Do we have to suffer for beauty?
The
(First Barbershop of Pest) opened in April, last year in the 5th district.
Zoltán Deák
had his own ideas and with the help of two professionals he started his very own barbershop business. But where did the idea come from? It was partly the result of being jealous of women for having so many opportunities for a beauty treatment, it was partly a result of a nostalgic mood and most importantly it was a result of a need for a shop that offers quality grooming services in Budapest. One of
Zoltán ’s barber colleagues is still the art director, while three others are responsible for running the shop. They are proud of themselves for bringing back the traditions and for offering services that go beyond the dull massages and the farfetched beauty treatments for men.
The barbershop experience proves that a man doesn’t have to suffer for beauty. Countries that had no such services are now experiencing a barbershop boom. In America people go crazy for such treatments; one of CNN’s reporters for example got himself shaved on air and it was broadcasted nationwide. In many other countries barbershops never disappeared – except for Hungary.
In Mediterranean countries where people have closer connections to religion men usually go to barbershops to get shaved before the masses as a sort of tradition.
Routine? Ritual!
It’s not hard to spot the differences between being shaved by an expert and shaving at home in front of a bathroom mirror. We enjoy our hot morning coffee at home as well, but it’s not the same as having one in a café. Some guests enjoy a nice chat while sitting in the barbershop chairs but there were men who fell asleep while being shaved. A shaving of 35 minutes cost
3500 forints
while a 45-long treatment costs
4500 forints . The second one offers a full facial recovery. Some men only come every now and then while others visit the barbershop on a regular basis. During the wedding season men happen to come more often. Good news for girls: you can add another point to your ‘Things to get my boyfriend as a gift’ list but parents and grandparents will also be happy to receive such a present.
Do not play with the blade!
Going to a barbershop is a matter of well-being; the clientele usually includes posh gentlemen. Sometimes guests from local hotels who are accustomed to such treatments are being taken to this barbershop. Half of the guests are foreigners, the other half of them are locals. What’s more interesting is the fact that the
choice of moustache or beard style depends not just only on personal style but on the nationality of the guests as well. The aim of the barbers here is to prove that changing the style or playing with different alternatives is not only the privilege of Italian machos or Spanish Latinos. Diversity should not be a matter of identity.
The barbers use the products of American Crew, special blades and an Italian balm with camphor. Badger hair brushes are used for the shaving foam; they help to cover the roots of hair as well. The barber profession is still taught at schools but students can only learn the basics. The boys who now work here had to shave the owner himself every two or three days just to become confident enough about their knowledge before the barbershop finally opened. Together with the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zoltán Deák and his partners established a programme which offers quality education for youngsters. The most important steps of the treatments are playing a very important role in the education and we can expect the barbers to follow these steps. What are they? Consultation, facial diagnosis, oiling, foaming, shaving (twice), massaging, combing of hair (and hair styling on request). You can expect these steps every time you decide to get a shaving and a facial treatment.
