The first few weeks are over, and it was a great success. Fully booked every day, and it was lovely to see everyone again. New clients from Loenen and the surrounding area also found their way to me.
Last week, I was often asked what the difference is between a hairdresser and a barber. Enough reason to delve a little deeper into that in my 2nd blog.
Barber is derived from the word Barba, which means beard in Latin. A barber specializes in beards and moustaches, while hairdressers focus on hair and not specifically on beards/moustaches.
But there's more!
From 1920 to the mid-1960s, men almost always went to the barber or men's hairdresser for their hair, beard, or a shave. Then, in the early 1970s, as unisex hairdressers became more common, barbers gradually disappeared from the streets. After all, much more money could be made with perms, cuts, and even colouring for women.
Barbers retrained, and even men's training courses and men's hairdresser equipment* disappeared.
In hair salons, men were no longer the focus. At the bottom of the price list, you'll find prices for men, gossip magazines are flying around, and in hairdressing school, the chapter on cutting men's hair is considered an afterthought.
Fortunately, the guys from Schorem changed that. In 2011, they reignited the barber flame, and now in 2021, there are around 1200 Barbershops in the Netherlands.
Six times as many compared to 2010!
In short: At the barber's, the man is truly the focus. Whether it's about beards, moustaches, or your hair. A good barber specializes in cutting and shaving men's hair, and the Barbershop is a place where you, as a man, are central.
By the way, I also see many opportunities for collaboration with hair salons!
If a man in the chair wants a bit of colour in his hair, or if a regular client's girlfriend is looking for a good hairdresser, the barber can refer them to the local hairdresser and vice versa.
That's how we help each other!
Oh, and not to forget:
At Twenty-Three Barbershop, besides a cup of coffee, you can also get a beer. (That's something you might miss at the hair salon).
