The Difference Between Barbers and Hairdressing.

Is this age-old question as simple as breaking into a binary. Men go to barbers and women go to hairdressers, or is there more to the story than meets the untrained eye? 

At Barbers of Cheltenham we pride ourselves on a rich heritage. One where barbers are recognised as barbers and where barbershops bring signature style to the gentlemanly way of life. We aren’t splitting hairs, here are the reasons why barbering and hairdressing are different.

A HINT OF HISTORY.

Unravel the etymology behind the word barbering and you see a wealth of history and weight. The term barber comes from the Latin ‘Barba’ which roughly translates to ‘beard’. While this may seem a simple and straight forward translation, trace your finger back through the ages and barbers have played an integral role in tribal history.

In a time when ancient tribes were shaken by the belief of good and bad spirits, the Barber was the original medicine man – the community leader. In roman times the barbershop was a place of status as only the barbarians would sport beards. Barbers were also considered high-society surgeons; covering everything from fire cupping to neck manipulation.

The history of hairdressing comes later; with the word first appearing in Europe’s 17th century when the towering bouffant of wealthy ladies needed to be teased and tamed and held in place. Hairdressing is a response to crafting trends in society, whereas barbering is arguably the very foundation for building a society.

SOFT STYLE OR SHARP CUT.

Today, people often assume that hairdressers occupy a more feminine space whereas barbers hold court in a male environment. This can be true as hairdressers tend to bring softer styles to the table – words like feathering, layering, highlighting, and teasing all come into play.

Compare this to the hair-centric words used in modern barbering – cut, clip, buzz and it’s easy to see that barbering is more synonymous with a sharp masculine look.

TRENDING OR TIMELESS SKILL.

That’s not to say that barbering takes a heavy-handed approach; in fact, barbering has long been considered one of society’s most important skillsets. We almost lost the lilt of barbering a few decades ago as unisex salons started to crop up. However, these spaces seemed to cater for basic grooming needs rather than calling on the in-depth specialist skillset that went with the art of barbering.

As culture shifted from the easy come easy go nature of the sixties, the modern man wanted a return - not only to the rugged edge of masculinity, but to a laid-back space dedicated to escaping the daily routine, committing to the self, and building their own social status.

TAILORED TREATMENTS.

While hairdressers will be busy dressing tresses, barbers bring a wealth of male-centric treatments to the table. Hairdressers are well-versed in colours, cuts, wash and blow drying but the barber is specially trained in added elements such as beard grooming and trims, ear flaming, timeless wet shaving, and hands on friction massages and hot towels to truly amp up the experience. Hairdressers are not trained in the art of shaving or dealing with neck trimming.

The same ethos applies to the range of products pulled off the shelves by your stylist or barber. In a hairdressing salon the products will often be geared towards more feminine styles; spritzes and shining creams and light mists. In a barber shop you find the range of products tailored towards the masculine with gels and beard balms and treatments that tailor texture, hold and style.

IT’S ALL IN THE VIBE.

Throughout history the barbershop has served as a place for blending male centric socialisation with style. From the opulent golden era where marble counters and leather chairs set the scene to those tiny backstreet barbers found stashed in Morocco’s medinas; the emphasis on providing an urban or neighbourhood hangout for men has always been the backbone of the barber shop industry.

As soon as you step inside, you know you are entering a world you can wear as well as a carefully tailored suit. There’s a casual cool yet high-end vibe, there’s a drink with your name on it and the kind of conversation that keeps you at ease. Along with the soothing style of a hot-towel treatment, style and shave you become part of a crafted scene, a space where modern men are celebrated, and you are free to find your style. Barbering will forever outlast the trends; it’s a timeless craft built on honour, heritage, and heart.

So there you have it, If you have anything else at all that you’d like to ask us prior to your appointment at Barbers of Cheltenham, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch, either by calling us on 07970195002 or by email: hello@barbersofcheltenham.com Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you very soon! 

To book your next (or first) hair appointment at barbers of cheltenham get in touch with us on:

Cheltenham  07970195002

Or book online plus you can keep up to date with all our special offers and barbers of cheltenham news by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

The 10 Biggest Grooming Mistakes Men Make

There's never been a better time to be a man who coyly glances at the sight of his own reflection every time he passes a shop window (we see you).

Men can moisturise without it sounding the death knell of the Y chromosome, beards have their own subculture complete with festivals and forums, and a great barber is never more than a rapid-fire Google search away.

Here are the biggest mistakes that men make in front of the mirror and the easy ways to fix them.

1 | Burying Your Balding Head In The Sand

Look, we get it. For a man, losing his hair can be a genuine trauma. The passing of youth; a perceived dent to virility, a black tunnel screaming Slap Head jokes into eternity. But what's even worse is being unwilling to confront it.

"I'll just sweep it across."

It's going.

"I'll just wear this hat."

It's going.

"I'll buy that special shampoo."

It's going.

Losing your hair at any age is less than ideal, but every man should be man enough to confront harsh truths from time to time.

No one cares as much as you do.

2 | Forgetting About Feet

It's often the case that the men who really should be keeping their feet locked up at all costs are the ones who are most keen to parade their gnarled turnip toes in front of an unwilling public.

Why, we have no idea. But what we do know is that sorting out your feet is one of the simplest grooming fixes around, all it takes is three simple, consistent steps.

1.) Clip your nails at least every other week.

2.) Wash your feet in the shower, either with shower gel or a special foot wash.

3.) Buy a file... and use it!

Easy.

3 | Overdoing It With Products

There's a fine but distinctive line between a man who is well groomed and one whose enthusiastic use of fragrance makes people wish they had a hazmat suit every time he walks through the door.

Whether it's too much clay in your hair, fragrance on your neck or oil in your beard, the art of good grooming is to make an effort, but not make it obvious - through both sight and smell - to everyone around you.

4 | Thinking That You're Tougher Than The Sun

Here's the thing: you might be really tough, but you're not tougher than the sun. You might be the hardest legend in your group, but you're not as hard as a celestial body that contains 98.6 percent of the universe's mass and can reach temperatures of 15 million degrees celsius.

Too often men believe that they can forego sun protection. That it doesn't effect them or that their skin's tough enough to withstand it.

It's not.

Using at least SPF 20 in the warmer months is obvious, but it's also vital to use a daily moisturiser with sun protection all year round.Yes, even in January. Yes, even in Britain. Those UV rays will get you.

5 | Going For A Cheeky Sun bed

Following nicely on from Point 4, here's the thing: sun beds and fake tan are a bit like dying your hair. You don't look like a guy with newly-brown hair, you like a guy who's dyed his hair brown. You don't look tanned, you look like a guy who's spent 30 minutes lying down in a cancer coffin and now you're a bit orange.

Don't use sun beds, even if you just "want a bit of a tan before Bali."

6 | Skimping On Haircuts

While the £10 barber at the end of your road might sound awfully tempting (hair does, usually, grow back after all), there's a reason that a quality haircut costs a little bit extra.

A skilful barber will get to know you and your preferences; advise you on furthering your style and make sure that your hair cut suits both your hair type and face shape, while also offering consistency.

If it's a cheap haircut, but you never got a haircut that you're actually happy with, is it really that cheap after all?

7 | Being Too Much Of A Perfectionist.

Men taking pride in their appearance should be supported and applauded. Remember: care, but don't make it look like you care too much.

The same can be said for your eyebrows (just make sure they're not joined together) and your razor-sharp fade. You want it to look like your hair is well-kept, but not like you left the barber chair 10 minutes ago.

Even if you have.

8 | Neglecting The Back

An undernourished side to male grooming is back care, perhaps owing to the fact that, you know, we can't really see what's going on behind there. But that doesn't make it any less important than any forward facing body part.

While no one's expecting you to deforest your entire torso, if you start to notice the beginnings of a carpet on the top of your shoulders or lower back then your best bet is to pay someone to take care of it.

Your partner, friends and fellow summer beach-goers will thank you for your efforts.

9 | Letting Dandruff Win

It's certainly nobody's fault that you or any other guy gets dandruff, but it is your fault if you let it go unchecked.

With winter now in full effect, dry, itchy scalps are back in fashion, meaning that if you don't give some care and attention then you're going to end up being that guy on the train that people silently shuffle away from in horror every morning.

Try and reduce the amount of product you're putting in your hair and make sure you use a proper anti-dandruff shampoo as part of your daily routine.

10 | Forgetting To Wash Your Face At The Right Time

What do you do when you've spent the 10 hours since you last showered throwing your face into pollutants, bacteria, bad breath, diesel fumes and all manner of other grease and grime that comes packaged as part of modern life.

1.) Go to bed and let it all incubate!

2.) Wash it off!

We'd hope the answer would the latter, but we're afraid that more often than not it's the former.

It sounds obvious, but cleaning your face with warm water and a proper wash is the easiest yet most easily-forgotten way to avoid bad skin.

Further reading : https://www.esquire.com/uk/style/grooming/advice/a18475/biggest-grooming-mistakes-men/

To book your next (or first) hair appointment at barbers of cheltenham get in touch with us on:

Cheltenham  07970195002

Or book online plus you can keep up to date with all our special offers and barbers of cheltenham news by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram