There’s a certain charm to the old-school barbershop. It’s a place where tradition meets craftsmanship in the most authentic way. From the hum of buzzing clippers to the familiar scent of aftershave, these spaces offer more than just haircuts; they provide a sense of community and timeless style.
With their vintage leather chairs, checkered floors, and iconic barber poles, these barbershops capture a different era, where every visit was an experience and every cut was an art form. It’s a world where simplicity reigns, and the experience itself is just as important as the result. The barbershop was once the heartbeat of the neighborhood, a place for people to relax, share stories, and find a moment of connection in their busy lives. In many ways, these spaces represent a slice of history, and we’re here to share that history with you.
Here are 20 vintage photos of old-school barbershops.
1. James Dean in a New York City barbershop, 1955.
It looks like that barber is giving him a wet willy.
2. In the air force, the air strip is the barbershop.
This is an RAF pilot, one of the most dangerous jobs ever.
3. Mustaches like this need to make a comeback.
A nice mustache on a barber gives the client a real sense of security.
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4. Draper’s Barber shop, 1920s.
What’s the purpose of those pots on the floor, tips?
5. A relaxing day at the barber, 1960.
Isn’t that guy worried about getting hair all over his newspaper?
6. A barbershop from the early 1900s.
Imagine wearing a three-piece suit just to cut hair.
7. A barbershop in Columbus, Ohio, 1890.
A bath for ten cents? Count me in.
8. Elvis at a barbershop in Memphis, 1956.
Elvis was way ahead of his time when it came to style.
9. This barbershop is in the gold mining community of Mogollon, New Mexico.
This photo was taken in June 1940. Everyone must be out looking for gold because this barber has no clients.
10. This looks more like an operating room than a barbershop.
This guy has an assistant and everything.
11. This photo gives some serious Sweeney Todd vibes.
This barbershop was located in Shickshinny, Pennsylvania, in the early 1900s.
12. These guys are ready for a sea of customers.
In the ’40s, they had barbers and staff ready for customers.
13. Two soldiers in Okinawa, June 1945.
They used a salvaged Japanese barber chair. When you’re in a war, anywhere is a barbershop.
14. Proto-Punk band, The Monks, at a barbershop, 1966.
That’s one classy hairstyle.
15. A barber braiding queue, 1901.
I can’t believe people waited in line to get their hair braided. Isn’t that something you can do yourself?
16. Muhammad Ali at a barbershop in Southside Chicago, 1966.
This man had a chokehold on the entire population of the U.S.A.
17. A cowboy barbershop, 1906.
These boys just threw up a tarp and were ready to start.
18. A North Carolina barbershop, 1925.
Amazingly, these men wore suits to cut hair, which must have taken ages to clean.
19. The babe gets his own personal barber in the dugout.
When you have money like this guy, everywhere could be a barbershop.
20. A ’70s barbershop style guide.
