A Man's World
There is so much to love about my hometown that I've decided to do a series of posts about it starting with a true classic, The Barbershop. When a guy walks into a barbershop he doesn't want surprises. Continuity means something. Every barber cuts hair more or less the same way and it's all over in 10 or 15 minutes. The barbershop is a man's world. The men who frequent them don't miss the frills or fancy decor of a salon. The barbershop customer seeks a different kind of comfort and visits these small, spare shops because they're dependable and inexpensive, and their barbers give good quality haircuts. Clients gravitate toward the distinct male aesthetic that eschews trendy fashion magazines and aromatic flower arrangements. The tools, tonic and lather are set against a classic 1950's backdrop: smoked glass and wood paneling. Beneath displays of unbreakable combs, pocket hairbrushes and old-time tonic bottles, there are newsweeklies spread ...