Hair cuts

Milu said:

Is that like the trick Greek and Turkish barbers use to deal with ear hair?

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Armenians do it as well. It's good for removing all kinds of facial hair, I'm told.


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Mr. 'H' said:

I love that Cagney picture, I have brought that very picture in to my barber before!

Here's me in the chair:

And sitting in the 'shop:

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Mr. H your looking sharp there like you just stepped out of the 40's!, what a great shop. We definitely share an affinity for the classic taper cut/short back and sides with a side part... Hopefully your barber finished you up with some brylcreem or traditional hair-dressing. Nothing makes this cut stand out more than a nice shiny well combed quiff!

Well, I've been trying to get this haircut for quite sometime. It's not that easy to find someone who can cut it. I think they got close to what i want, but something looks a little off about it. I'm here for opinions good,bad or what tweaking it might need. Lets here it.

Boxerken, I think that the change of length "step" is lower than what one would normally see.

Thanks John. From the limited number of good pics of this haircut i can find, it seems that there is a very distinct line between the top and bottom, but i think it needs to be blended in more, but that takes away the line. You would think that a haircut that was as popular as this until the 50's would still be no problem to cut.

My head (the nordic square head, really) there is a definative section that is the top of my head and the sides. If I keep the step of the length change there, where the two meet, it seems to work better, for me any way. That's how I tend to do it in the cooler months out here.

Boxerken said:

Well, I've been trying to get this haircut for quite sometime. It's not that easy to find someone who can cut it. I think they got close to what i want, but something looks a little off about it. I'm here for opinions good,bad or what tweaking it might need. Lets here it.

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Needs blending for sure. A good barber should be able to blend it whilst making it look 'distinctive' from the top of your head. What photo are you showing to your barber? What era?

I.E.






All photos taken from Hawleywoods barber. Love him or hate him, Donnie can cut hair with the best of em.

As for me, I go to none other than Mr. Ducktail!

Boxerken said:

Well, I've been trying to get this haircut for quite sometime. It's not that easy to find someone who can cut it. I think they got close to what i want, but something looks a little off about it. I'm here for opinions good,bad or what tweaking it might need. Lets here it.

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I think the blunt edges of the cut actually make it look more Depression era. I always give myself this sort of cut, but then wind up blending it just because, with my almost black hair, the cut seems TOO blunt.

Repeat, the only good photos I could find were black & white WW2 era photos, but I like the first 2 pics you posted and I took them to my barber and it looks much better. I cut my hair really short in the spring which was a HUGE mistake,(and a mistake I wont make again) so the top needs quite a bit more length but it will get there. Thanks for posting those pics.

flat-top said:

I think the blunt edges of the cut actually make it look more Depression era. I always give myself this sort of cut, but then wind up blending it just because, with my almost black hair, the cut seems TOO blunt.

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No problem, let me know if you need more. Im friends with Hawleywoods on myspace and hes got about 100 or so.

Cheers.

This is my first post in the forum, and since this is the thread that led me to The Fedora Lounge, I thought it a good place to start. Thanks for everyone that has posted hair photos, especially the vintage photos from the '30s. A Google search for '30s haircuts is what led me here.

BTW, I use American Crew Grooming Cream. It has a good hold and shine, just like it says. It's worth a try for those who are looking.

What do you look for in a barber?

I am about to graduate barber school, and am curious...for those of us who consistently go to one barber, what brings you back? What do you like in your barber? I plan on doing very traditional, old school barbering, and would love to hear about any barbering experiences!

I've been going to the same unisex hairdresser for something like eight years now. Its not the closest place to where I live, but the thing that keeps me coming back is definitely the friendly, bonhomous attitude of the staff.

I like being recognised and addressed by first name as I walk in the door, having a conversation with my hairdresser while they cut my hair - with them actually taking an interest in whats going on in my life at the time, and remembering what I've mentioned on past visits, like, 'Hey, how did that job interview go by the way?'

For me, it really makes for a more relaxing experience than just going in getting my hair cut in relative silence and then being decanted back out into the street with a somewhat lighter wallet.

Oh, and I like that the place is bright and airy, with comfortable waiting room seating (leather sofa at my place). Being offered a cup of tea while I wait is a big plus, too

someone who cuts hair for 10 dollars. I've used the same barber for the past 6-7 years. I brought him this picture of a german WWII soldier from a site on getting that particular haircut (the wehrmacht WWII style haircut) and he has essentially given me the same haircut ever since. At this point its more a matter of convenience, i'd rather just stick to tried and true than have to try to explain to a new barber what i'm looking for.

My Dad was my barber for the first 27 years of my life. I still have one of his chairs. Joe has been my barber for the past 30 except for one trim in Italy and three in the USA. I have a whole lot less hair than I did when first I saw him so now it's pretty much " lets go with the 3 1/2" or two in the summer. If Joe has a crowd Dorothy does a very nice job herself. Different hand but the same shop. I develop loyalties. It makes life a lot easier.
Tom D.

What keeps them coming back.......

[huh] JMHO~but having been in business for 30+ years;building a clientele in Norwalk,CA78-83,walking away/moving to the High Desert in 83-92,walking away/moving to Fl 92-'05,then moving back to the High Desert to our shop we own now (mother/daughter). Having moved all over the State of Florida but working with Haircuttery Hair Francise I can tell you one thing..........Every thign the previous writters have said!

#1 FAMILUARITY! be familuar with the clients lifestyle!be a familuar face!be a constant!stay in one shop!don't be a "shop hop"!

When people come into our shop they are greeted: "HI"

& asked "Who USUALLY CUTS YOUR HAIR"? if the stylist isn't in that day (we have lives too you know!) then this phrase insues "oh she had to ........take her g'dad to loma linda VA today, can I cut your hair?" if not then this is asked "can I make an appointment for you or do you mind if I call her and ask when she'll be back? you might want to wait for her?!"
Then if it's a positive responce "no, it's ok you can cut me today!" then they are offered "ok well come back here to this chair. would you like a cup of coffee? or a soda?we also have water if you'd like?" then after the selection of beverage is made then the "INTROGATION" begins! "how do you USUALLY like your hair cut?" (for a barber trained gentleman he will usually say 'short',medium,boxed,tapered.) then we just usually use a #3 gaurd on the sides up to the pratial ridge on the sides & the occipital in the back then finger blend off the guide in the back & take off the same amount pretty much all around!
for the most part, I (Personally) ask "what do you do for a living?" that will indicate to me several things!#1 if they are a lawyer,doctor, degreed professional they want a cut that's business!not to short not to long just a haircut without a haircut! If they are a cop or a military man they want a "high n' tight" depending on which service they were in befor they became a cop will depend on what they are "used" to. IF....they are ACTIVE DUTY I find out (in a easy going way such as "OH have you been to Iraq yet?") if they are on post/base or if they need an "overseas cut" an "overseas" cut means they go QUITE a bit shorter to "last them" until they get sititated over there & familuar with overseas regs!
but for the most part...........be friendly! I say hello to everyone!greet them! if I'm wearing my uniform, I'm "ON STAGE" I act like the people are a "guest coming into my home" or my neighbor!I am welcoming to everyone! I try to rember names but for the most part, it's hard! I'm not going to lie! for the most part you'll have,as a barber, not a whole lot of time to chat due to the fact that ........REMBER THIS......."time is money as for a barber an average cut should take no longer than 20 minutes unless it's a flat top then maybe a tige longer but your average time should be 20 mintues!
Our shop only charges $12 for a h/c reason being is we do a lot of "extra" stuff,
graduate.Take your time.talk/listen to what the old skool guys have to say,don't be a "Oh, I know!" type of person that's annoying to seasoned professionals like the 30+'s the old guys are the ones who were feeding famlies while you were "still a twinkle in your daddy's eye!" so "listen up buttercup! this isn't the freeway to easy street!" It's a fulfilling career but it's a tough one!
you'll never lose your "oh my god!I messed up so-in-so's hair today!" sleepless or mightmared nights but.........they'll come back!
when you take a kid from first school picture haircut to wedding day blues/jitters you'll know you've made the right choice!
You'll do fine!you know how I know? because you already are asking IMPORTANT questions outside of the classroom! "what makes them come back" YOU DO!they "connect" with you!
I hope I've stayed on topic & answered your question!

Sign me

I've been following the diary of our very own Mr 'H' in his training...

My 'H' has been training part time at his favourite barber's in Dublin, Ireland. Having been going as a customer for the past decade, to this Barber shop/ Salon that has been cutting Gentlemen's hair for approximately 80-years, he decided to see what it was like on the 'other side' of the scissors!!

And 'my goodness,' this man 'cuts a dash' in his traditional Barber's starched white tunic and 40's haircut!!

Have a look at his diary (it's a work in progress and 'ongoing' - just like his training!). But this is obviously a labour of love for our Mr 'H' as he learns the skills that many have now forgotten.

By the way, the customer service, professionalism, skills, and practices of this establishment compliment the surroundings of a Barber shop that takes one back to the 1940's.

http://diaryofavintagebarberenthusiast.blogspot.com/

Hey.

I have using the same barber for almost ten years. A man called Ted who owns The Continental Barbers on Gt Victoria Street, Belfast. I keep going back because he knows exactly what i want and he does it exceptionally well. I walk in, he say's hi, i wait my turn, i sit down and he starts to cut. All the while talking about his rally car or how he still hasn't bought a drumkit. Now the fact that i live in Belfast, NI originally limited my choice of barbers for the style of haricut i wanted but as soon as i found Ted i knew i had found a home. And its not just me i have three friends who also go nowhere but Ted's. There is no complimentary tea or anything of that nature just good solid haircutting from open to close but i honestly don't ever see myself going anywhere else. What i am going to do when he quits is starting to keep me awake.
I love his haircuts so much i even wrote a song about him!

H..*

I've gone to the same place for about 15 years. Old barbers and old clients. Its sort of a guys only place. No TV. A radio on the big band station. Some private discussions between barber and customer but usually any conversation is open to the floor.

Cuts are about 20 minutes or more. The barbers are fairly old and not in a hurry. Its a peaceful place to kill some time and get a trim.