"A top-notch haircut begins with the
trust between you and the barber;
after all, they are yielding a razor
blade at your throat."
neckline courtesy of the barber’s straight razor
skills I had more feelings than Drake’s Marvin’s
Room. Like flying business after a lifetime
in economy, I knew I was never going back
behind the curtain again.
The difference between my self-barbering
skills and that of an actual professional was
noticeable. But returning to the barbershop
quickly became more than a functional act
of leaving with less, flawlessly-shaped hair. It
became a sanctuary.
A top-notch haircut begins with the trust
between you and the barber; after all they are
yielding a razor blade at your throat.
After a while they become like your family
or your favourite bartender. Someone who
can read your mind or starts mixing your
favourite drink before you step foot in the bar.
You develop a synergy between you and your
barber. They can sense when want your usual,
or when you want to go in a totally different
direction. For those thirty minutes when he’s
fading, buzzing and cutting away, they listen.
What was it about this experience that
kept me coming back when I could achieve
something passable at home? Confidence.
S y l va n u s - U r b a n . c o m
The Edge
As my barber was perfecting my skin fade,
he was, unknowingly, also playing the part of
life coach.
Some visits their power goes unnoticed.
But when you walk in after being passed over
for that promotion at work, a quality haircut
is just the kick in the ass you need to get over
it. A solid haircut, simply put, is uplifting.
(And significantly healthier than binging on
tequila.) It’s a signifier that let’s everyone
around you know that rather than give up
you’re going to continue to invest in yourself.
Your freshly shaped hairline gives you a
morale boost. It offers you a feeling that you
can push yourself to new limits. In reality, not
everything will actually go your way. But that
positive outlook on life is well worth the 30
dollars plus tip.
A good barber is (literally and figuratively)
like a good cutman. When life has you against
the ropes and you’re ready to throw in the
towel, they sit you down, clean you up and give
you the game plan to battle the next round of
life’s jabs, uppercuts, and hooks. If you do get
knocked down to the canvas, they are there to
pick you up to beat life’s standing eight count.
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