Barberism Begins at Home

Although it's something of a Toronto institution, I spent far too many years ignoring Gus the Other Barber in lieu of going to "higher end" salons for my haircutting needs. I would always leave these places feeling basically satisfied, but never really impressed.

It was then I realized that a stylist is someone who is trained to cut women's hair and then applies that training to men's cuts. Not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that, but I was looking for something a bit more masculine. The only way that was going to happen for me was to find someone who's been taking the clippers to men on a daily basis for 40 years ... a barbershop.

I tried out a number of places using the BlogTO article The Best Barber Shops in Toronto as a starting point. After a few "almosts," I found Gus' and the second I saw the straight razor come out to clean up my neck, I knew that it was going to be "my" place from then on.

It's not just about the haircuts either. It feels good to be in a place where men go to take care of men's business. It feels like a club and the more I go the more I become part of it. Also, the initially weird feeling, but now reveled in, shoulder and head massage is the best hangover cure I've ever come across.