How to Make a Barber or Beauty Shop Look Like It Is 1908
Barbershops and beauty salons at the turn of the 20th century looked very different than they do now. While many modern-day shops sport clean lines, new electronics and art prints of avant-garde models, the barber and beauty shops of yesteryear aimed to make customers feel warm, welcome and like they were stepping into a favorite, familiar place each time they paid a visit. If you want your shop to capitalize on the nostalgia of old-school barbershops and beauty salons, there are several things you can do.
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Instructions
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Purchase as many antique barber and beauty chairs as you can. Browse classified ads and online auction websites to find them. Even using just one antique chair will give your barbershop or salon a 1908 feel.
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Avoid using plastic furniture and fixtures -- they were not common in 1908 and thus are not suitable for creating an authentic atmosphere of that era. Frame your mirrors with materials that do not look modern or contemporary, such as distressed metals and woods.
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Wear old-fashioned barber coats and stylist aprons, or hang them on the wall if you prefer that your stylists wear a different uniform. Such items are iconic symbols of early 20th-century barbershops and salons.
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Use shaving tools that mimic those found in 1908, such as old-fashioned shaving brushes, shaving soaps in a tin, collectible shaving mugs and straight razors. There are several professional brands available that sell quality, vintage-style shaving supplies.
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Decorate using a neutral color palette, and paint your walls if they are white. Although some barber and beauty shops in 1908 did have white walls, using white to recreate the era will take away from the antique feel. Opt for almond, pale gold or light tan walls instead.
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Place as many vintage items commonly found in 1908 barber and beauty shops as you can find around your salon. Umbrella and coat stands, vintage radios and collectible posters are examples of suitable items.
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References
- Photo Credit Michael Blann/Digital Vision/Getty Images
