A Response in Favor of the Barber Shop

A Canadian reader wrote the following comments in defense the barber shop.

I just read the recent article about the "future of the barber shop" and I'm really confused about where the author is livivg. I would say a majority of the "younger generation" that he refers to as wanting longer styles are simply non-existent in my observation where I'm living. Most of the "younger generation" which I observe have buzz cuts at least on the sides and back if not all over. It is more often the haggard looking buisness man of the older generation who feels he must wear longer hair in order not to offend his more conservative clientele.

The ultimate irony in all this, is the new definition of the word conservative when defining mindset. The author of the article defines barbers as having a conservative mindset and therefore objecting to longer hair on guys. That went out twenty years ago. It's now conservative to have a longer haircut and more contemporary to have a buzzcut.

I support this with two examples. Firstly, there have been more than a few thirty-something men writing to this and other hairsites asking if others think that a buzzcut would be to radical for a conservative office. The implication is that longer hair has become the conservative norm and that a buzzcut would be radical.

The other example is a barbershop that I frequent near to a local university. The barber gives the options ranging from a college cut (ivy league) to what he calls "down to the wood" (high & tight). Even at only ten minutes a cut, I seldom wait less than an hour and often longer for a haircut. It's not old guys in front of me, it's young guys. I've tried 7:00 a.m. and 3:00 in the afternoon, it's always busy.

The author of the article has obviously had a negative experience with a barbershop. That's unfortunate, but most of have had a bad experience at one time or another. He is certainly entitled to have his hair longer if he chooses and to get it cut at a haircrafters if he chooses. However I really think he's going against the tide if he thinks that most of the younger generation agrees with him.

My hope is that more young guys get trained by the older, experienced barbers. I wish some of the barbers who trained in the fifties and sixties would recruit replacements so that the knack of a good short haircut is not lost. The interest I see expressed on the internet gives me some hope that I'm not the only one in the world who would like to have a local barbershop around for the rest of my days. Thanks Buzztown.

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