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Why Every Man Should Go To a Barber Shop

artofmanliness.com — The 1880 ’s to the 1940’s were the golden age for barbershops. During this time, men socialized in all male hangouts, and barbershops rivaled saloons in popularity. Visiting the barbershop was a weekly, and sometimes daily habit. Men would stop in not only for a haircut and a shave, but also to fraternize with friends and chew the fat.

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  • wynja, on 05/21/2008, -61/+92There's a reason barbershops declined. Have you even been to a barbershop? Dudes there know how to make one hair style, short crew cut. Also, the last two barbershops i've been too, i walked away with a misshapen beard cuz the dumb ***** hasn't learned what a goatee is.
    • Rikkochet, on 05/21/2008, -13/+40Did you walk in and just vaguely say "cut my hair?"
      Every barber I've ever gone to has said something along the lines of "how would you like your hair cut?", which I thought was appropriate. I then told them how I wanted my hair cut. They cut my hair that way. I paid them, tipped them well, and left.
      Rinse and repeat as needed. It's not ***** rocket science.
      • Grym11, on 05/22/2008, -5/+4I tried going to barbershops. I even resorted to giving them very specific directions on how I wanted my hair cut (guard sizes, lengths, etc.). But after ending up with a damn crew cut every single time, I eventually decided to stop putting up with it.

        Sure, you pay more and have to learn to converse with women (*gasp*), but at least they LISTEN to their customers.

      • PAStheLoD, on 05/22/2008, -0/+5Well, they're the experts of "hairs". How the hell should I know how will my hair, face, head look fine/OK/great?

        I go there with a state, just improve it, if they can't, then just say it. I can make it worse for myself, free of charge.
    • jnava121, on 05/21/2008, -27/+20wynja, there is no hair style called "metrosexual ***** me in the ass and grab my goat - tee as a handle" you get what you ask for? angry bald guy who grows out goatee hahah....
      • wynja, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2mmmm, my point is that barbers are lazy old ***** who want to cut your hair into a 1950s crew cut and be done with you.

        oh and it appears you have issues with your sexuality there buckaroo. maybe you should talk to a specialist about how your daddy touched you in naughty places or some *****.
    • TheWorm, on 05/21/2008, -19/+8I started going to my girlfriend's hair person because she's actually capable of cutting my hair in an interesting way...not just the standard 8 dollar clipper up the sides, trim the top haircut. Barbers need to get a little more style into their repertoire.
      • marx2k, on 05/22/2008, -8/+13Whoa... you almost broke my gaydar there
      • TheWorm, on 05/22/2008, -4/+10It's not gay to not want a standard crew cut.
      • TheBigBad, on 05/22/2008, -9/+6No, you need to quit being such a fag. Do you also wear you girlfriend's panties around and get your toenails done together? Jesus this country is in decline. Where have all the real men gone?
    • Balks, on 05/21/2008, -4/+16stfu. My barber kicks ass and knows what the hell he's doing. Not to mention my barber is a funny sob, which puts him above some ditzy cosmo-naut who is fresh out of school and doesn't now how to cut a guy's hair properly without making him look like some Fall Out Boy reject.
      • JohnboiWaltune, on 05/22/2008, -11/+4Only ***** and women know how to cut hair well. I've never gotten my hair cut by a straight male and been satisfied with the results.
        • UberNick, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4You haven't seen the old time barbershops. My grandfather was a barber in one for over 50 years. This guy was hard ass WWII marine who knew how to work a straightedge. Ended up with final-stage lung cancer in his 80's and still worked his normal schedule almost up until the day.
          But yeah, this article was right on. I'd hang out all day sometimes and listen to the other guys who came in. Great conversation, no *****, good laughs, and none of that froo froo apricot-smelling style gel that reeks up all the unisex salons.

          I haven't found another place anything like it in the years that I stopped going. Nowadays I'll pretty much refuse to let some metro-hip male stylist touch my hair, so I see where you're coming from, but you've got to go to a real barber just once and see what this article's talking about
        • danomagnum, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1Have you ever been to a barbershop then?
      • Velirno, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3That's usually why I ask for the older women, they know their stuff and won't make you look like a complete douche. I remember I got my hair cut by a novice once and she left way too much in the front. Seeing as how my hair was pretty long, once I washed the gunk out, I wanted to cut myself :P
      • TheBigBad, on 05/22/2008, -1/+9I like my barber because:
        1. I don't need to make an appointment
        2. He can immediately sense if I want to chit chat or if I just want to sit and get my hair cut in silence.
        3. It costs $8. I give him a 10 spot, he acts as though he is going to give me change, I tell him to keep it...every time.
        4. He sells used appliances out of the building beside his shop. If you need a cut and a freezer or a trim and an oven, not a problem.
        • LordVance, on 05/22/2008, -0/+5Dugg for "If you need a cut and a freezer or a trim and an oven, not a problem."

          /agreed though - if you have a decent barber nearby there's simply no reason NOT to go to him instead. In NJ at least barbers do a better job 99% of the time than the 25 dollar hair salons.
    • sutro33, on 05/21/2008, -15/+7And apparently some dumb ***** haven't learned that goatees went out in the mid-90s.
      • Mothrog, on 05/22/2008, -4/+5...Or maybe there are those of us that haven't turned into metrosexual fags that keep up with fashion magazines.
      • provost, on 05/22/2008, -2/+5Tony Stark aka Iron Man disagrees and is far ***** superior to you.
    • qetuo, on 05/22/2008, -4/+24I go to a barbershop all the time, because guess what barbers cut mens hair better than in a salon. The times i have been to a salon i have really regretted it, the cut was rubbish. (They used a trimmer to outline, what happened to using a straight razor?, oh yes a stylist is not qualified) Basacilly the stylist wants to get men in and out of the chair as quickly as possible, where as a barber will take his time and cut your hair until it looks good, Barbers know what will and wont suit men, because they cut mens hair all day long. So if you go to a barber and don't fell like a crew cut, then ask what cut do you think would look good on me. At the end of the day the barber is going to do a good job because he probably takes pride in his work, and he wants you to come again.

      Sorry about the rant but 'wynja' really annoyed me.
      • ell0bo, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Took me forever, but I finally found someone that cuts my hair just the way I want it, not a barber but a stylist. I moved away from town, but still go back there (an hour drive) because finding someone that can give you a quality hair cut these days is just worth it. Best part was when I told her the kind of hair I wanted, she said to me, "You don't mind if i use a strait razor do you?" At that point I knew I'd be coming back.
    • ashfish, on 05/22/2008, -1/+12I used to work next to a barber shop, all the guys from our store would get their hair cut there as well as their sons. All of the cuts are great and appropriate for a guy. I've cut my boyfriend's hair before and I know how tricky it can be to deal with men's hair. I wouldn't want him going to the girls who cut my hair simply because that's not what they do. I think guys need a place where they can bond with each other, *****, we have hair and nail salons why shouldn't guys have a place of their own too?
      • skinjester, on 05/22/2008, -5/+0uh... like the office?
        • EngineerDIVO, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2The OFFICE??? I dunno about you, but the last people I want to hang around and bond with are my asshat coworkers.
        • ashfish, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3The office is also a controlled atmosphere where you can't be as candid as you may want since the big boss man will be looking over your shoulder. And after a long day at the office why the hell would you want to spend more time with those people?
    • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -2/+6Actually a good barber understands the difference between a male haircut and a female haircut. You may think you are getting a better cut at a salon, but you aren't because salons often schedule male cuts in between their longer female clients for some extra profit. Women go to beauty salons because they specialize in the feminine form. Barbers specialize in making haircuts look masculine. It's an important difference.
    • LanceUppercut, on 05/22/2008, -7/+1Actually, goatees are for those with no chin.
    • Juthan, on 05/22/2008, -7/+2A goatee you say? Was this in the early 90's when you went in there? Surely it wasn't anytime recent!
    • StanMort, on 05/22/2008, -5/+8Why didn't you just tell him that you wanted the douche bag cut?
  • claybodie, on 05/21/2008, -2/+96There's a barber shop in Portland with the logo "Be a king for a day." It's like Hooters for hair cuts: you get beer, a cigar, and a remote while they cut your hair.
    • lordtyros, on 05/21/2008, -5/+46You go to Hooters for the beer, cigars, and remotes? Something is missing ( o )( o )
    • mxpx5678, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6What is the name of it?
      • antonio97b, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Club M I believe.

        Wait. Hair M. I knew it was something "M" I go to Rudy's on Clinton myself. I like the atmosphere.
        • jonrosing, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Hair M is right, I'm a regular :)

          They're friendly and usually let me sit at their bar and do some work on my laptop while I have another beer after my haircut is finished.
    • Typhoon2009, on 05/21/2008, -1/+6That sounds awesome. What mxpx said - what's the name? I'll stop there if I'm ever in Portland and need a haircut...
      • antonio97b, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2I'll just do some copypasta:

        Club M I believe.

        Wait. Hair M. I knew it was something "M" I go to Rudy's on Clinton myself. I like the atmosphere.
      • mattlohkamp, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1Bishop's doesn't give you good beer, but they do give you beer... and a good haircut.
    • robharper, on 05/21/2008, -0/+11How do you keep hair from getting in your beer?
      • akatherder, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4I was wondering the same thing. A bottle would decrease the chances of getting hair in it. Sippy cups maybe?
      • Professr, on 05/22/2008, -0/+9Drink it faster :)
    • ordig, on 05/21/2008, -0/+11barber shop + strippers = awsome
      • outlaw686, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2just hope he doesn't get distracted while theres a blade at your throat
    • jttennisplaya81, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3There is this place by me that opened a little while ago. The Lodge. Pretty cool. Free beer, soda, water, beef jerky, candy, whatever. Then Satellite, and hot chicks. haha. It's a pretty cool place. Sounds similar...
    • jerrycurley, on 05/21/2008, -9/+1Sounds like the kind of place where REAL men stay as far the ***** away from as possible. I bet while they have that penis in their mouth they talk abut how cool internet poker is! And all sorts of 2004-2005 trends that have long since gone out.
      • antonio97b, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3A real man such as yourself would be on digg.

        Now that I look at your profile, you do a lot of bitching for a _real_ man such as yourself.
      • Ziak, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4internet poker isn't cool anymore? ......
    • krnldmp, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1So it's all about the gimmick eh?
    • brundlefly76, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1Portland is a great town.
      And boy do they like to get high!
    • andwest, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2The place is called HairM. www.hairmgrooming.com
  • ghaib, on 05/21/2008, -17/+65Todays barbershops: Digg, Twitter, Flickr, MySpace, Facebook etc.
    • JaredXM, on 05/21/2008, -10/+5Huh?
    • Wargalas, on 05/21/2008, -0/+26And you all wonder why you're called pussies.
    • PabloMac, on 05/21/2008, -0/+13Silly ghaib, none of those sites can cut hair as well as a brick-and-mortar barber shop.
    • mattlohkamp, on 05/21/2008, -5/+6RTFA, guys - he's talking about this line:

      "I think there’s a good argument that barbershops are among America’s last civic forum"

      ... and he's right.
      • noreturn, on 05/22/2008, -3/+2Wow. You fail so much right now, I don't even have to say it. But I will, because that's the kind of dick that I am.
    • Jackson0909, on 05/22/2008, -0/+6I guess your not a fan of actually meeting and talk IN PERSON.
    • jumico, on 05/22/2008, -1/+0Bars. More so in European countries but here too.
    • digitdean, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3The big difference between MySpace and a barbershop is that at a barbershop, someone else cuts you.
    • n3tfury, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1lol Myspace, etc.
  • runnergirl20, on 05/21/2008, -25/+66Every man should go to the barbershop....particularly emo boy-men who need to get their asymmetrical haircut and greasy bangs chopped off.
    • acetv, on 05/21/2008, -11/+29There's nothing wrong with asymmetrical haircuts.
      • jnava121, on 05/21/2008, -4/+26*ace brushes one really long strand out of face* gawd what a conformist , hahah ...
    • zephyear, on 05/21/2008, -11/+6don't be hatin because you can't pull off asymmetrical hair
    • am520dj, on 05/21/2008, -7/+8Because every man should have the exact same haircut... who wants to be an individual anymore?

      (note: not an endorsement for the 'emo kids,' just a response to an attitude that seems to stifle potential creativity)
      • provost, on 05/22/2008, -1/+9all the people who want to be different like everyone else, thats who.
    • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -9/+5Is it me or has this blog become such a source of outdated conservative values? Yesterday it was chastity, now it's on traditional barber cuts. Sorry buddy, spare me the lecture, I'll live my life with the new opportunities of the new millennium.
      • MacintoshSauce, on 05/22/2008, -3/+8Ah yes... The opportunities of the 21st century. Some of these "opportunities" include screwing other emo boy-men (after all it's just another hole to them), lack of work ethic, lack of personal grooming, lack of desire to do better in life, etc.
      • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -9/+2You think conservatives have a monopoly on work ethic, personal grooming and doing better in life? I would say that most urban "liberals" are better groomed than most rural conservatives I know, and often times, richer. Is that because of greater work ethic? If you're definition of doing better in life is to apply yourself to an abstract moral system created by a man over 2000 years ago, then go ahead.

        The new opportunities of the new millennium include having the right to choose your own sexual lifestyle, to partake in responsible substance use without judgement and to break free from destructive gender stereotypes in both dating and work.
  • andyboyd, on 05/21/2008, -0/+26I learned this lesson the hard way after my wife sliced my neck while giving me a free haircut! Last time that ever happened.
    • lordtyros, on 05/21/2008, -3/+39You punished her, yes?
    • centran, on 05/21/2008, -3/+9That's your fault for taking out such a large life insurance policy the other week. Luckily your wife is a pathetic assassin.
    • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -1/+3Did you smack your bitch up?
    • Juthan, on 05/22/2008, -0/+8If she was cutting your hair, and somehow cut your neck, it doesn't sound like an accident to me. Sleep with one eye open, friend.
  • msaleem, on 05/21/2008, -1/+20I've been going to barbershops my whole life and love the entire experience. I wish there was a decent barbershop in my current neighborhood, I really miss the experience lately.
    • BoonTobias, on 05/21/2008, -17/+4well quit posting ***** all day and go outside if you miss it that much
  • aflaks, on 05/21/2008, -1/+49I cut my own hair, i'm missing out
    • DeskFlyer, on 05/21/2008, -0/+20Not on the $$ savings you aren't. :)
    • bjstiktrix, on 05/21/2008, -1/+20shhhhh. people around you can tell

    • stonebear, on 05/22/2008, -4/+1I ran the gamut; from expensive salon to cheap barbershop, and the experience was about as disappointing each time. Usually I tell them what I want them to do, and they ignore it. I mean seriously; "I grew it out because I'd like to wear it longer, so just a light trim to get it under control and make it symmetrical please." Does that sound like ancient Greek to you? Oh, and don't EVEN get me started on appointments! Why do they even bother?

      Everyone I asked was experiencing basically the same thing; nobody had anyone they would recommend. I finally gave up, and learned to do it myself with a $15.00 kit and swing out bathroom mirrors. I'm pretty good at it now.
    • EntropyFan, on 05/22/2008, -2/+2So your one of the 6 people that bought a FlowBee?
  • ponstars, on 05/21/2008, -4/+21I refuse to get my haircut anywhere but a genuine Barber Shop!! (luckily we have many where i live)
    • RedViper1999, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Yeah the barber shop I go to has porn mags for reading material while you wait.
  • mattnyc99, on 05/21/2008, -10/+9barbershops are baller, but i still do it myself...
    • jerrycurley, on 05/21/2008, -6/+9baller? Seriously...just a tip..when you get into college, you sure as hell better stop with that *****. Because you will be made fun of by EVERYONE. And when you get out into the real world, it will be ever worse.
      • Pulch, on 05/22/2008, -4/+3And, OMG, what will he do if somebody makes fun of him? Not saying he isn't retarded, I'm just saying you're a pussy for giving a ***** what other people think.
        Seriously...just a tip...when you're on the internet, don't post *****, because I will make fun of you.
        • jerrycurley, on 05/22/2008, -1/+3It is not about caring what other people think of you.

          The very fact that he uses a ***** stupid phrase like "baller" is proof that he DOES care what other people think. He is saying it because he THINKS that it is the "in" wok to use these days.

          He is wroing...unless he is still in high school.
        • BertEatsDirt, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1suck my dick?
        • Pulch, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Maybe he's being ironic. There is an ever growing culture of intelligent people who use slightly dated phrases in an ironic fashion. I myself hated back when people would say "hells yeah". Now (not often) I use it ironically in certain situations.
    • ikillpeoplexx, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2no you don't
  • snea, on 05/21/2008, -22/+4I'll stick with my licensed cosmetologist thank you.
  • JCMets4112, on 05/21/2008, -4/+16This article is further proof of why I go to the barber shop that I do, it's more than just a haircut. We talk about baseball, girls, life, everything. It's very much a saloon-like atmosphere, hell, sometimes they even have beer. Long live the Great American Barbershop!
    • olddirtycr, on 05/21/2008, -2/+2I wouldn't want anyone with scissors or razors whose been drinking or in the process of drinking ANY amount of alcohol near my body.
    • ngmcs8203, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1My barber doesn't offer beer, but he does have a great selection of nudie magazines. The one thing that he's been doing for years, that many do not, is use a single straight edge blade to clean up the back of my neck and my sideburns. If he wasn't getting near retirement he'd still offer full hot shaves, but alas if I want those I have to go to The Art of Shaving and have the guy do it there. Hot lather and a sharp blade make for the best haircuts IMO.
      • marx2k, on 05/22/2008, -1/+2While that sounds nice, you also make it sound really homosexually sensual. "The Art Of Shaving"?
        • ngmcs8203, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1It's a chain of stores dedicating to old school shaving. They have retro razor blades, powdered shaving cream, and a dude in there that you can pay to give you a shave.
    • downneck, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1seconded, i'd go to my barber shop every couple weeks even if i were bald. the cast of characters that just hangs out in there is amazing.

      those of you in nj stop by brookdale barbers in bloomfield
  • lordtyros, on 05/21/2008, -6/+89If you're black, stay away from white barbers. Not racist, just trying to help you out.
    • MadEnvoy, on 05/21/2008, -3/+101If you're white, stay away from black barbers. Not racist, just trying to help you out.
      • gregharmon, on 05/21/2008, -4/+22Not always true. I just had my haircut by a black barber and he was great.
        • bignerd, on 05/21/2008, -2/+9Definitely not true. My barber (black) cuts just as many white and mexican heads as he does black...
        • Jones82, on 05/21/2008, -1/+26I think his point was to show that when reversed, that statement sounds considerably more racist
        • WilliamDavis, on 05/22/2008, -2/+9I'm white, and I usually have black and mexican barbers cut my hair at the same time. That's the way to go.
        • korvan504521, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Is it some sort of competition, one guy on each side?
      • W00DR0W, on 05/21/2008, -3/+16Black people's hair is harder to cut right, it's just that simple. A black persons haircut takes about 40 minutes and my white friends tell me that's way longer than theirs' take.

        Do you disagree with that?
        • richnojutsu, on 05/22/2008, -0/+5I do. My visits to the barber last no less than a hour. I'm a white man. White barbers in my area don't seem to be hip to the styles I want and black barbers scrape the skin off my scalp. So I've found a barbershop with a happy medium and the barbers there are Spanish. They cut my hair just right!
        • danomagnum, on 05/22/2008, -1/+4Harder? No. Different? Yes. But it's a curly vs straight argument, not black vs others.
        • AntzNZ, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4No less than an hour? My visits to the (hair dresser, that's what we call it) last 10 minutes, I'm just like... shave it, number 6 thanks, costs $10.
        • BriscoeJr, on 05/22/2008, -2/+0RACE WAR!
    • Greatn3ss, on 05/21/2008, -9/+2dude ***** that, if you're black stay away from black barbers. i cant tell you how retarded you will look if you want anything other than a buzz cut.
    • BOFH2, on 05/21/2008, -4/+5Why?
    • mattlohkamp, on 05/21/2008, -8/+1If you're racist, stay away from shut the ***** up.
    • W00DR0W, on 05/21/2008, -4/+4I don't know why you'd assume black people wouldn't know that.
    • Jezon, on 05/22/2008, -1/+29Last time I went to a black barber, They said they didn't know how to cut white peoples hair...
    • tcpip4lyfe, on 05/22/2008, -0/+29There is a black barber shop in my town and I've always wanted to go in and see what's going on. It's always full of black people just hanging out. Looks like fun.
      • Jones82, on 05/22/2008, -0/+18YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME, SON?
      • Jibberwalk, on 05/22/2008, -1/+14I just played that situation out in my head. It made me giggle a little. I mean, I know we've come a long way in race relations... but a white guy walking into a black barber shop just screams for awkward looks.

        I think it'd go something like this:

        "Hey self, I have a funny idea."
        *walks in*
        *awkward looks of confusion*
        "I'm so just kidding guys."
        *walks out*
        *goes to yacht club for caviar squares*
      • n3tfury, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3"It's always full of black people just hanging out. Looks like fun."

        oh boy.
      • Janv1er, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3I've done that with 2 other white friends, we walked into an African Hair Salon, the room fell silent and all eyes on us. Like wtf? Never seen 3 white guys before??
    • Balks, on 05/22/2008, -1/+10If you're a guy, stay away from ***** barbers. Not dissing, just trying to help you out.
    • fegul, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4I'm African-American and the last time I had my hair cut by a white barber it did not turn out well at all. I went from a 1975-ish fro to a bad 1984-ish fro. Different racial groups seem to have different styles and most barbers tend to learn the styles that would work best for people like them. Curly (attributed to Blacks) hair is much different than straight hair (attributed to Whites). (even when shaving, black men are much more likely to have problems with razor bumps than whites)

      The barbers that tend to do the best for my kind of hair are minorities (not just black either, the best barber I've been to is Latino) I'm sure there are white barbers that can cut my kind of hair but all of the white barbers I've seen are much older and if I was to have my hair cut by a white barber again, I would much rather he be younger.
    • MysticSavage, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1If you're a guy, get a haircut from a girl with big *****. Not sexist, just trying to help you out.
  • chrisvanhornnnn, on 05/21/2008, -25/+10***** PLACE SUCKS!
    • bumcheekcity, on 05/21/2008, -3/+6BREAKING: This isnt funny now, and it wasn't funny when people started doing it.
  • elliotys, on 05/21/2008, -6/+28Um. . . but what if your bald, like me?
    • RxDaniel, on 05/21/2008, -0/+25Tell them you need your head buffed and a shave.
    • PabloMac, on 05/21/2008, -0/+31Your bald what?
    • ngmcs8203, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Ask for a shave with hot lather and sharp blade if they offer it.
    • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -5/+2Sucks to be you!
    • Mothrog, on 05/22/2008, -1/+5Go down to the local auto detailer for a nice custom wax.
    • brandymb, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1I'm bald but have the ring of hair on the sides which I shave off. Let a barber do it, he does a much better job than I could ever do.
  • Hetman, on 05/21/2008, -16/+9Screw that *****. I just want my hair cut as fast as possible. If I want to hang out with friends I will go to a bar or there house to hang out.
  • Typhoon2009, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2They've still got barbershops in DC, I'm certain the 'classic' ones are in the seedier side of town though. It's mostly upscale salons and *****... they do a good job I guess, but it certainly doesn't have that atmosphere described in the article.
  • CokeOps, on 05/21/2008, -1/+4I go to a barbershop. I've been going there for some 14 or so years. I've tried a salon a few times, and I can say I never want to go back to one again. They ask for what number cut I want, and I never have a clue what they're talking about. Going to the same barber, I can just say I want it short or just trimmed, and that's it. It's much nicer.
    • tschau, on 05/21/2008, -1/+7"6 on the top, 2 on the sides, and don't touch the back!"

      that's all you have to say, bro!
    • RxDaniel, on 05/21/2008, -0/+7Yeah I have been going to the same place for as long as I've had hair to cut. In all that time the price has gone up once from $10 to $12, and half the time they give me a $10 back if I give them a $20 because I have been going there since I was a kid. I don't even live in that town anymore but I always go there when I go visit my parents. It's just a father and son running the place and as long as they stay in business I won't get my hair cut anywhere else.
    • ngmcs8203, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2I've been using the same barber for 4 years now. He's been cutting hear for nearly 50 years and is getting near retirement (family business too). It will be a sad day when he hangs 'em up. He doesn't need me to tell him my cut anymore, but the first few times it was 3-1/2 sides and fade down from the top.
  • OffPiste, on 05/21/2008, -19/+3AIDS is too much of a risk to test fate with a straight razor to the back of your neck let alone a shave. I think I'll keep skipping the barber, for good reason.
    • bluntphallus, on 05/21/2008, -0/+16You're avoiding barbers for fear of contracting AIDs?

      Damn. That's a first.
    • moisture, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6please cite your [non-baptist] source for this concern.
    • BOFH2, on 05/21/2008, -2/+7Do you understand anything about that disease?

      Alice—

      I must sound paranoid, but all this fuss about AIDs keeps me a little worried every time I go to get a haircut. Is it possible to get AIDS by the use of a contaminated razor?

      —An AIDS paranoid


      Dear An AIDS paranoid,

      Any instruments used that may involve blood contact (i.e., ear piercing, manicures, barber,etc.) should be sterilized, both to be hygienic as well as to address public health issues. You can, and need to, ask your barber or hairstylist about his/her practices. The HIV virus is quite fragile, and is killed by heat, ordinary soap and water, household bleach solutions, alcohol, Lysol, or peroxide. In the unlikely event that the instruments are not sterilized, exposure to the air kills the virus, usually in a matter of seconds. Materials that could theoretically carry the virus in small amounts have not been implicated as the cause of any case of AIDS. For further information, see Columbia University Handbook on HIV and AIDS, available to students at Health Services at Columbia.
    • cadmiumpaint, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3my barber gives me a straight razor every time as he uses a straight razor with replaceable blades. he changes out a new one in front of you so you feel better about it.
      • qetuo, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2Yeah my barber does that too, i think it is just a pretty much good practice. P.S my barber has been shaving me for years and i have never even been nicked.
    • tschau, on 05/21/2008, -1/+8Your life is ruled by fear.
    • twiztidsinz, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1One word sums you up, and this can be backed up by looking at your posts: Ignorant.
      • OffPiste, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2NO. I'm stupid. What are you and idiot? Don't forget my mom's a whore as well.
        • twiztidsinz, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1I can't argue with you being stupid or your mom being a whore.....
    • soulkitchen, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1LOL, I think he's serious....If you can show me one instance of someone getting AIDS through this method, I'll never go to a barber shop again. I bet if you slipped going down an escalator, you'd rather take the fall than touch the handrail.
  • mrblaack, on 05/21/2008, -12/+6Unless the barber shop has hot girlies to cut my hair I'll stick with football for my male bonding time.
    • marx2k, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2Sorry dude, but I do not want hot chicks cutting my hair. They're great to look at but tend to lack any other ability.
    • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Dude get the ugly girls to cut your hair, they are way less self absorbed and more focused on the cut than hot chicks who can get away with sucking. Seriously, I've found this rule to work quite well in how good my hair cut turns out.
  • OliveStreet, on 05/21/2008, -5/+32Now, the metrosexuals hang out with their stylist and talk about American Idol and window treatments
  • JAGUART, on 05/21/2008, -13/+14Screw barbershops, I get my hair styled by a competent hot chick. It's a nice luxury, you're pampered, and hairstylists are only a notch or two above strippers anyways. Just be sure to tip well.
    • Harmatia, on 05/21/2008, -0/+3I think you just came up with a brilliant idea.
      • purelithium, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1What? a hair salon with naked broads cutting your hair?
        • PixelMagic, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3"Broads?" Are you a 1930s gangster?
      • WilliamDavis, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Strippers take themselves way too seriously for that.
      • marx2k, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1What? A competent hot chick?
    • Yeyui, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1One problem: If they are not a barber, they cannot shave you.
      Solution: Find a hot female barber (yes, they exist).
    • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1Hot hairstylists give ***** cuts because while you are so busy fawning over them they give you a terrible cut. Go to barbers and you will get a much better cut as a man. Female stylists focus on feminine cuts, male barbers focus on giving masculine haircuts. Getting a haircut done by your own gender helps a lot.
    • StanMort, on 05/22/2008, -1/+1If you're looking for a stripper go to a strip club. How ***** hard is that?
  • AwakeningAZ, on 05/21/2008, -2/+16Two Bits
  • xsquirrel378x, on 05/21/2008, -3/+12Ive been going to the barbershop for the last 4 years. For everyone who thinks barbers only know how to do marine style crew cuts it isnt true, maybe in some cases it is but generally its not the case. Plus i would rather have my haircut my some cool old guy thats been in the business for 30+ years than have some dumb polish lady making minimum wage touch my hair
    • Balks, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6Very true. The atmosphere at a barber shop is also a lot more friendly. A cosmo-naut wants you in and out as fast as possible.
      • qetuo, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3There happy to stand there and spend the time making the cut look good, cosmo-naut not so happy to spend time making the cut look good.

        I know where i would rather go.
  • PabloIV, on 05/21/2008, -3/+3I live in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Great place to live in, but you only go into a Barbershop if you wanna come out looking like Daddy Yankee. If anyone else lives here and knows about a place that'll cut your right I'm willing to listen.
  • MMaster23, on 05/21/2008, -15/+3That was quite ... gay...
    I like my hair getting done by girls :)
    • jnava121, on 05/21/2008, -1/+3yeah they don't have those perm dryers and nail salons in the barbershop for ya mmaster? i see where your coming from ...
      • MMaster23, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2haha nice try.. stones and sticks...
    • Spudster, on 05/22/2008, -1/+2Female hairdressers aren't trained to do men's cuts and often just book them in between their longer clients as they get their hair treated. Salons specialize in making haircuts look feminine whereas barbers specialize in making haircuts look masculine. There is an art to both and a haircut designed to fit your gender will look much better (there are many ''longer'' masculine styles also, it's not always just a buzz cut).
  • Phernoree, on 05/21/2008, -18/+3If you're a man, and you get a haircut more than once a month, then you're not a man.
    • Hoov, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6Your logic is impeccable.
    • jnava121, on 05/21/2008, -1/+4Some people are in the military and get their haircut every 2 weeks. Go hang yourself for being a moron. Might want to get some rogaine because your ***** is not growing back fast enough... The comb over will not get you laid ....
    • richnojutsu, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1If you're a man and you get a haircut less than once a month, you're not getting laid.
      • marx2k, on 05/22/2008, -1/+0A real man will get a haircut when it annoys him enough to have to wet his head down to get the hair to stop sticking up in the morning. Anything more than that and you're a sissyboy
  • KaiSe7eN, on 05/21/2008, -13/+5The best barbershops are ones owned by hispanics and blacks. They shape you up the best and know damn well how to clean you up nice. No offense white people, but you suck at being barbers.
    • Owwmykneecap, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Yeah us whites and our array of hair more diverse than any other group of people on the planet, we suck.


      idiot.
    • papastout, on 05/21/2008, -1/+6No offense, but you suck at masking your racism
    • jnava121, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6didn't know race and genetics predetermined hair cutting ability or that a white person never worked with a black person and did the same haircut job. Sorry if the white guy that you used as barber didn't know that you wanted a gallon of activator for your greasy afro! oh ***** , that's racist just like the comment you made? hmm...
    • thebellmaster1x, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3You've obviously never had your hair cut by a 60-some-year-old white man.
      Best haircut I've ever gotten.
    • Brasky, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3There is this place by my old house called Mohammad's. Just some dude with a chair, a big ass TV, and one huge rim sitting in the corner. Hand him a 20 and he gives you however many ones he has in his pocket. Sometimes its none, sometimes its 9. Dude is chill as *****.
  • Cybereality, on 05/21/2008, -10/+11Just shave your head yourself. For 10$ you can get a hair buzzer that will last you 5 years. We should be socially evolving past hair styles anyway, if its tidy, out of your face, thats all that matters.
    • KaiSe7eN, on 05/21/2008, -1/+9Yeah, and look like moe from the 3 stooges no thanks....I like to get laid.
      • Coffeedemon, on 05/22/2008, -1/+6Maybe *your* head is covered in bumps, dents and moles and you'd look like a troll but some of us actually have a symmetrical head and shaved can look good.
      • SwedishNinja, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3NYUCK NYUCK NYUCK!
      • dopplerdog, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1MOE != CURLY. Don't they teach you anything at school anymore????
    • liah, on 05/22/2008, -6/+5I prefer guys with a nice head of hair. Baldness is a total turnoff. But I'm just a chick, what would I know?
      • dopplerdog, on 05/22/2008, -0/+4Thanks for being honest.... but I expect the hordes to digg you down in 3...2...1...
    • itsgotyou, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3I'm gonna go the other way and grow them long. Long enough to wipe my ass with it.
  • davidszcz, on 05/21/2008, -1/+6I've really been wanting a straight razor shave. I've looked around at all the barbers in my town and the surrounding towns over the last month. They all said they haven't even had anyone ask for a straight razor shave in at least ten years, and they don't even have the razor in the shops.

    Anyone know of a place in Northwest Arkansas?
    • ZigVicious, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3there's this wonderful place above Ms. Lovett's pie shop that does great shaves, sometimes you don't even have to pay!
    • geepee, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2Go to www.straightrazorplace.com, go into the forums, goto the buy/sell/trade forum, buy a nice straight razor, then go to classicshaving.com and buy a badger hair brush, some shaving cream, a leather strop, some after shave and look around for an old camping mug.

      Give this a read: http://www.shavemyface.com/downloads/The-Straight- ...

      Bam! You're set for straight razor shaving for life.

      Watch out though...it's an addiction.
  • rlray216, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Another place beside the barbershop that is a civic forum is a cigar shop. My local shop has a great room full of leather chairs and a big screen tv, usually tuned to CNN. You can rent lockers to store liquor and cigars in. And smoking is allowed. I love barbershops too, btw.
  • cerealjynx, on 05/21/2008, -6/+79Screw that I'll keep going to female hair stylists and fantasize about them when their breasts run on my arm.
    • noots, on 05/22/2008, -0/+7seriously, this man does not speak fiction. It's been known for nipples to be on display.
    • WilliamDavis, on 05/22/2008, -0/+10How does a breast run on your arm? Is it leaking milk?
      • cerealjynx, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1I men to type rub, but run came out and I just ran with it.
    • Jethdm, on 05/22/2008, -4/+1I don't know which salon you've been going to, but the ones I've been to have only old or hideous women. I'll stick to the barber, thank you.
  • Terasiel, on 05/21/2008, -10/+5As someone's who been going to one all their life, I can say this much: Unless you still live in the earliest of the 1900's there's nothing manly about sitting in a chair and waiting to have your hair played with in front of other men.
  • mrjah, on 05/21/2008, -0/+5Boston and Chicago have that shop called State Street Barbers, who are true practitioners of the art of men's haircuts.

    The article is a perfect facsimile of that experience. A drink, a great haircut that still looks great weeks later, and good discussion. Damned good shaves, too. And depending upon the location you pick, there's often a nice hot girl greeting, scheduling, and handling the cash.

    I don't get any money for saying they're awesome. They just are.
    • marx2k, on 05/22/2008, -0/+0Barber franchising... great...
      BTW, if you need to be scheduled, you're in a salon.
  • papastout, on 05/21/2008, -0/+21I just had my first straight razor shave - damn scary, but damn clean
    • Balks, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1and you will never find a cosmo-naut that can compare
  • ziromix, on 05/21/2008, -5/+11I love the IDEA of the barbershop, but i hate the REALITY of it. After i took class one time, a friend of mine came up to me and asked what i was going to be doing that night, because we were both going to the same party me to come by his barber shop with him before he we went. keep in mind this guy is from zimbabwe and has a short shaved hair style. we were in that barbershop for 2 HOURS. 2 goddamn hours, and all they did was play with his hair, they cut about 2 millimetres off of his hair with a shaver. i was shattered. longest haircut i've ever seen.
    • WilliamDavis, on 05/22/2008, -1/+6Wow, so some guy invites you into the inner sanctum, and in return, you make fun of his haircut.
  • SniperAlf22, on 05/21/2008, -0/+6All I know is that I really appreciated it when I discovered the barber's shave. It was a "hey, this is cool" moment. And the dude could cut hair really well.
  • ColonelTribune, on 05/21/2008, -2/+25Agreed. It's always better to have one's hair cut as a gentleman would. And the Colonel fancies himself a gentleman.
  • JerodSlay, on 05/21/2008, -4/+5I just recently discovered a barbershop in my town. I like it. It's cheaper than ProCuts. The guys there are all super conservative fox news viewers, so I try not to talk about politics (I'm a Ron Paul guy ,myself). It's fun to get to know different people, though.
    • ufia, on 05/22/2008, -0/+5Yeah, Ron Paul supporters don't like differing opinions very much. You are better off not talking about politics. Chances are you would feel silenced by the barbershops world order who are secretly controlling the Federal Reserve to stifle the gold standard in America.
      • Pulch, on 05/22/2008, -3/+1I think we need a person who's crazy in the white house. Smart as *****, but crazy. It's the only way anybody would be able to get anything major fixed in this country. If RP were president, he would work his ass off to make changes, and I'm sure he would have rational arguments with intelligent advisers and experts, and ultimately make good decisions. I think Obama would try very hard as well, but he doesn't have the crazy man drive. And I honestly don't think McCain would do any harm, he's actually very smart.
        .........go barbers.
  • Owwmykneecap, on 05/21/2008, -8/+5Women barbers (yes they do seem to be in barnbers now, ***** suck with the electric razor.

    they reef the head off of you because they have never had their head shaved.
    • KaiSe7eN, on 05/21/2008, -3/+4Sorry your mom doesn't know how to cut hair, but the woman barber where I go is ***** badass.
  • jerrycurley, on 05/21/2008, -13/+7Going to a barbershop doesn't make you any more "manly" Doing ANYTHING that a so called "art of Manliness" site tells you to do makes you a ***** fool.
    • majestichazard, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2It's the truth.
      And why should it matter anyway?
  • ElBeh, on 05/21/2008, -5/+10You don't mess with the Zohan.
  • mattlohkamp, on 05/21/2008, -7/+1"I think there’s a good argument that barbershops are among America’s last civic forums"

    ... it's called THE INTERNET.
  • pstroll, on 05/21/2008, -7/+2Most of them are pretty terrible unless you want a Forest Gump cut.
  • cadmiumpaint, on 05/21/2008, -0/+2I usually don't care as long as they do a good job and the conversation is decent. if you go to a place like supercuts, you will come out with a military cut every time.
  • lead2thehead, on 05/21/2008, -3/+6"Because hair salons are for women" is mysteriously missing from this list.
  • schrutefan, on 05/21/2008, -2/+20Everytime I walk into a barber shop I get a boner. It's a problem.
    • Thorpe, on 05/21/2008, -4/+3Maybe you should go when there are only male staff working. That may help stop that problem (assuming you are heterosexual).
      • WolverineBlue, on 05/22/2008, -1/+4It's a barber shop, there are NEVER females in those.
    • lolwutpear, on 05/22/2008, -5/+0Good thing you don't ask the barber to trim your pubes.
      ...Right?
    • soulkitchen, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1Barber pole?
  • olddirtycr, on 05/21/2008, -10/+17Firstly, I don't go to haircuts to hang out and talk, I have friends for that.

    Secondly, I'm not too sure about how manly it is to have another man rubbing cocoa butter on my beard and massaging my face is.

    Thirdly, I go to a little more upscale salon with all hot girls working there. When you get there they give you a shampoo and head massage that is worth coming for alone. Then they proceed to ask you what you want exactly, and if you aren't completely sure then they can tell you what hairstyles would look good on you (to the opposite sex). They do a professional job, using professional techniques, give you free soda/magazines, and at the end another hair stylist checks over the job and makes sure the first one didn't miss anything. All this for 20 or so dollars.

    I think I'd prefer the one where its a hot chick shampoo/massaging/ and cutting my hair, over the man rubbing cocoa butter on my face.
    • KaiSe7eN, on 05/22/2008, -14/+1You're a ***** ***** pedo.
      • olddirtycr, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2I don't think I'm old enough to be a pedo but your name fits your comments (Nelson, HAH HAH)..
        • Pulch, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3Nah man, don't be an ageist, anybody can be a pedo. If a 13 year old boy bones a 13 year old girl, he's still a pedo, ask a judge.
    • Balks, on 05/22/2008, -6/+91.) I don't go to a salon to talk to hot girl's. That's why I have a girl friend
      2.) I don't want to have somebody stylize my hair. I can do it perfectly fine myself
      3.) I don't want to look like some Fall Out Boy reject or the guy of some teenage girls magazine with ***** bleach blonde/spiked hair.
      • olddirtycr, on 05/22/2008, -4/+51.) No you dont, if you did you'd realize it gets old talking to the same girl every day and its a nice breather once in a while.
        2.) Fair enough. Last time I checked emo kids are the ones who cut eachothers/their own hair (Thats why it looks like *****)
        3.) Where did I say you had to get bleach blond, spiked hair? They will do everything from military cuts, bowl cuts, just a trim, whatever you want.
        • marx2k, on 05/22/2008, -0/+01) You're paying them to talk to you. Fail.
          2) ?? Beats me. Might be true. Who knows.
          3) So will the flowbee.
      • SteeleJK, on 05/22/2008, -1/+2Oh really? I don't think he said anything about talking to hot girls but more about getting a massage from them. Actually he specifically said that he DIDN'T get a haircut to talk. And if you have your girlfriend (one word) to talk to then you don't have to talk to the beauticians, simple as that. Salons have such a wide variety of haircuts, womens, mens, military. I don't know where you get the impression that they only give tigerbeat haircuts. As if you wouldn't notice the haircut your getting or that they are bleaching your hair... Of course if you weren't allowed to talk to them you probably weren't able to tell them to stop bleaching your hair or to not style it. Because, you know, they don't have to style it if you don't want them to.
    • crackedlogic, on 05/22/2008, -0/+5I would never under any circumstance allow a woman to give me a straight razor shave.
  • blacktaco, on 05/21/2008, -0/+1Every time I drive by one I contemplate going in and getting a shave. Anyone know of a good barber in NC?
  • gmeinsch, on 05/21/2008, -1/+67"The barber first wrapped a hot towel around my face. Next, the barber massaged in a lemon based cream to clean out my pores."

    MANLIEST THING EVER!
    • Jones82, on 05/22/2008, -1/+14Yeah I was definitely picking up some sexual overtones toward the end
    • JohnboiWaltune, on 05/22/2008, -1/+10"The barber first wrapped a hot towel around my face. Next, the barber massaged in a lemon based cream to clean out my pores."

      It reminds me of the guy from 'American Psycho' saying that.
    • Yeyui, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3Having another man shave you is an ancient tradition dating back several thousand years. Name a powerful masculine man from history that was clean shaven, and he probably had another man shave him at some point.
      • krnldmp, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3Too bad. These day's its just more practical to do it yourself. No argument. Now if you wanna play "powerful man from antiquity", I can't help you.
        • soulkitchen, on 05/22/2008, -0/+1I was playing powerful man from antiquity last week, when my bodyguards turned on me and stabbed me.
      • Jones82, on 05/22/2008, -1/+2Also, gay sex is an ancient tradition dating back several thousand years
      • Moose_Head, on 05/22/2008, -0/+2The invention of the mirror solved this problem.
    • daybreak, on 05/22/2008, -0/+3Pore cleansing is definitely the manliest thing ever... :P
  • rocketpop, on 05/21/2008, -1/+2I still go to the same Barber I always have (since I was like 5), and it has quite a few advantages. Its quite a bit cheaper ($10 vs $20 minimum), they don't expect a 25-50% tip (make that $30 minimum), they get it done faster, there is no weekly turnover in staff, my hair looks better, and I don't have to try to write a short article to describe exactly what I want.
    They are a bit of a dying breed, though. Most barbers I know are getting up there in years (late 50s through 70). When I've gone to other barbers, their age and generation shows--there is a lot of openly biggoted, racist, sexist, and homophobic remarks, which makes me a bit uncomfortable.
    Every "Salon" I've been to has done an absolute ***** job with my hair. Even ***** Sports Clips did a better job than most of those places. So, when I got back to my home town, I went back my old barber. My fiancee even agrees, "your hair looks way better." Of course, I have fine hair, which the incompetent "hot chick stylists" can never figure out how to work with.
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