Barbershop Blog

The Traditional Barbershop Was A Real Social Hub For Men

The pinnacle point in time for the barbershop is referred to as the ‘Golden Age Of Barbering’ and  was a period starting around the turn of the 20th century. It was a time when the barbershop service was in peak demand and the barbershop was a social centrepiece in many towns. Men would attend regularly for their grooming needs but also to catch up on current affairs and enjoy social discourse with other men. Barbershops were decorated with ornate furnishings and the smell of the tonics and lotions created a masculine haven for the men the day.

The Death Of The Barbershop

The ‘Golden Age Of Barbering’ died a slow and drawn out death. The popularity of the barbershop wained over decades as the demand was slowly killed off. First came the introduction of the safety razor and a marketing push to get men to shave at home. The impact of two world wars and the great depression was dominant in the demise. Long hairstyles and hippie culture followed through the sixties and seventies and then the final nail in the coffin came with the emergence of unisex salons in the eighties. This was a low point in time when the identity of the barbershop was completely under attack, the line between salon and barbershop was becoming blurred.

The Resurrection Of The Traditional Barbershop

With the turn of the 21st century came a resurrection in the world of traditional barbershops. The popularity had been rekindled as men sought a more polarised version of male grooming. Today they want to enjoy a complete range of services that are designed specifically to their grooming needs. They want a beard trim, a cut throat shave, the custom, culture and traditions of the old world barbershop. In their pursuit of these things, modern men have led the revival of the traditional barbershop and helped establishments like Barber Industries Marrickville bring back the good vibes and prestige grooming for men of all ages.

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