Hey Guys, remember the old fashioned barber shops?

[stevenpensacola]

Remember when you were a kid, and your dad took you to a real barber shop....where the barbers' name was Jim, not Laramie or Mr. Rene`....

where there was no sign-in sheet when you walked in, you had to survey the chairs lining the wall and try to remember who was there, so when the barber called "next", you'd know when it was your turn.

Where the barber would go through a procedure equivalent to heart surgery in preparing you for the hair cut...jack up the chair...then wrap your neck in the tissue paper (very tightly) then some sort of towel, and then the white, cloth apron, which he'd pop open with a crisp 'snap'.

You'd sit there, perched way up high, in front of all the other customers as they conversed and read the Field and Stream Magazines, and drank Co-colas from the old Coke machine...the kind where the bottles were vertically stacked on their sides, and you'd pull out the bottle by it's top.

Was there never a better feeling then when the barber would loosen the cape and tissue so he could trim your neck (especially if it was during the summer, and the shop had no AC) and you knew you were about done. Out came the brush and powder, then with a flourish, the cape was pulled off, and you were given a piece of bubble gum.

We've got one of these old fashioned shops not far from the house which does a booming business....brings back a lot of memories whenever I go there....this place still hot shaves the back of your neck....

 

[Galahad]

I do miss them. Not many left and the proprieters' hands are often less than steady - they've been in business for a long time after all.

 

[BunsenH]

My barber shop is 'old school'.

One chair.....barber named Joe (not old)......sports posters on the wall.....dog .....$12+tip........town gossip.......

No ferns.....pushing 'product'......tinting......

I still remember my first neighborhood barber shop. Fifty cents for a haircut. A dollar from the folks would get me a haircut and candy on the walk home.

 

[dadtoagirl]

I still go to one of those barbers. Chairs around the room, old men gossiping, the barber is young but still trims neck with straight razor and old fashion warm shaving cream. Ahhh, thats a good haircut. Only $8.00 for haircut + tip.

 

[HappyMommy2]

You described our local barber shop perfectly! Field and Stream magazines, bubble gum, and all! The only difference is the Cokes are in 20oz bottles. The barbers are named JR and Joe and Walt. I love taking my boys to get their haircuts there; it reminds me of tagging along with my dad when he got his haircut when I was little. I love the smell of the stuff they put on the boys' necks when they are done! Good memories. The barbers seem to know everyone who comes in. It's a nice small-town experience.

 

[TiggerCat]

Oh the memories. Seems that there are fewer and fewer barbers using the straight razor which is a shame. I used to enjoy getting an old fashioned shave every couple of months as a treat. Just couldn't beat it! Thanks for the happy thoughts.

TC.

 

[stevenpensacola]

The last time I was at Purvis' Barber Shop, they received a phone call from a guy who's 75 year-old dad wanted to get a good, old-fashioned straight razor shave, and was looking for a place who could do it.

Sadly, they informed him that they only did the back of the neck...and not the face...I'm guessing for liability reasons.

My first haircut was at Hudson's Barber Shop, they had a "pony" chair for the kids to get their hair cuts in. When my son was a baby-toddler, he'd fall asleep just about everytime he'd get his hair cut. They'd start combing his head and his eyes would get so droopy...he really knew how to appreciate a good haircut.