Old-fashioned barbershop opens in East Toowoomba

A SHARP eye for detail, meticulous hands and the finest men's grooming products make for an experience that feels like a step back in time.

A SHARP eye for detail, meticulous hands and the finest men's grooming products make for an experience that feels like a step back in time.

When you step inside East Side Barber you are transported to another era.

Its decor is in the theme of leather and timber with background music that sets the scene - a mix of classic and alternative.

There is no such thing as appointments at East Side Barber, walk-ins only.

As you wait your turn you skim through books about motorcycle road trips and admire the vintage photographs of bikes on the wall.

The barbershop, on the corner of Margaret and Mary Sts, is a one-man-show starring 18-year-old Jordan Boase.

Don't let his youth deceive you. Mr Boase was born and raised on gentlemanly principals; his love of bikes and admiration for bygone eras stemmed from his dad and the men in his family.

QUALITY SERVICE: East Side Barber manager Jordan Boase. Picture: Nev Madsen

A fascination with the American barber movement a few years ago encouraged Mr Boase to take a leap of his own. He completed his barber apprenticeship at Bou's for Men.

"There was just a whole heap of American guys who wanted to bring back the tradition, values and all-male experience of a barbershop - that really spurred me on," he said.

"I blame The Beatles because it was cool to have long hair when The Beatles came in. That followed through the '70s, in the '80s (when) it was still cool to get perms and have long hair.

"Then in the '90s the scene was dead - few barber shops thrived during that time and then it just came back around like fashions usually do.

"Men want to have short, traditional hair cuts again and who offers the best traditional hair cuts? Barbers do."

Mr Boase prides himself on offering "schmick" hair cuts with traditional methods like a clipper or scissor over comb.

"Don't get me started on what I think about today's hair-style trends," he said.

"I'm happy to put a modern twist on traditional hair cuts but nothing beats a classic look."

Customers going for a straight razor shave are treated to the old-fashioned hot towel face press afterwards.

Mr Boase uses male grooming products by Proraso and Layrite.

Proraso products are rich in natural vegetable extracts to suit different skin types and different length beard textures.

Layrite is a men's pomade that holds like a wax and washes out like a gel.

The store has been open for two months and Mr Boase plans for business to get "intensely huge".

East Side Barber is open Tuesday-Friday from 8.30am-5pm and from 8.30am-1pm on Saturday.

Originally published as Old-fashioned barbershop opens in East Toowoomba