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Barber Shop
[prev] Thu, 20 Nov 2003 06:35:38 -0500 [next] [life] - [comment]

Since I moved to Tech Valley, about 2 months ago, I haven't bothered to get a haircut. I am now reminiscent of a young Paul McCartney, however in hairstyle only. One of the hardest things I've had to consider was finding a new barber.

I've been going to Sam's Barber Shop for as long as I can remember. While I was in school, I would often wait until I went home to avoid getting a haircut in Binghamton. But when it was unavoidable, I would go to Arto['s](?) Barber Shop in Vestal Plaza.

There is one parallel to these two establishments. They both end in 'Barber Shop'. I have since become determined that any barber worth his salt is going to call his place "X's Barber Shop". So, based on that logic, I have a few choices:

Mr. Rowland's Fademaster Barber
Jen's Barber Shop
Tony Ciccarelli Barber Shop
Bernie's & Tony's Barber Shop

Now, "Mr. Rowland's Fademaster Barber" sounds pretty awesome. Fademaster. It sounds like a struggling Hip-Hop DJ opened a barber shop to pay the bills until his career took off. I've often been wary of female barbers, not that I think they are unqualified to cut hair, but that they have a tendency to put all sorts of gel, spray, and other crap that I don't want in my hair. I want it cut. Hair-cut. Not hair-cut-and-make-sticky. So "Jen's Barber Shop" probably isn't for me. And the last two just sound like fronts for the mob.

So the search continues. I have a feeling that I'll end up going to "Campus Unisex" at Sage It's actually at RPI. I realize that defeats my whole "barber shop" argument, but I don't think the hipsters at Sage would allow just anyone to trim their stylish manes.

Bottom line: No more than $10, and don't make me look like a drill sergeant or a french poodle.

Update:

Dear God.

darlin' don't you go and cut your hair
do you think it's gonna make him change?
"i'm just a boy with a new haircut"
and that's a pretty nice haircut

So, I couldn't find "Campus Unisex". I drove around downtown Troy looking for a Mom and Pop barber shop.. er, heh .. and couldn't find one. I remember seeing a place called "The Gentleman's Haircut" on Route 2 on the way to Latham. I headed up there, and ... well, let me explain.

The first thing that set me off was the sign on the door that said "Gentlemen Only" and the blacked out doors and windows. I figured, well, I'm sort of a gentleman. I opened the door, peeked my head in, and saw what looked like a fancy barber shop. I backed out, but the bell above the door had already given me away.

A large man in all black came out of the barber shop.

"No haircut for you today?"
"Oh, no, I just... I think this place is a little out of my league."
"Nah, come in. We'll take care of you." (or something to that effect)

The Man In Black, who I can only imagine to be the proprietor, offered me a drink and the "menu". The "menu" was a list of the different haircuts and services the "Gentleman's Haircut" provided. Their speciality, the self-titled "Gentleman's Haircut" was $22. It was too late now. I was going to get soaked for this haircut.

Then I noticed something else. The "Barber" (who introduced herself, but in the shock of the moment, caused me to immediately forget her name) was wearing a flame red bikini, with some sort of frilly/ropey bottom.

My feet began to sweat as my mind made the obvious connection.

They call a strip club a "gentleman's club". This, apparently, truly was the "gentleman's haircut".

My experience at "The Gentleman's Haircut" was not much unlike any other trip to the barber, save for the fact that the barber was a woman (bottom line failure #1) and that a burly man in all black kept a close eye on me to ensure that I followed the "Code of the Gentleman", as outlined in the "menu":

A gentleman does not touch the ladies.
A gentleman does not use foul language.

There was one other rule, but I don't recall what it was. When I read it, I couldn't help but think of Handsome Boy Modeling School, which distracted me slightly. Also, unlike previous haircuts I have received, this one cost $27 (bottom line failure #2). However, considering the experience, I guess the extra $17 was worth it.

Also, I can now highly recommend "The Gentleman's Haircut" to my friends.

by: Anonymous
on: Sun, 23 Nov 2003 13:30:43 -0500
at: *.Reshall.Berkeley.EDU
re: No Subject

hah! That would be the most expensive haircut I've heard of. Anyhow, I got a haircut yesterday. It didn't magically make me look great, but it was only $7 after the coupon.

by: Man in Black
on: Thu, 08 Jan 2004 20:28:31 -0500
at: *.nycap.rr.com
re: The Gentleman's Haircut

Thank you for your recommendation. I should let you know that the Ladies have now taken off their flame red bikinis... and have exchanged them temporarily for sexy Baby Doll Lingerie. If someone would like more information about The Gentleman's Haircut they can email me @ TheMan@nycap.rr.com Thank You