Pioneers of Shaving: Alexander The Great

The origins of shaving go way back. The Bible itself contains references to barbering and shaving as far back as Moses in the book of Ezekiel. As early as 400 BC shaving and barbering had gained high status in Greece. A well-groomed beard was a status symbol to Greek men who had them trimmed, shaped and scented with oils regularly. Over 2,000 years ago, the barbershop was a gathering place where the news of the day was discussed. Whether sports, politics, philosophy or social issues, the barbershop was an epicenter of activity.

As far as shaving goes, It was in the 3rd century BC that the troops of Alexander the great introduced clean-shaven faces on a grand scale. In many battles with the Persians, Alexander's men would fall by the hundreds because of their beards. Persian soldiers would use the Macedonians beards to pull them to the ground and slay them. It was at this point that Alexander decreed that all soldiers under his banner would be clean-shaven. Consequently, barbers though less busy trimming beards, would be happily employed shaving the faces of Rome's men.

-David A. Boyd. I am a full-time professional barber in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am owner & operator of a full-service salon & barbershop by the name of Absinthe Hair & Grooming Parlour. Among our various services, I offer hot towel shaves with a straight razor as well as just about any men's haircut and style that you can imagine!

Check out our Website HERE: www.AbsintheHairParlour.com

Turn of the Century: Intro to Short cuts for the fashion forward

The first years of the 1800s introduced a semi-revolution in men's hairstyles. A significant tax on hair powder brought an abrupt end to the practice of wearing powdered wigs for the general public. Although, for men in prestigious professions such as lawyers, military officers and older conservative men maintained the powdered wig.

What emerged was often referred to as the Bedford Crop. The young men who considered themselves to be fashionable maintained short cropped hairstyles often with longer sideburns.

Classic Coiffure: The cuts and styles of Famous Painters

This is a catalog of some hairstyles and facial hair of some of my favorite artists/painters. As far as Barbering goes, one of my favorite places to look for new ideas and inspiration is in the people that have been so inspirational in their own medium. As you can imagine, looking to creative geniuses for new ideas just makes sense to me.
Alfons Mucha (Czech art nouveau painter)
Gustav Klimt (Austrian symbolist painter)
Piet Mondrian (Dutch Painter)
Salvador Dali (Spanish Catalan surrealist painter)
Vincent Van Gogh (Dutch post-impressionist painter)

Haircut of the Day: James Dean

James Dean- This cut and style are certainly suited to medium wavy-curly hair. A great balance of lived-in casual and polished style. Clean and short haircuts don't have to feel so severe or clean-cut.

Hair Styles of the Greats: Famous Authors Part II

Alexandre Dumas (French writer: The Count of Monte Cristo & The Three Musketeers)
Edgar Allen Poe (American author: Tales of mystery and macabre)
Ernest Hemingway (Nobel Prize Winning American author: For Whom The Bell Tolls)
John Steinbeck (Pulitzer Prize Winning American author: The Grapes of Wrath)
Mark Twain (American author: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)

Hair Styles of the Greats: Famous Authors

When looking for inspiration regarding your next style; who better to ask, than the men whose literary works have inspired millions of people? What follows is a collection of the hair cuts and facial hair of some of the most influential men to have written books about subjects. Consider if you will, the various styles that helped to define these men and how they each chose to express themselves via hair, mustache and beard.
Sir Aurthur Conan Doyle (Scottish Physician and Writer: Sherlock Holmes)
Oscar Wilde (Irish Writer & Engineer of Decadence/Flamboyance)
Robert Louis Stevenson (Scottish Novelist: Treasure Island, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde)
Leo Tolstoy (Russian Writer: Ana Karenina)
Victor Hugo (French Writer: Les Miserables)