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RICHARD FURUKAiFluff-and-dry set more common as barbers adaptBy NEIL WALEY jHerald Staff WriterBusiness has improved lor Lethbridge barbers now that many have painted Hairstylist on their !windows. •Just a few years ago during the long-hair craze, barbers had two op liens. Get out of an unprofitable business «r slay to see profits severely trimmed.Actually, they had a third choice. Adapt.Now, most have.“The ones who could change are still here,” says Keg Ball, manager of Towne House Men’s Hair Styling. ' The ones who could not adjust hayc retired.'' ..Those willing to adapt, did so by attending con-' venlions and styling seminars to update themselves.Barbers attract Uie new business without scaring off their traditional customers. The barber’s pole and chairs remain to reassure customers who want older styles. The word hairstylist encourages the vnungor crowd, which amounts to 75 per cent of Ball's business.Another barber struck a different compromise six years ago.Al Andy's Barber Shop, Andy Van Doom handles the older styles and sub-leases to Richard Kuriikawa, who takes care^of the other business.Other shops cater exclusively to the fluff-and-- blow-dry set. They more closely resemble women's hairdressing salons than barber shops, with shampoo sinks, lower chairs and a policy of ap poinlmcnls required.*'Men arc not ashamed to come in any more.They are mure openminded,” says Gunter Ander of Sir Men’s Hairstvling.This group is increasing. Older persons and farmers are joining Ihe ranks of the converted, barbers say.Farmers were pressured by their leen-aged children. says Furckawa.Now that men are more concerned about their appearances. Ihcy pay for a different soil of service.People used to think a cut and shave was worth two bits. Styling lakes more .time, more precision.People will pay for that. Furukawa says.A shampoo, cdl and blow-dry costs an average $7 to $3, with most customers going every six weeks.However profitable it is to be called a hairstylist, not all barbeis waul the lag. There is still one die-hard in Lethbridge.I'm not in that (sLylmgl business, says Bob Kaulds of Bob's Barber Shop. It's fine for those who wart to do that sort of thing but I don't.”
Newspaper Details
Lethbridge Herald
Lethbridge, Alberta, CA
Sat, May 20, 1978
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Chinook A.
AB, USA 22 Jan 2019
Other Publications Near Lethbridge, Alberta
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