make her happy, I'm all in.  Then add the fact we both live/work on a farm, it's not as if I have to conform to societal norms



shakin_jake bandana hat

Thanks for the attaboy Freddy=:-)  Most of the time I tie my mane in a pony tail and tuck it all up under a bandana I fashion into a hat.  Started wearing the bandana hats when we first moved to the lower Fla. Keys back in 85' when I saw a lot of guys down there wear them, and these guys had short, long, no hair and used the bandana to keep the sun off their heads.  The bandana really is nice cheap easily laundered hat and as far as my long hair goes, as mentioned, most of the time it's up under a bandana.  It's way too hot here in north central Fla. to wear my hair ala natural most of the time, but once in awhile, I'll let it all hang out=:-) The Mrs. likes my hair long and since it's one of the things I can do for her to make her happy, I'm all in.  Then add the fact we both live/work on a farm, it's not as if I have to conform to societal norms



shakin_jake bandana hat

Hi Jake, that's a serious looking espresso machine in the background.  What is it?  I think we might have to get a coffee thread going in the non-shaving section of DFS.  I'm fairly serious about my morning cup, be it espresso or brewed/drip.  I've been roasting my own beans going on 20 years or so.  My current preferred non-espresso brewing method is the pour over method.  I'd rather have one or two cups of really good coffee in the morning rather than gallons of the swill that passes for coffee these days.
Mark

shakin_jake, when I was in my 20s I really wanted long hair and tried to let my hair grow out over seven months.  Two things made me quit: I did not look cool (more like Bozo the Clown with dark brown hair) and I was an elementary school teacher in the days when teachers dressed the part. Bozo the clown in a shirt and tie was not a pretty sight.  

Marko, I wouldn't be surprised if others have your passion for coffee and coffee making so why not start a thread in the Lounge.  That's what the Lounge is there for.