Having a haircut

It's not really the end result that interests me, though I don't want to come out with a bad haircut obviously, but the whole process, the ritual. There are many elements that go to make up the perfect haircut and the first of these is the shop itself.

It needs to be as old-fashioned and traditional as possible. Whilst being clean and hygienic, it shouldn't be sterile and if it's all a bit frayed around the edges through lots of use over the years, then all the better. Then there are smells of lotions and shampoos and of hair, hot from the blowdryer or freshly cut which add to the atmosphere.

The chairs should be proper barber's chairs with a leather razor strop attached, a Belmont or some such, not the sort of thing you'd find in a trendy salon that looks more like a typist's chair. And it should have a foot-operated lever for raising and lowering. Each chair should face a sink with a mirror above it. Even better if the mirror runs along the whole wall so that I can see what's going on in the other of the 3 or 4 chairs.

While waiting I should be able to see what's going on in the chairs. A series of old bentwood chairs along the opposite wall, or maybe a red padded bench, with a low table full of out of date newpapers and magazines. Not that I read any of them of course, though I may pretend while watching the haircuts going on in front of me. There are fewer better things to see in a barber's than a reluctant, shaggy-haired youth on the receiving end of a good shearing.

Clippers, combs and scissors in jars of barbicide or maybe a steriliser cabinet on the wall, a chrome cotton wool dispenser, shampoos, styptic pencils, jars of brylcreem and bottles of bay rum and other lotions, tissues, towels and talc, brushes and razors. All of these on display on the counter by the sink or on the wall by the mirror are integral to making a good barber shop.

I've yet to find the perfect shop, it's probably not even out there anymore.

Nice picture another nice story