October 17, 2009
The Barbershop So after a long search I recently found a barbershop in Toronto where I can get a man named Angelo to cut my hair. This may seem trivial but as far back as I can remember I have been getting my hair cut by an old Italian man named Angelo. As a result of my recent move to Toronto I have had to find a new barber. After a few unsuccessful attempts, including one very awkward encounter at House of Lords where a Polish (male) barber blatantly hit on me, I have found what I’ve been looking for. This barbershop is pretty vintage and seems to employ only Italian men over the age of 50. Since everyone knows that Italian men over the age of 50 are the World’s best barbers (and butchers) I feel like I have hit the jackpot. They also are very old school in the sense that they have random issues of Playboy and Penthouse lying on the tables. Besides this, when I found out that one of them was also named Angelo I almost felt my heart skip a beat. The place is great but it suffers from the same problems that plague barbershops everywhere. The above picture demonstrates exactly what I’m talking about. I don’t know if this happens in hair salons, so if you are part of my female or gay male reading demographic please try and bear with me. The barber finishes the haircut which you think looks pretty good/standard (Guy’s haircuts only very rarely look anything other than standard) and the barber reaches for his handheld mirror. You have been dreading this moment since the beginning of the haircut and you cringe as you see what he is doing. He slowly brings the mirror up to show you his handiwork on the back of your head and then holds the mirror in place until you show your approval. At this point you are forced into a half hearted smile and a, “Looks great.” You don’t think it looks great, its the back of your head and it looks the same way as it always does! The barber then brings the mirror to the other side of your head and waits for your approval a second time. Once again you have to smile and say, “Perfect.” Just look at the above picture, the barber’s eyes are puppy dog like in their seeking of approval and the man looks like he’s had more authentic smiles at Holocaust museums. His haircut experience has been ruined by this barber who seems have to less self esteem than the average blonde on Girls Gone Wild. Also please note the fact that the barber has chosen to give his customer the exact same haircut as the barber has himself. I know its from the 50’s but come on man, have a little creativity. I’m thinking about adding this rant to my growing stand up comedy routine. It just feels like a Jerry Seinfeld monologue.

The Barbershop

So after a long search I recently found a barbershop in Toronto where I can get a man named Angelo to cut my hair. This may seem trivial but as far back as I can remember I have been getting my hair cut by an old Italian man named Angelo. As a result of my recent move to Toronto I have had to find a new barber. After a few unsuccessful attempts, including one very awkward encounter at House of Lords where a Polish (male) barber blatantly hit on me, I have found what I’ve been looking for.

This barbershop is pretty vintage and seems to employ only Italian men over the age of 50. Since everyone knows that Italian men over the age of 50 are the World’s best barbers (and butchers) I feel like I have hit the jackpot. They also are very old school in the sense that they have random issues of Playboy and Penthouse lying on the tables. Besides this, when I found out that one of them was also named Angelo I almost felt my heart skip a beat.

The place is great but it suffers from the same problems that plague barbershops everywhere. The above picture demonstrates exactly what I’m talking about. I don’t know if this happens in hair salons, so if you are part of my female or gay male reading demographic please try and bear with me.

The barber finishes the haircut which you think looks pretty good/standard (Guy’s haircuts only very rarely look anything other than standard) and the barber reaches for his handheld mirror. You have been dreading this moment since the beginning of the haircut and you cringe as you see what he is doing. He slowly brings the mirror up to show you his handiwork on the back of your head and then holds the mirror in place until you show your approval.

At this point you are forced into a half hearted smile and a, “Looks great.” You don’t think it looks great, its the back of your head and it looks the same way as it always does! The barber then brings the mirror to the other side of your head and waits for your approval a second time. Once again you have to smile and say, “Perfect.”

Just look at the above picture, the barber’s eyes are puppy dog like in their seeking of approval and the man looks like he’s had more authentic smiles at Holocaust museums. His haircut experience has been ruined by this barber who seems have to less self esteem than the average blonde on Girls Gone Wild. Also please note the fact that the barber has chosen to give his customer the exact same haircut as the barber has himself. I know its from the 50’s but come on man, have a little creativity.

I’m thinking about adding this rant to my growing stand up comedy routine. It just feels like a Jerry Seinfeld monologue.

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