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The Polished Man Barbershop and Lounge in Merrimack is most definitely not your grandfather's barbershop. There are no walkins. Clients schedule appointments and are offered complimentary beer and bourbon upon arrival. Clients can even rent one of the hardwood liquor lockers lining the wall to store their beverage of choice.
Co-owned by husband and wife team Rick and Jess Lindof, The Polished Man offers a chic modern twist on the barbershop motif and the model is proving successful. The barbershop now boasts a second location in Nashua and employs 16. And those liquor lockers, which can be rented for $50 for six months, have been a hit with almost all of the 155 lockers rented.
It's part of the resurgence of barbershops, which a mere decade ago were nearly extinct as the old guard retired and few younger guys seemed willing to take up the craft. Today's customers don't just want a haircut; they want an experience. Barbershops have become ubiquitous in major cities, offering a thoroughly 2019 vibe. And don't expect an older guy with only a knowledge of buzz cuts. Today's barbers, male and female, are likely to be younger and tattooed.
Barbering licenses in the Granite State, which are issued by the NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, have doubled, rising from 844 in 2010 to 1,437 today.
Forbes magazine reported in 2017 that, after years of decline, barbershops began to make their comeback in 2013 and barbering is among the fastest growing industries nationwide.
Contributing to the industry's growth is the number of schools turning out barbers. A decade ago, there were no barbering schools in NH and anyone wanting to learn the craft had to travel to other states. Until this summer there were three barber schools licensed in NH, including Michael's School of Hair Design & Esthetics in Bedford and New England School of Barbering in Penacook. All Pro Barber School in Nashua recently closed. These schools are producing a new generation of barbers. Many are not only manning chairs at existing barber shops, but opening their own businesses; from sleek lounges serving high-end scotch to shops with pool tables and online tools to book appointments...