Clippin' It Old School: Choosing A Barber

It's hard to underestimate the importance of goodridicule, where second-tier African American
hair when grooming yourself. Not to sound superficial,comedians trade insults and observations back and
but people notice hair that's out of whack in anyforth... oh, wait. That's just the movie.
number of ways: if it's greasy, unkempt, "bedhead,"The modern barbershop can take a page from
straggly, or otherwise disheveled. A bad haircut oryesteryear or it might be almost identical to a
the wrong haircut can distort people's reactions tohairstyling salon (minus the dying and texturizing
your face, as well. If your face is a work of art, theequipment.) The layout of the classic American
hair is its frame - and the wrong frame can make thebarbershop isn't just famous, it's a part of our
viewer lose interest. As a practical example, gettingnational heritage. The rows of chairs and long,
his hair shorn into a "Caesar cut" in the mid 1990sphoto-strewn mirrors, the shining tile floor, the
helped elevate George Clooney from occasionalAmerican flag on the back wall - you can imagine
guest star to leading man status practically overnight.with little effort.
So, getting your hair right means finding the rightA good barbershop, by definition, is soaked in
style that will play to your own strengths. If you'vemasculinity, kind of like a bar without the booze.
got something straightforward in mind, somethingThey've probably got old magazines to read, and
that echoes a more masculine approach to yourpictures on the wall of past customers, and
image, you'll probably want to choose a barber oversometimes smoking is still allowed in the waiting area.
a hairstylist.Finding A Barbershop
Barbers Specialize In Men's HairThough a vanishing breed, the classical barbershop still
The difference between a barber and a hairstylist ishas a few outposts in most cities and towns. You
deceptively simple: a barber specializes in the cuttingcan look for them in the older downtown areas, or
and styling of men's hair. Unlike stylists, who also traintypically in some of the older suburbs, too.
in coloring, texturing, and otherwise chemically alteringSome modern barbershops are attempting to bring
hair for men and women alike, a barber focuses withback the old-school atmosphere while infusing the skill
laser-like precision on perfecting how to cut hair forsets of the barbers with hairstylist training, as well.
the guys. Men and women have different types ofThese new generations of barbershops combine that
hair and certainly have different shaped andclassical setting with the latest technology and state
contoured heads, a good barber learns theof the art grooming tools and aids. So, choosing your
geography of the man's scalp like an expertbarber is a simple matter of finding the shop you like,
navigator.and then selecting the men's hair expert that fits
The Barbershop Atmosphereyour grooming campaign.
The atmosphere in Barbershop is one of playful