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ray5623d ago
Actually I saw the same thing at the Midwest Barbershop Conference in Chicago back in February. There was one old timer doing hot towel shaves in a corner booth but basically everyone else had moved on to clipper work. The thing is straight razor stuff takes way more time and most barbers just don't have the insurance for it anymore. My buddy who still does shaves told me that a lot of shops dropped it because of sanitation rules and license costs. It sucks because the old school craft is slowly fading but I get why barbers go for the clippers.
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fionat553d ago
Reminds me of how @ray562's observation fits with everything going automated now, even coffee shops dropping manual espresso.
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I get what you're saying about automation taking over, but I actually disagree that it's a bad thing for coffee shops. When they switch to automated machines, the coffee is usually more consistent from one visit to the next. I've had too many bad manual espresso shots from a barista who was in a hurry or just learning. And if that means the shop can focus on other things like better sourcing or faster service, that sounds like a win to me. Same with the barber shop example - sometimes progress means losing a few old school details but gaining a lot of convenience and reliability. It's not always about the craft for the customer, sometimes it's just about getting a decent cup or a good haircut without the fuss.
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