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The other day, I was in my wife's hometown of Marion, SC (about 30 miles from where we live) visiting her parents. I was in need of a haircut, and asked my Father-in-law where he got his hair cut. He told me to go to the only barber shop downtown, and ask them to give me the works.
The barber shop was very old. When I walked in, they had those massive old style barber chairs that seat you up really high. Each barber station has a 10-12 feet tall mirror surrounded by mahogany bolsters and trim. There are no sinks at each barber station. Instead, there is a large marble Greek-revival style sink sitting in the middle of the wide, tiled floor that will accomodate two people getting their hair rinsed out. An older gentleman was currently getting his hair shampooed in the barber chair, and when he was done with that, the barber had him walk over to the large sink, where he rinsed his hair out.
There were two older black men, probably in their 60's cutting hair. I placed my fedora on one of the many deer antlers hanging on the wall for that purpose, and sat to wait for a barber.
As soon as one customer stood from the chair, the barber swiped his towel across the chair as a signal for me to sit down while he brushed off that customer, and worked out the payment. I sat, and he came over to me and asked "What'll it be?". I told him "John Bethea told me to come down here and get the works", and he got to work cutting my hair. He took his time, using scissors, and regular clippers. After the main of my hair was done, he brushed my hair with a soft boar bristle brush, and splashed some talc on my head. He then used his hot lather machine to lather up the back of my neck, and around my ears, then proceeded to use a freshly stropped straight razor to trim both of those places, followed by a splash of nice smelling after-shave. This was followed by a 3 or 4 minute back of the neck massage.
He then put a steaming hot towel around my face to soften up my beard. This stayed on there for about 3-4 minutes, after which he coated me well with hot lather, and shaved my face with the straight razor. I have never had such a fine shave in my whole life. After a splash of after shave, he offered me a shoe shine. This was the only optional part of the works, I later found out. I said sure, and got my Florsheims polished to a near mirror finish.
He then pulled the cape off of me, allowing me to stand, as he swiped the chair clean with his towel to signal another customer. As I was standing, he then took a small whisk broom to swipe off any hairs that were still clinging to me, as there is no air hose with which to do so in this vintage barber shop. I asked what this treatment cost, and he said "That'll be $20". I gave him $25, and he handed me back the $5 bill, saying "No, just $20." I thanked him, and informed him I'd be back as I had just found my new barber. I grabbed my hat, and walked out into the downtown street, looking clean, smelling good, and feeling like a Man.
In about two weeks, when I return to get the Works again, I'm going to take my digital camera so that all of you folks can see what this place is like.
The barber shop was very old. When I walked in, they had those massive old style barber chairs that seat you up really high. Each barber station has a 10-12 feet tall mirror surrounded by mahogany bolsters and trim. There are no sinks at each barber station. Instead, there is a large marble Greek-revival style sink sitting in the middle of the wide, tiled floor that will accomodate two people getting their hair rinsed out. An older gentleman was currently getting his hair shampooed in the barber chair, and when he was done with that, the barber had him walk over to the large sink, where he rinsed his hair out.
There were two older black men, probably in their 60's cutting hair. I placed my fedora on one of the many deer antlers hanging on the wall for that purpose, and sat to wait for a barber.
As soon as one customer stood from the chair, the barber swiped his towel across the chair as a signal for me to sit down while he brushed off that customer, and worked out the payment. I sat, and he came over to me and asked "What'll it be?". I told him "John Bethea told me to come down here and get the works", and he got to work cutting my hair. He took his time, using scissors, and regular clippers. After the main of my hair was done, he brushed my hair with a soft boar bristle brush, and splashed some talc on my head. He then used his hot lather machine to lather up the back of my neck, and around my ears, then proceeded to use a freshly stropped straight razor to trim both of those places, followed by a splash of nice smelling after-shave. This was followed by a 3 or 4 minute back of the neck massage.
He then put a steaming hot towel around my face to soften up my beard. This stayed on there for about 3-4 minutes, after which he coated me well with hot lather, and shaved my face with the straight razor. I have never had such a fine shave in my whole life. After a splash of after shave, he offered me a shoe shine. This was the only optional part of the works, I later found out. I said sure, and got my Florsheims polished to a near mirror finish.
He then pulled the cape off of me, allowing me to stand, as he swiped the chair clean with his towel to signal another customer. As I was standing, he then took a small whisk broom to swipe off any hairs that were still clinging to me, as there is no air hose with which to do so in this vintage barber shop. I asked what this treatment cost, and he said "That'll be $20". I gave him $25, and he handed me back the $5 bill, saying "No, just $20." I thanked him, and informed him I'd be back as I had just found my new barber. I grabbed my hat, and walked out into the downtown street, looking clean, smelling good, and feeling like a Man.
In about two weeks, when I return to get the Works again, I'm going to take my digital camera so that all of you folks can see what this place is like.
