This lunchtime I was minded to have a stroll in the sunshine and get my barnet trimmed into the bargain. I had clocked that there was an Italian barber's shop about 20 min stroll from the office, so thought I'd head up there.
When I arrived I noticed it had a new sign over the shop, and seems to be run now by some muslimic islamicist chaps. No stress thinks I, in I go. Short back and sides please, not too much off the top, it's thin enough already . Hur hur.
So far so good. The haircut proceeds in a very satisfactory manner, I am pleased with the chap's attention to detail and his accomplished use of a cut throat razor on the edges and stuff, including some attention to stray bits of face furniture. Haven't seen one of them wielded in a barber's for ages. Much poofing of powder, and spraying on the neck of a sweet smelling liquid - most pleasant and much more bang for the buck (nine plus one for a tip) than I'm used to.
Then the weird bit. Those of a nervous disposition may wish to turn over to Bargain Hunt. Chappie asks me if I want the old ear hairs reigning in. Why yes says I, expecting the usual waft of the clippers on grade zero. Instead, he pulls out his cigarette lighter and burns off the ear hair, both inner and outer, using short, sharp bursts of flame. I think I managed to remain calm and not show any fear.
Anyway, never seen that done before. Anyone else? I can still smell the burnt hair now I'm back chained to my desk. I shall return to the establishment, however, most pleased with the results.
Last edited by: Alanović on Thu 17 Oct 13 at 13:29
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I have, but never in England.
If you enjoy a good shave, then if you happen to be in London then www.trumpers.com/ is worth a go.
Mid-afternoons is normally pretty quiet. Don't go at the weekend or on holidays.
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I am an unreconsructed beard face these days. Weekly trim, job done.
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Just hope the sweet smelling stuff he splashed all over ya boatrace wasn't alcoholic. You coulda gone up like a...a human burning thing!
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I recall barbers of old using a lit taper for singeing (and remember the smell too), but can't for the life of me think why.
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That'll be to generate the hot wax, sure it was a barbers you were in? :-)
Actually now you mention it I have a vague recollection of that, and I don't think I'm anywhere near as old as you!!! :-Þ
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I can't stand the smell of burning hair. Sometimes barbers would singe it, but I couldn't understand why. I don't mind hair growing out of my ears and nostrils.
In one of Ousmane Sembene's very fine movies - 'Xala' I think - there's a barber scene at the beginning. As part of the process, the barber carefully inserts the end of a cut-throat razor into the punter's large-bore nostrils one at a time, and rotates it to shave off the nostril hair.
I agree that a well-wielded cut-throat is a pleasure. I could never get mine sharp enough to do a decent job though. Always made me look as if I had been given a spanking by Jack Spot.
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>> Just hope the sweet smelling stuff he splashed all over ya boatrace wasn't alcoholic. You
>> coulda gone up like a...a human burning thing!
>>
Unlikely, given the suspected religious proclivities of the gentlemen concerned. I am a great fan of alcohol, but one place I'm happy to see it not in existence is a barber's shop!
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I have a Babyliss 8 in 1 beard grooming kit which has all sorts of attachments for nose , eyebrow and other facial hair ........but no beard at the moment.....
I have to say that although I have had such shaves in the past without incident in the UK I am not sure I would be keen to let anyone of middle eastern origin wielding a cut throat razor anywhere near my throat or the back of my neck ........
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I well remember my terror at the wielding of the fiery taper on the back of my neck as a child. I think the idea was that it would delay hair growth.....forgetting that the hair growed from t'other end !
SWM does my hair now with an Aldi grooming kit...I wouldn't let her near me with a cutthroat, let alone anyone else.
I do my beard about every three weeks with the same machine set on ' closest ' It comes out like white designer stubble. I've jusat been told that I'm due for a haircut this arvo when she's finished cooking. At least, I get to goose the barber !
Ted
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Tried the Italian barber off Chancery Lane just before the office move. Very good cut and he was rather critical of way it had been done before.
But he was twice price of Lorna or Jess in the village and much less comely!!
Cannot be doing with cut throat under any circs - always end up with a rash.
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"Anyway, never seen that done before. Anyone else?"
Yes - but not since I went in for a vasectomy.
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Here we go. A friend just sent me this:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlmGGVQeU4E
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I learned to hate barbers as a child. Those hand-operated clippers are beautiful mechanisms, but barbers in the forties doing a nipper for half price could be damn clumsy and pinch and nip the back of one's neck, usually without drawing blood. The other thing was the carphounds' leering, incomprehensible discourse, generally addressed to chortling adults awaiting their turns. That 'anything for the weekend sir' stuff grates on and puzzles the ear of a gently-raised six-year-old. I was a soppy child. It's made me the man I am.
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>> barbers in the forties doing a nipper for half price could be damn clumsy and pinch and nip the back of one's neck, usually without drawing blood.
Styptic pencils? Stung like hell.
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I've been waiting for someone to pop up and remind us of the old Desmond Dekker song - they haven't, so I might as well ......
"Oh ........... oh.......... me earsarealight."
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Oh well done. Thumbs up for that one. And I thought my trains of thought were twisted!
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>> "Oh ........... oh.......... me earsarealight."
>>
Chuckle chuckle. Thumbs up to you.
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" Thumbs up "
I thank you, I thank you ................... you're too kind ......... (etc)!
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I have a cut-throat to finish the back of my neck but I've only just noticed that a lot of them are 'fake' blades and actually use a disposable foil blade incorporated in the metal blade, not sure if this is common but it seems to give a close cut without any after rash.
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You obviously did not read my post of 16th October in the Favourite Singers thread Haywain......
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"You obviously did not read my post of 16th October in the Favourite Singers thread Haywain......"
No, but to be honest, I lost interest after the first half dozen posts as folks fished around for ever more singers ........ it could have gone on forever .................... in fact, it is doing....... (yawn)
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>> could have gone on forever .................... in fact, it is doing....... (yawn)
Quite. And who are all these people? Of the ones I've heard of, barely half a dozen are worth a second listen. Yawn indeed.
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What a pair of old killjoys. Each to their own, thought you approved of that principle, AC?
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>> Each to their own, thought you approved of that principle, AC?
Of course I do. I will defend (although perhaps not to the death) anyone's right to wallow in obscure bubblegum music, bawling pub singers, gangsters' molls with tin ears and all the rest of the neo-tinpan-alley output. There's no shortage of the stuff after all.
:o}
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"Each to their own"
Quite right.....
Everyone's perspective on music is as different and varied as their take on art - and a good thing too, otherwise everyone would be listening to Richard Thompson and there's be no work for all the other musos.
As for me - I'm off down to the modern jazz club tonight to see the great John Etheridge. Nice ;-)
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Where is Cliff Richard in this pantheon of the greats?
Shame on you all :-)
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"this pantheon of the greats"
The greats..........
I recall Kenny Everett going on about the music of the Bee Gees .......... great ........... doesn't it?
Just got back from seeing John Etheridge - now MY ears are alight! What a player.
Last edited by: Haywain on Fri 18 Oct 13 at 23:46
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Someone just set fire to my ears - No FM2R
