The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
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Docca
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The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
I decided to treat myself on the way home tonight to a moustache trim and facial. Quick search and there are loads of places near me in central London. Decided on ‘Murdocks’ ( they are a small chain, this one was in soho).
30 minute appointment but ran over by about 10 minutes. £35 which is an absolute bargain.
The style was good. The facial was good. What made it a great experience was the just being amongst other chaps and chatting absolute shit non stop. There is something unashamedly male about a barbers and all the shop was relaxed and just …happy.
A special type of environment. Not male as in misogynistic or bricklayers banter- just calm and a laugh.
No real meaning to this post other than my own recognition at the dwindling number of male only environments ( that don’t have a rainbow flag on the door) and it’s just chill.
Wish I had hair as I would have stayed longer.
30 minute appointment but ran over by about 10 minutes. £35 which is an absolute bargain.
The style was good. The facial was good. What made it a great experience was the just being amongst other chaps and chatting absolute shit non stop. There is something unashamedly male about a barbers and all the shop was relaxed and just …happy.
A special type of environment. Not male as in misogynistic or bricklayers banter- just calm and a laugh.
No real meaning to this post other than my own recognition at the dwindling number of male only environments ( that don’t have a rainbow flag on the door) and it’s just chill.
Wish I had hair as I would have stayed longer.
- Skub
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
35 quid for a baldy man's haircut is a bargain now? Was there a happy ending too?
Mr.Wahl has been doing mine for many moons.
Mr.Wahl has been doing mine for many moons.
"Be kind to past versions of yourself that didn't know what you know now."
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Walt Whitman
https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
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Wossname
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
Funny this should come up today. We’re treating ourselves to a couple of days away, and I used a random barber. With my usual bloke I’ve always gone by the numbers (imperial, me) and asked for my usual “5,4,3” i.e. 5/8”, 1/2”, 3/8”. This chap is from Cyprus, and works in metric. That’s mm.
Ooooh! Brrrrr…..

Hardly recognise myself, and not in a good way.
Ooooh! Brrrrr…..
Hardly recognise myself, and not in a good way.
- gremlin
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
Who's been brave enough for a nostril wax? 
Remember Anne Diamond!
- MrLongbeard
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- DefTrap
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- gremlin
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
FTFY.
When I have my hirsute nostrils done by a Turkish pro, it never seems to be so tear-inducing. I suspect that when I do it I'm either over-waxing or being a total pussy and not giving it the swift removal it requires.
I'm erring on the latter.
Remember Anne Diamond!
- Taipan
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
I hate going to a barber, so I have my hair cut at home. But then i've got a bit shy in later life I suppose, or maybe just dislike small talk with strangers? Kinda odd really, as i'm happy to talk complete bollocks with anyone in a pub, but that's probably down to alcohol!
See yourself in there anyone! 
- gremlin
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
There used to be a trendy bar in Wapping that had a barber inside. Would have suited you down the ground, though I'm not sure I'd want hair clippings in my pint.Taipan wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:05 am I hate going to a barber, so I have my hair cut at home. But then i've got a bit shy in later life I suppose, or maybe just dislike small talk with strangers? Kinda odd really, as i'm happy to talk complete bollocks with anyone in a pub, but that's probably down to alcohol!See yourself in there anyone!
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Remember Anne Diamond!
- MrLongbeard
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
As with everything that I enjoy I knocked it on the head for health reasons, now I just pluck the long ones when they're long enough to get a grip ongremlin wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:00 amFTFY.
When I have my hirsute nostrils done by a Turkish pro, it never seems to be so tear-inducing. I suspect that when I do it I'm either over-waxing or being a total pussy and not giving it the swift removal it requires.
I'm erring on the latter.
- gremlin
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
Mrs. G has one of those illuminated & magnifying mirrors. I can sometimes be found gurning into it with a pair of tweezers in hand. Highlights those long, rogue eyebrows really well, too.MrLongbeard wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:22 amAs with everything that I enjoy I knocked it on the head for health reasons, now I just pluck the long ones when they're long enough to get a grip ongremlin wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:00 amFTFY.
When I have my hirsute nostrils done by a Turkish pro, it never seems to be so tear-inducing. I suspect that when I do it I'm either over-waxing or being a total pussy and not giving it the swift removal it requires.
I'm erring on the latter.
Remember Anne Diamond!
- Taipan
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
Eeeww! Cutting hair in a pub!gremlin wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:12 amThere used to be a trendy bar in Wapping that had a barber inside. Would have suited you down the ground, though I'm not sure I'd want hair clippings in my pint.Taipan wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:05 am I hate going to a barber, so I have my hair cut at home. But then i've got a bit shy in later life I suppose, or maybe just dislike small talk with strangers? Kinda odd really, as i'm happy to talk complete bollocks with anyone in a pub, but that's probably down to alcohol!See yourself in there anyone!
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- DefTrap
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
I noticed that some of the hipster bike shows these days invited a barbers/beard-groomers along as part of the attraction. For real - a row of bikers having their beards oiled.gremlin wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:12 am There used to be a trendy bar in Wapping that had a barber inside. Would have suited you down the ground, though I'm not sure I'd want hair clippings in my pint.
I'm fairly sure that the Bike Shed place in Shoreditch has its own barber alongside the usual bar, restaurant, shop stuff.
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Buckaroo
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
I do.Taipan wrote: Thu Apr 02, 2026 10:05 am I hate going to a barber, so I have my hair cut at home. But then i've got a bit shy in later life I suppose, or maybe just dislike small talk with strangers? Kinda odd really, as i'm happy to talk complete bollocks with anyone in a pub, but that's probably down to alcohol!See yourself in there anyone!
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Previously gregarious, not so much now.
My barber is an ex police detective, gay, with two lovely kids and wife. She likes to talk about a whole host of interesting topics but is never boastful (a trait I despise). I'm happy to sit and listen, offering the occasional comment or two. I can and do enjoy the experience.
- MrLongbeard
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
I've got a Gerber multitool that does the job for weirdy beard hairs.
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Buckaroo
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Docca
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
Nostrils and ears!
I once had my plums and ring piece waxed - not in a barber shop I hasten to add. Never again.
Scruffy facial hair- no issue
Smelly and dirty facial hair? Gross.
I once had my plums and ring piece waxed - not in a barber shop I hasten to add. Never again.
Scruffy facial hair- no issue
Smelly and dirty facial hair? Gross.
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demographic
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Re: The sheer joy of a good barber/ barber shop
Been doing my own hair buzzcuts with clippers since I got rid of my mohican whe I was 20.
Before that a mate used to cut the sides so I didn't accidentally hack into the middle bit.
Hacking into the middle is much less of an issue nowadays and I zero cut it followed by a double edged safety razor to get it right down to the wood.
I never feel like me with much in the way of hair.
Always wet shave my face as I don't want to look like an IT bod.
Before that a mate used to cut the sides so I didn't accidentally hack into the middle bit.
Hacking into the middle is much less of an issue nowadays and I zero cut it followed by a double edged safety razor to get it right down to the wood.
I never feel like me with much in the way of hair.
Always wet shave my face as I don't want to look like an IT bod.
