Barber Saloon Experience: it’s more than just a haircut

“You can trust your barber with secrets you can’t tell your wife”

In the early cultural and tribal beginnings, barbering was developed, and to this day, it is recognized as one of the oldest professions [1]. Communication, and people skills, together with barbering skills, are what makes a successful barber. In Skopje-Macedonia, “The Barber Saloon Mendo” is one of the oldest family businesses in the region, with a history of more than 100 years. Therefore, being the 4^th generation in this business, it will be my greatest pleasure to share first-hand observations on why fathers should take their sons to a barber saloon.

Fathers, just like mothers, are the most influential persons in the proper development of a child’s emotional well-being. It is suggested that involved fathers motivate the inner growth and strength of the child, thus fathers who are affectionate and supportive influences their child’s cognitive, as well as social development. In addition to this, boys, from a very young age, require the approval of their fathers. In order to function in the world, humans started imitating the behaviors in their surroundings, which is why if the father figure is kind, caring, and respectful, the young boy is more likely to develop these behaviors, in comparison to an absent father [2].

My personal experience as a barber indicated differences in the interaction of fathers, and mothers with their kids, as well as the barber during the day of haircut. Generally, fathers’ behavior, seeks the experience which the barber is offering, this includes the services, conversation, and enjoyment of being able to share the knowledge and the experiences with another man. This is the reason why, when asked, fathers would say “the usual child haircut for my son”. Since the father is not focusing on the haircut, but on introducing his son to the proper behavior among man (man-to-man). Boys, taken by their fathers to the barber saloon, tend to be calmer, interactive, social, and observing their surroundings, trying to put meaning on what is the proper behavior. In contrast, mothers usually become result-oriented, thus focusing on how the haircut will turn out to be, excluding the experience of the boy in that atmosphere. Usually, these boys tend to behave aggressively, not wanting to get the haircut, not so interactive, and they do not adapt to the changes in the barber saloon, mainly failing to observe.

Therefore, the above-mentioned reasons are critical, and it is necessary that fathers introduce their sons to how to adapt, behave, and communicate among other men. This approach could affect the boy’s success in the next steps of their lives positively. Moreover, fathers taking their sons to the barber could be an informal education.