Keeping it old school

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This article was published 19/01/2016 (3918 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Walking through the door of 599 Archibald St. is like taking a step back in time.

The building is home to Kenneth’s Hairstyling and Barbering and is now shared by Angela Van Hussen, the owner and operator of Van Hussen & Son’s Windsor Barber Shop.

Van Hussen moved into the space late last year from her business’ previous location at 713 St. Mary’s Rd. That location was built in 1912 and still has a post out the front where patrons would hitch their horses.

“Kenneth (Olson) was going to get hand surgery before Christmas, so we talked about me moving the business here,” Van Hussen said.

”He’s 79 and still on the mend and working two days a week. Kenneth is one of the last of the old-school barbers. He’s enjoying having me here.”

A quick scope of Van Hussen’s new digs reveals a portable radio playing classic tunes and a selection of traditional tools of the cutting trade. There is a barber chair in the corner, circa 1930, made from cast iron with porcelain features, and a retro-looking cash register with a display that only goes up to one dollar and hints at the many stories that could be told if walls could talk.

“There’s been a barber in this spot for the past 90 years,” Van Hussen said.

“It was an all-man’s bar back in the day. Working class guys would come in here to get their hair cut and there was billiards and a bar downstairs. It was kind of saloon style and there were ladies of the evening upstairs. Those were the days!”

“It’s like a time capsule that’s been unaffected by the outside world. I know many of my customers like coming here because it’s like a breath of fresh air and a break from things. This is straightforward business. There’s not a lot of flash,” she added.

And it’s not just the relaxing atmosphere and soothing ambiance that keeps her customers coming back. It’s as much about Van Hussen’s professional approach, passion for people, respect for the trade and attention to detail.

A master barber and stylist, the 36-year-old attended the Pollock School of Beauty and her resume includes a stint at another barber shop where she got her grounding and honed her skills.

“My mantra is that customers come in, sit down, engage in conversation if they want to and have a quick and painless 15- to 20-minute haircut,” Van Hussen said.

“For most men, getting a haircut is a need rather than a want. It’s about the end product. It’s not about my personality or my decor. Men are all about facts and figures.”

Van Hussen said about 10 per cent of her customers are women, and some guys do bring along their wives and girlfriends when they visit the shop. However, men are her most loyal clients.

”I don’t do buzz cuts, only tailor-made precision cutting. The norm is to slap on a guard, zip and go, but I use my eye to see balance and measure and use all free-hand techniques,” Van Hussen said.

The Woodlands, Man., resident also trims and shapes beards: “So many guys come in and tell me they can’t find anyone to trim their beard.”

Curiously, despite her hands-on approach to making a living, Van Hussen said she likes to think of herself as “a fly on the wall” when she’s working.

“My customers keep me doing this. Sometimes, a visit can create a certain mood of well-being or give them a boost. When a visit helps rejuvenate someone, I love having that impact.”

Van Hussen believes more people are now going back to supporting their local neighbourhood businesses over corporations.

“I think the world needs to get back to that personal touch,” she said.

Van Hussen is also working on a line of natural products that she hopes one day sell in the shop and elsewhere, which include pre-shave oil, shave soap, beard oil and aftershave.

“I want go back to the non-chemical, natural way of life. I’m now working on the packaging and the labelling,” she said.

“I tested the products on my customers last year and I had a good response. I’m hoping to make the containers out of embossed glass to give people something that they won’t throw away and can bring back and refill once they’ve been sterilized. I don’t want to create more garbage. This is a work in progress, as it takes time and money. The products are easy to make, but it’s the packaging and marketing that are the hard parts.”

In keeping with tradition, Windsor Barber Shop is walk-in only and cash only.

Visit facebook.com/windsorbarber for more information.

simon.fuller@canstarnews.com

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