Barber’s vacation starts search for short-term solution

When I stopped by my barbershop near the end of December, there was a sign on the door informing customers that it was closed until Jan. 13.

I needed a haircut badly and I panicked.

For years, I have gotten a short, flattop haircut. Nothing fancy or complicated. I don’t care about fashion trends. I like low maintenance and speed when I’m trying to get out the door in the morning.

Sounds simple. Right?

Absolutely not.

Apparently, the 1960s have ended and real barbershops are almost extinct. I have had a problem finding one for years, in several places where I’ve lived.

I found another barber in the phone book. But when I went there, that shop was also closed until Jan. 13. What were the odds of both being closed until the same day? I must have offended the god of short hair.

I knew this was going to be a challenge. I didn’t have a lot of time to go too far to find a barber in another town and being cheap, I didn’t want to spend a lot. So my options were very limited, to say the least.

I dread the idea of going to a hair stylist. When I see the words style, salon, boutique, studio or spa, I know I’m in the wrong place.

I don’t want to contact the hair concierge to schedule a reservation. I want to walk in and wait my turn.

There were times when I moved to a new town and had to find a new place to get my hair cut and tried a hair stylist. It never worked out.. 

One shop insisted on washing my hair before each haircut. I still have no idea why.

I would have to explain what kind of haircut I wanted to a different hair stylist every time. I would say to cut it short, not to worry because it would grow back. The stylist often would cut off a little and ask if it was OK. I would ask the person to just cut it shorter. Then the stylist would only cut a little more. One time, I had four haircuts in one sitting.

I understand that some customers probably ask for a short haircut and later complain that it’s too short. Frustrated, I gave up on asking hair stylists for a short haircut.

With those negative thoughts in my shaggy head, I reluctantly set out to find a temporary solution. I went online to search for a place to get a haircut, nothing fancy.

The slogan of one place was, “More Than a Haircut.” Nope. That’s all I want.

Going onto the website of another salon, I found a lengthy application form. The first question was which state I lived in. I know that chain is way too big for me and my simple hair requirements.

When I called one chain – just in case my fear of chains was wrong – the woman who answered said none of the stylists knew how to do a flattop cut and told me to find a barber. No kidding.

In the end, I scruffily waited for my barber to return. I was relieved to take a number from the table when I got in and sat with another dozen people waiting my turn.

All my barber asked was which size trimming attachment I preferred for the sides of my head. Simple and only spent 20 minutes in the chair.

Working It Out is the reincarnation of a column by the same name that reporter Kevin Conlon wrote weekly for more than six years for the Cortland Standard newspaper, where he worked as city editor before joining the Cape Gazette staff.  The Syracuse Press Club, which covers 21 counties in Central New York, in May gave Conlon The Robert Haggart Award for best column of 2024.