I would add getting a head massage to this prior to the actual cutting. I never wanted the fucking head massage and I always felt mildly embarrassed for the barber having to do this - didn’t matter what gender they were.

Before Covid, I’d go to this large barbershop that took up two storefronts and had something like 12 chairs. They even had a couple of older kids there, hustling for tips by running errands, sweeping hair from the floor, brushing the hair from customers’ shoulders. This is in northwest Mexico.

There was constant banter in that place. Starting in the late afternoon, there was usually beer flowing, quick and easy to get, as the mini-mart was right next door.

I’d sit with the oldest, old-school barber in the place, close my eyes and do mindfulness meditation, let myself be submerged in the texture of that place.

The noises and sounds, such as the traffic outside on the city’s old main street. The street vendor lady with a big reed basket walking into the busy shop, selling her empanadas or tamales. One of the barbers yelling at the errand boy: “Hey! Wanna get me a beer from next door?” - “Hey! Get me one, too!” - “And one for me!” Some of the regulars walking by and popping in to say hello. This was all in Spanish, of course.

Covid put an end to that, it was a fun and buzzing, but messy place. With half the staff or more wearing their masks below the nose or even the upper lip, you know the drill.
So I started going to a more upscale place where strict Covid protocols were mindfully enforced, and also has touches like a Xbox in the waiting area.

The place is smaller with only four chairs, more quiet, but nowadays the young team of barbers always greet me warmly, really get into it when I start talking about cosmology and astrophysics (two subjects that I love), ask some pretty astute questions that show that they are paying attention and enjoying my presence.

The last time I tried to explain Bell’s Inequality Theory aka Quantum Entanglement, and how there seem to not be any right-handed neutrinos nor left-handed antineutrinos.

Is there a version of this with a bit more jpeg

Can someone tell me what “No Salad” actually means?

Nah, that’s a salad-eating wanker if ever I saw one