Cut above

Is the barber shop the last refuge, a sanctuary for men who just want to be, well, men?

In patriarchal days gone by just about everywhere was the male preserve from the workplace to the public house, chip shop, clubs and societies. 

I am of course what is called a "new" man in that I am of the generation that went through co-education,the era of equal rights and general enlightenment in relationships and behaviour between men and women. 

There are, it is very plain to see, some of my gender who cannot accept parity with the fairer sex and so seek out those places where they can be assured of a degree of male exclusivity. 

This minority are not misogynists or chauvinists but simply feel that they cannot truly express themselves or open up on sensitive or taboo subjects if there is a likelihood of being in female earshot. 

The barber shop even in my lifetime did serve a valuable role to its male customers. Yes, many were dingy, dirty and seedy places on the High Street of every town but there was comfort within and a non-judgemental and non pressure culture, that being if you could survive the banter, wit and humour of the patron and regular customers. 

I simply followed in my father’s footsteps in my choice of local barber and as a child would be squashed in on steamy Saturday mornings amongst the pensioners and those looking forward to a night out with wives and girlfriends. 

It was only when I was in my teens that I ventured into a ladies salon or new style unisex. They were, in direct contrast, bright and trendy but then again at the prices they charged over a barber shop tariff a degree of comparative luxury was expected. 

I enjoyed, in my adolescent years, that brushing of the neck by the bosoms and warm breath exhale on my ears of a female stylist as they worked around the chair. No wonder I would get into a bit of a hot flush but it was worth it. 

Stimulating my youthful urges may in fact have been an influencing factor in going to that sort of hairdressing establishment but now, in my fifties, I find myself back in the surroundings of a traditional barbers. 

There have been some improvements to the overall experience with my regular Turkish being brash and fashionable making a visit the highlight of my month. 

I can appreciate,therefore, a new study from University College London that concludes that time spent at the barber’s not only cheers us men up, but could actually be good for our mental well-being too. This is in the current crisis times of an increase in male suicide rates, prostate cancer, depression and stress levels and pressure from modern challenges to stereotypical male roles. 

The study, albeit of a small sample of just over 200 men indicated that some 39% visited a barber's shop for other reasons than getting their hair cut.

So what are the peripheral benefits?

The role of a sort of speakeasy appears high on the list in that "man talk" is accepted and indeed encouraged in a barber shop. It does not mean a retrograde return to the sexist and offensive attitudes and jokes of the 1970’s but more of a harmless entertaining banter which can be a positive tonic to the participants. 

The respondents to the survey reported that ,after having left a session in the barber shop, there is a tangible feeling of enhanced happiness. 

There is a distinct difference in the attitude of ethnic groups towards a visit to the barbers. The afro-caribbean community, for example, were, in the study, twice as likely to report they were “not here for the hair,” saying they also went to socialise, chat and exchange banter with mates. 

Not only is there a cultural and sociological angle to the simple act of going for a haircut but for  health professionals, both general medical and psychological the main point of interest lies in the two most common themes items that men talk about being  “health” and “personal issues”.

It is a clinical fact that men seek professional psychological help less than women do and this leads to the bottling up of issues and problems that could otherwise be well on the way to being diagnosed and managed.

The study paper points to familiar themes that prevent men opening up which include family privacy, lack of knowledge about treatments, and the stigma attached to mental health issues. The barber shop of the modern era, although I suspect this was the case for years, serves as a centre for mental health relief and to promote well being.

There has also been an erosion in what of my father’s generation were the main trusted roles in society. Families tended to stay with the same Doctor, Lawyer, Bank Manager and Priest but with mobility of labour, globalisation ,on line services and the decline in church attendance the continuity of such professions has been disrupted. That has meant that barbers, by default, are the sole survivors of the genre of friend and confidante to men.

It is possible however to take things too far and when a Manchester, UK barber started to offer beers, cocktails and in a women-excluded environment he was condemned and vilified by action groups and the wider media.

There is certainly a balance to be struck to convey the traditionalism of a respected trade and yet encourage men to put aside their natural reticence and embarrassment in personal and health issues so that any cries for help may be heard before that point of no return is reached.

(inspired by an article by Michael Daubney, Daily Telegraph)