Recent content by markthebarber

You're right, Travis. It varies depending on where one lives, but in most places people who work in salons are cosmetologists, not barbers. Cosmetology training focuses almost entirely on cutting and styling women's hair, which makes perfect sense since the majority of clients at a salon are...

You know, I tried both of those Pinaud tonics several years ago and they both seemed sort of useless as grooming aids. They're definitely greaseless, but I wouldn't compare them to Vitalis, which works by depositing a chemical "film" on the hair which is supposed to hold it in place. I don't...

Hmmm. That sound really familiar to me. Are you sure it was a white jar? Because my first thought was that you were talking about Clubman Sport pomade--although come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that wasn't around in the early 90s. And it was a drugstore product, so chances are a hair stylist...

Oh no. I was afraid they were Life photos. Good luck tracking them down--that online Life photo archive is great for so many things, but it's incredibly large and requires you to know why a particular photo is in their archive in the first place. In other words, to track down the original photos...

Yup, same here. After a few hours it seems to disappear to the point where I might as well not used anything at all. But it must still be there, because the musty stench remains.

Interesting. Brylcreem actually used to make a special version just for guys with grey hair, so I would have assumed that the original version would have been yellowing. Never been a fan of Brylcreem. I could take or leave the smell of it in the tube, but after it sits on my hair for a hour or...

Absolutely right, although I tend to think (and this is just a guess) that angled bangs tended to be given more to children, as a way of forcing them to wear their hair exactly the way their parents wanted them to. I used to end up with them all the time as a tyke in the early 70s. I'd want to...

If you do that, just make sure your barber is actually adept at the use of thinning shears. This technique of thinning the sides fell out of favor a long time ago. As for more pictures, here you go. I don't know how we'll they'll print--they're pretty small and low-res. But I included several...

I agree--it's the perfect late 50s/early 60s businessman haircut--but it's not me. But I sort of favor classic traditional cuts like that. Some people are into the 30s/40s thing, others are into the 50s pomp thing, but I've always been a fan of those really classic, traditional cuts worn by...

It's hard to know whether the thinning shears are the cause of your problem without really seeing your hair up close. But it's certainly possible. Thinning shears only cut some of the hairs, so it's possible that those hairs are being cut too short, which for thick or course hair would make them...

Permanent hair loss, you mean? Like bald spots and receding hairline where the hair that was there stops growing back? No, that's not right. Our hair grows beneath our scalps, well below where any topically applied product can reach. All of the physiological stuff that would affect hair growth...

That's the new trend: pricey hair salons for men that are decorated like old-time barbershops, or otherwise reflect some sort of vintage or nostalgic sensibility. It's usually not a 50s/rockabilly type of vibe, but more a "tonsorial parlor" or "gentleman's groomer" feel--decidedly upscale. It's...

Yeah, it's officially a "trend." I've gone to interviews at a couple of these places in the past. I remember a couple of years ago I went to an interview at one "gentleman's groomer" type place where they informed me that they didn't allow their "barbers" (and I use that term loosely) to use...

Jan, you're absolutely right about that. Actually, in some states in the US, there's really no such thing as a barber anymore. Many states have adopted an all-purpose haircutting license, which means that everyone who wants that license needs to go to cosmetology school. And then there are the...

Hey, I just call 'em like I see 'em. If I'm wrong about her, I'm wrong. I'm just basing my opinion on the details you provided. And I did point out that even if she were a cosmetologist she might be able to do it if there was something special about her, such as interest/experience in classic...