|
|
|
Vol. LXV, No. 36
|
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
Vol. LXV, No. 36
|
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
|
 GREAT CUTS: “One of the things I like about this work is that I meet all kinds of people. We’re like bartenders. We hear all the stories. Then, there are other customers who are quiet and don’t really want to talk. We see all kinds of people — all backgrounds, all ages, and all kinds of hair!” Tony Cifelli, owner of Nassau Barbers on Chambers Street, looks forward to giving everyone a great hair cut. |
It’s all in the family! says Tony Cifelli, a licensed barber.
“I’ve been cutting hair for 10 years, had been working in the area, and I always wanted to have my own place. I’d been looking in the area, and this location became available. I especially wanted to be in Princeton because my uncle Ed Cifelli had a barber shop here for 40 years, the Rialto, on Nassau Street.”
Now, there is a nice sense of continuity, as the next generation keeps a tradition going, and Mr. Cifelli is proud to follow in his uncle’s footsteps. “I grew up hanging out in the barber shop, and always watched to see what my uncle was doing. I always admired his work and the fun atmosphere of the old-style barber shop, and that’s what I wanted to bring back here.”
Opened in July at 6B Chambers Street, Nassau Barbers already has a growing clientele, reports Mr. Cifelli, a Lawrenceville native. “The time was right for me to have my own place, and I have many customers who got to know me before, as well as a lot of new people.”
Good Impression
“In fact, our business has stayed steady through the economic tough times. When they are looking for a job, a lot of people come in for ‘interview’ hair cuts. They may be going for an interview and want a nice short business cut to make a good impression.”
Clients are primarily men and boys although women and girls also find their way to Nassau Barbers — strictly for a cut, no shampoo or involved styling, says Mr. Cifelli.
The guys also like different looks though, he is quick to add. “We get asked for everything, from business and crew cuts to Mohawks and spikes! Lots of different looks are popular, especially among boys. And a big trend among high school age teens is shoulder length hair. We see it all — styles come and go.
“I also specialize in kids’ cuts. I’ve done a lot of first hair cuts for boys and girls. The first cut is usually not a problem because they don’t know what to expect. After that, you never know. Some kids act up, but generally I don’t have a problem.”
Tumultuous Decade
“I also cut hair of all ethnic groups, and it’s interesting. Cutting curly hair is very different than cutting straight hair. I like it all, and it’s fun to ‘plan the attack!’”
The barber industry has changed dramatically over the years, he adds, especially from the days of his uncle’s shop. There are not nearly as many barber shops today as there once were. The tumultuous decade of the 1960s caused a transformation in male hairstyles, as in so many other areas.
Indeed, the barber shop — with its signature striped pole — has undergone transformations from its earliest days. In addition to cutting hair, barbers in medieval times performed surgery and extracted teeth! The original pole had a bronze basin at the top (representing the vessel in which leeches were kept for blood-letting) and another at the bottom (symbolizing the basin that collected the blood). The pole itself represented the staff that the patients held onto during the procedure to promote blood flow.
The famous red, white, and blue stipes on the pole in front of U.S. barber shops may represent the colors of the American flag. Other theories suggest that the red and white stripes symbolized the bandages used during a procedure: red for blood-stained, white for clean bandages, and blue for veins, points out Mr. Cifelli. Originally, these bandages may have been wrapped around a pole to dry.
Here to Stay
Not every profession can boast of such an intriguing history, and Mr. Cifelli looks forward to being in Princeton a long time.
“I’m here to stay! I look forward to Nassau Barbers becoming a mainstay in town and having our name recognized and being well-known and respected for what we do. I have to say that what I love most about the industry is working with my clientele and being in Princeton. Many of the clients have become friends.”
Nassau Barbers is open Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday 9 to 7, Friday 9 to 8, Saturday 7 to 3. Appointments not required. (609) 454-5085.