The Barbershop

Believe it or not, I once had hair. Up until my high school days, my dad was my hair stylist. He had perfected the “hey, you wanna resemble a Marine in boot camp” cut. Of course, I disliked that look, but that is not the worst part. He cut my hair in the garage, “for easy clean up.” On nice days, he would leave the garage door wide open. Yep, you guessed it, often my friends would drive by shouting out the car window, “Mister Carner, you missed a place over his left ear!” No mental scars from those days.

However, a few times my Dad permitted me to go with him to a real barbershop when he needed a trim. Aromatherapy, here we come! One step inside the door, and my senses went into overdrive. A plethora of smells engulfed me … aftershave, talcum powder (with a hint of bay rum), and the antiseptic scent of Barbicide that they used for disinfecting their precision tools of the trade. Those huge, well-worn rotating leather chairs … the multiple Muscle Car calendars (with bikini-clad models) decorating the walls … and the wonderful barbershop pole with a helix of colored stripes proudly displayed in the front window.

(Note: I did not know it at the time, but the red and white stripes on the pole are believed to represent the blood and bandages used during the practice of bloodletting, which was once a common practice performed by barbers. The blue stripe is thought to represent the veins, and in some cases, is seen as a patriotic nod to the American flag.)

Marietta Square Barbershop 2025

In the far corner, I remember seeing a very suspicious-looking coffee machine - one that I am sure my mom would never use. I asked if they had hot chocolate, and they all laughed. The shop owner snorted, “That coffee will put hair on your chest, young man.” Perhaps, but with a quick look around the room, I saw two older customers drinking the coffee, which may be able to put hair on your chest … but certainly not on the top of your head. 

This happened in the late 1960s, when the barbershop was your social media and Google information and rumor center. Fact-checking was for sissies. Most of the world's problems were solved inside those four walls. Yet, it seems those issues were not entirely resolved, as we still find ourselves in quite a mess. Problems solved or not, the trip to the barbershop with my dad remains an unforgettable memory.