Barbers are the best part of a mans grooming ritual. You sit into the barber chair looking average and you step out of the chair feeling brand new. We all love the barbers and the loyalty we hold for our barbers (if they are good) is unmatched. Some girls say guys are more loyal to their barbers than to them! But here’s why: How can one man with a razor have the power to turn your life around in the space of 20 minutes? Ask Big Tobz who addresses this in his 2016 smash hit: “Believe in your barber.”
Lets talk about the barbershop community. This is an exclusive community to those who need their hair cut and want to vent about the weeks frustrations. Key relationships and life lessons are built from a barbershop and after a few years you may consider your barber a close friend. I’ve been at weddings where a groom’s best man was his barber! How about that for believing in your bludclaart barber!
Barber shops teach us how to deal with issues how a “real man” would. These issues range from our women, dating, job problems to raising our kids. However, a topic that raises the most form of controversy is the beloved topic of football. If you support Arsenal and you have the bravery to argue with your die hard Chelsea supporter barber, you may leave the shop with your hairline finiiisheeddd!!
These magicians change our lives. If you want to try a new style, your barber should be able to tell you if this style will suit you and if he can perform the specific cut you want. If he can’t then hes gots to go! Taper fades, encouraging waves, line partings, side burns and beard grooming should all be part of your barber’s forte.
We as men give thanks to our barbers as they are seen as our own personal stylists for a meagre price of £10-15! I remember when I first started growing my hair, my barber encouraged my hair to grow in the correct manner by making sure the cut (skin fade on the side) did not disrupt the natural growth on the top and higher sides of my head. These cuts were all performed while engaging in a deep chat about our struggles we faced during the week and how we would spend the rest of our weekend to unwind from weekly pressures.
I recently visited the theatre to visit a British play based on the barber life titled ‘Barber Shop Chronicles.’ This is a play that gives a thoughtful and insightful overview of barbers across the world and how each barbershop deals with different yet similar issues. The Guardian gave it a 4/5 star rating and described it as: “an undeniably beautiful thing, packed with authentic dialogue and stunning flashes of insight.” Check the review for this play in the link below. You may even recognize a couple of the actors pictured in this article!
https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jul/26/barber-shop-chronicles-review-roundhouse-inua-ellams
Leading UK barbers like Smokey Barbers and HD Cutz have been killing the game recently. Instagram and Twitter have been showcasing the serious artistry these barbers possess when they create videos which show a before and after haircut picture/video. They are also responsible for cutting hair for influential black figures in the UK, footballers like Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and many more have had their hair styled by these barbers and it shows on the big stage. When we see them playing and scoring bangers for their clubs on European nights in the Champions League it always looks better when they have a fresh cut. Sky HD really highlights the definition of these cuts.
GRM Daily have also started to move into the barber game with their new show titled “In Da Cut” where our favourite UK rappers are challenged to cut a brave member of the publics hair! It’s a great watch! The game is changing and barbers are getting the recognition they deserve!
The barbershop creates a community of unity, respect and a high level of banter. The essence of such characteristics should not be lost over the years as it is now engraved into our culture. Find the right barber and barbershop for you and I guarantee that you will spend a couple extra hours in the barbershop on a Saturday debating random topics such as: “Are Caribbean’s really Caribbean’s and is Africa really the motherland?”
Words On The Mic 