The rise of barbershops in many areas of the  country are incredible. There are hundreds of newbies and very few veterans still behind the chair. The NEW group of barbers are trying to define what a barber and a shop is. The reason a shop was a vintage barbershop was that it was old. The new emerging shops are trying to re-create the experience. I think that is a mistake, why keep chasing after the successes of the others. In order for change to happen someone has to make the leap of faith and do some homework and bring back some of the services that have been long forgotten. ie. shoe shining, booth manicures, head massages, scalp treatments, scalp tonics, and creatively position these to mesh with the times. The resources and a sprinkle of modern thinking could really make a change  in the level of service someone could expect to have.

Any Suggestions?

Throughout the years many customers believe that professional hair products are the same quality or would work just as well.  While there are similar ingredients the ones that are in mass production are synthetic and are very harsh on the hair and scalp. This is apparent with color treated hair and fine thinning hair. It promotes color loss and scalp irritation. Professional products usually use a coconut derived surfactants and are sulfate free. "if all soap was created equal then use TIDE to wash your hair or Dawn to bathe in. Good Luck

The answer could be subjective, depending on what your definition of pomade is."Pomade (/pɒˈmeɪd/; French pommade) is a greasy or waxy substance that is used to style hair. Pomade makes hair look slick and shiny, and does not dry it out. It lasts longer than most hair care products, taking up to several washes to remove. The original pomade of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries consisted mainly of bear fat or lard. Lanolin,beeswax, and petroleum jelly have been used extensively in the manufacture of modern pomades. Stiffening properties of pomades make sculptured hairstyles such as the pompadour or quiff possible; while long lasting moisturizing properties make it popular with individuals with Afro-textured hair ."
This type of men grooming referred to as pomade, then a new generation of pomades came into our lives that are water-soluble, water-based.
These products and the formulation showed up in the past 3 years with vengeance. These products contain friendlier ingredients provide the same benefits and more, behave like wax and petrol just like the predecessors. The difference is they wash out and will rinse out with warm water. What's there not to like? Come see for yourself we carry superior brands like Bonifide and Suavecito. 

I came across this poster and although it does not seem so,  for sake of the Portland tradition these days. The "beard and flannels," this poster is an excellent visual tool to see what kind of beard would look best on you. I feel like the exception, but facial hair of any kind looks bad on me. Then to flip the coin there are just as many that are dependent on the beard.  Beards serve a purpose, I have asked many guys "why do you like a beard?" The only ones that give a clear answer are the ones growing it for novelty. Then there are the ones that grow it to correct or enhance their profile and round out their face.  Then there are some that hide imperfections or scars, and some that just hide behind the beard. So if you are one or any of these guys, look at the chart that is attached and see if what you are doing is still right for you. We are good at trimming and shaping beards.  It takes 15 min to tighten it up. 503-719-7718

I sent out my emails to you guys in bulk, this was the first. Hopefully they were well received. Thank you electronic media. Ten years ago we had to snail mail, and call each person. Oh did I forget and advertise in the Yellow Pages. There was no internet ads. Just MOSAIC, GOPHER and AOL.

The change in the website is just as much a surprise to me daily as it is to you when you see it. It will be a work in progress for a while. There will be updates on here as the week goes on. I hope to have a busy wednesday.

I will be transitioning along with some very familiar faces at Refuge Barbershop. I will be in Wednesday from 11-7