You truly do not realize how important your barber is. When did it hit you- just how important your barber is in your life?
As a young boy, Maxwell knew of its importance but lacked respect for the craft. His journey began as most boys with their mother being the creative designer. Maxwell’s mother insisted on a Dark Ceasar with a Rattail. None of his friends possessed such a haircut. Maxwell and his brother went unbothered until, as it happens, everyone started growing up. Young boys begin developing their own sense of style and identity- it’s nature. Maxwell didn’t mind the Rattail until the teasing began. Now an issue, his mother could care less. Looking back on it, the barber his mother hired did house calls. Currently thirty-six, I desire to have a barber who does house calls for 1990’s prices.
With the world changing as well as priorities, Maxwell needed a barbershop. Four blocks away, they discovered CARLOS BARBERSHOP. Ironically, Maxwell never got his haircut from Carlos. One of the first barbers he saw with appointments. Nobody waited for Carlos in the store unless they were up next. The barber that Maxwell’s mother decided on was the famous Lupe. Lupe was a Mexican woman with the hands of a goddess. Maxwell’s first pure memory of haircuts. Lupe hands were incredibly soft and comforting. Makes sense she had her own kids and cut their hair as well. All Maxwell’s friends at the time went to Lupe. Maxwell’s last time getting his haircut with his mother, he embarrassed himself more than anything. His mother wasn’t satisfied with the haircut citing his head looked patchy. Lupe, being the mother she is, took a wet cloth and rubbed it over Maxwell’s head. Holding back disgust, his mother is informed the patches were dirt. His head was filthy enough where he had patches of dirt in his head. Maxwell’s mother ignored his guilty laughter and shamed him all the way to the shower. Safe to say in the haircut universe- never happened again.
Overtime, the neighborhood began seeing Lupe. Her reputation spread through word of mouth. Of course, this made the wait times jump incredibly. Ignorant to appointments and going at this alone, Maxwell only knew how to receive haircuts. Maxwell would go once a week, afterschool to see Lupe.
“How many you got Lupe?
Right now, five.”
When I tell you, Maxwell used to wait in the far back. Low chair with good cushion- directly across from the hair sink bowl and bathroom. Space is beyond limited and everybody has the same idea to wait. Every Friday, Maxwell would wait up to three hours for a twenty-minute haircut. Maxwell receiving his hair cut topped all priorities before starting the weekend. Maxwell did this up to two years. Waiting. Just waiting. He tried to venture out once for his 8th grade prom. BORIS, he was told, had skills. And for half the price. Going against all that is holy in haircuts, he went the day of his prom, and Boris zigged the left side. Pushing his hairline past the STOP sign. Lesson learned- immediately.
Growing more cultured and gaining new friends opens new doors. Coupled with being in charge of your own style, Maxwell was open to new possibilities. One door was a barbershop called Double R’s. Double R’s was a black owned barbershop completely opposite from Carlos. English rap music, sports on all tv’s and conversations Maxwell could understand. Intimidated at first, the shop became the place to hang out. Listening to older men that looked like him converse made Maxwell feel included. Lonny, Phil, and Country were the barbers we all came to love. Country was himself a character. He would move your head while cutting and tell you to stop moving. Phil was the last chair in the back of the store with the most clientele. He operated like Carlos with appointments only. A big dude with the all the sports jerseys. His expertise carried the store until its closure. Lonny was the man for the five-dollar shape ups. He smelled a bit, but the concern was looking fresh. Still not doing appointments or even asking about them. Maxwell spent many days sitting idle in a barbershop.
A new barber is usually always recommended. To venture out and find a new barber is reserved for the brave. After Double R’s, recommendations starting coming from blocks away. A Dominican barbershop had opened and word was they were sharp. Prices were nice too. Maxwell was told about Bollo. Old school Dominican barber who took his time lining you up. Made you feel important. He was immensely proud of the house he was building in his country and kept us updated with pictures. He had to leave for a bit which made Maxwell have to find a barber and fast. Up the stairs barbershop as they called it had the next best barbers according to the network. Maxwell never knew his name, but he was fresh out of jail and honing his craft. His signature was the straight razor. Literally left one feeling sharp. Some days he dry shaved you others massive water. You ever been dry shaved? Dedication…
After that saga, Maxwell was introduced to Willie, the top prospect of the neighborhood. Willie was a Michelin Star grade barber. Dedicated and took his time. You never felt rushed in Willie’s chair. A walking billboard for fresh cuts, many would stop and inquire…
“Where you get you haircut from?”
With such greatness, comes turmoil in some form or fashion. The whole hood went to Willie. Friends and foes alike. In the same location. The shop had four chairs and smaller in comparison to others. Busy. Remarkably busy though. Especially the weekends. Timing was crucial in this barbershop. Eventually it would get so busy, one would have to wait outside. Willie never had less than five- all the time. He’s the one who finally educated Maxwell on appointments seeing that Maxwell would wait almost four hours to get a haircut. Changing his life, Maxwell would come arrive and be seen at once- on good days. If it was lunch time, to avoid irritation, don’t watch them eat. Willie would sit in his chair and eat his lunch, watching tv without a care in the world. All of us staring at him. Many fights at this barbershop as well. Maxwell had to stop going on weekends and no later than two pm to avoid drama. Willie spoke Spanish predominately and asked the basic questions which Maxwell did not mind at all. Price reasonable and he even gave Maxwell credit one day when his check didn’t arrive on time. In terms if haircuts, he was special.
It all went to shit when Maxwell needed an emergency haircut for an interview. By this time, Willie had bossed up to his own shop. Incredible feat and Maxwell was proud of him as he told him so. However not only didn’t Willie pick up his calls but sent him to voicemail. Now in the two years of their partnership, Willie never done that. He’ll tell you bluntly in the English words he knows, what is going on. Further confusing the situation, he arrives but sits in his truck in complete view of the shop. They can see him. Vice Versa. And sits there. After forty minutes and time running out, Maxwell settles with Bollo. Mission accomplishment for the time being and Willie is still sitting in his truck. Maxwell walks by without pressing the situation and continues the day. For a month straight Willie ignored Maxwell’s calls. Somehow always missing each other due to timing. Finally, Maxwell sees Willie in the shop and approaches him…
“Wasup man. Where you been?
How many you got Willie?”
Willie looks at Maxwell, avoiding his eyes and says out his mouth…
“What? Why don’t you go to Bollo?”
Instantly Maxwell knows what this is about. Maxwell was supposed to sit there and wait until Willie decided to speak to prove loyalty. Maxwell still needed a barber, in his shop- left it alone. Made a slick comment but doubtful Willie understood it.
Now in need of a barber again, his relief came from another recommendation. Better than before. Danny was a wizard with the clippers. What separated Danny from everyone else was he was cutting hair in a shop and his apartment- before Covid existed. On the same block as Maxwell none the less. Convenient with lower prices than the actual shop, Maxwell came up. Danny was extremely strict with his operation though. Call before ringing his bell. Do not smell of smoke of any kind due to his illness. Respect his family and match your voice to his to avoid confusion. Danny even knew of Willie in the competitive sense. Danny cut Maxwell’s hair for the next three years. That’s tough.
Danny had to stop cutting hair due to his illness and you can only respect it. Leaving the comfort of the apartment back to the shop was aided by yet another recommendation. Maxwell was sent to Willie’s old shop ironically. Mando was in the first chair. Maxwell always noticed him but never thought twice. Mando was very technical in his craft. You knew leaving his chair, he did all he could. Cordial, family man, and about his business. His goal was to move his family down south for a better living. Which he accomplished two years later. Before he left, Covid hit leaving everybody in disarray. Nobody was cutting hair and if, so you were paying the price asked for. During this time, Maxwell tried his hand at cutting his own hair. It was then his respect for barbers cemented. Doing a okay job, he could not make it look anything close to a barber’s touch. Accepting the fate of not having a fresh line for the unforeseeable future is when Mando texted his phone. He was cutting hair but in the basement and would have to charge more. Maxwell spent sixty dollars that day. Maxwell and his friends use to make jokes about prices being that high. Reality is funny like that.
Despite having to find a new barber, it was an easy transition for Maxwell being his brother was in the fourth chair in the shop. Joquin laced you proper. His technique mimicked Mando with precision but he added to the experience. Joquin introduced Maxwell to hot towels. Changed his life from the testimonies. Joquin also was in the shop once it opens- working in line with Maxwell’s schedule. Joquin was the final barber of Maxwell before he moved himself.
Chaos was avoided in his new state when he was recommended to a Mexican barber OC. OC got the job done with a hot towel service unmatched anywhere to date. Maxwell was dealt a curveball when OC had to go back home for a while with no return date. After years of avoiding the brave road, Maxwell was left with no options. He ventured out to find a barber coming across Bogie’s Barbershop, which was a three-minute drive away. The reviews proved safe and with limited options, Maxwell tried his luck. He found SKIP who laced him up properly the first two times. What followed confirmed the fear of venturing out- lack of passion. Haircuts for Maxwell were always based on the passion of the barber. The respect for the craft. Fate would have it when Skip missed two appointments with Maxwell. A lot of reviews about the shop stressed that anybody in the store can cut your hair with precision. Learning of the second cancellation, Maxwell ventured back in to find a barber. Elvin had a free chair luckily and Maxwell found his barber. Elvin’s passion and expertise for the art shows with every cut. Being asked where Maxwell gets his haircut reminded him of the comfort of a great barber.
The haircut journey is one of never ending. Always as scary as the first. Appreciative and fearful at the same time. Losing a barber, you actually trust is like losing a family member. A shelter. A sanctuary. Don’t look at it as a service. It truly is an art. And I thank everyone of you… salute.
DRC Thomas-Payne
11/13/2025
