It is contest winner time!!!

So trying to pick totally random people out of two facebook groups is not as easy as it sound,but I have found 4 totally random winners so I had to enlist the help of a friend of mine to make it even more partial.....HERE THEY ARE!!!

So here is the deal....if this is you please get a hold of me at frankreiland@gmail.com with your mailing address so I know where to send you a can of pomade,aftershave and hopefully stickers (if they get here in time).

Mike Wright-San Jose,CA

Mike Wright

Thailer Murison - WA

Thailer Murison

Mikey Mercury-Tulsa,OK

Mikey Mercury

How Johnny got picked I am not sure-

Johnny Kat

Dear Etta James, Thank You!!!

So unless you have been under a rock today you should already know that Etta James has passed away. One of the keys to the success of Chess Records and one of the most influential women in soul music. Unfortunately I realized that the generation gap has gotten so wide and I do not know if there is any coming back.

At work I like to put on the classic r&b channel that is on the shops Direct TV and "Somethings Gotta Hold On Me" came on and I was surprised to find I was the only person working that new the song or had any knowledge of Etta James.It is sad to know that what passes off for soul music is mediocre at best.

But the flip side of my previous statement is I am grateful for Amy Winehouse (rip), Duffy and even Adele who have brough a very soulful voice to American pop music.

This is just my opinion. Thank you Etta James for an amazing catalog of music!

Suavecito Pomade

Suavecito Pomade....Good Pomade for the rest of us

So this going to sound like a back handed review of Suavecito Pomade. I really like Suavecito Pomade and I have been using is non stop since they sent it to me several weeks ago. For a so;id review we have to take a look at pomade in the last several years.

In 2012 there are two kinds of pomade petroleum pomades and water soluble/water based pomades. Most people have been using petroleum pomdaes for years (ie: Murrays, AGS, High Life). Water soluble pomades are on the rise courtesy of some really good companies.

So people who know me know that I am a big fan of Layrite Pomade and have been for close to 8 years now (I interviewed Donnie Hawley for The Underground Magazine back in 2005). Hawleywood's Barbershop changed the face of pomade with the release of Layrite Pomade.

There have been some really good companies release some good products and Suavecito being one such company. One of the things I really like is the dark color since I have dark hair (and so do most of my clients). One of the things I am noticing is that the hold seems to get me through a whole day at the barbershop without having to re-comb it and it does not have a crunchy texture a gel would have or a few other pomades I have tried.

Ready for another great selling point of Suavecito it is only10 bucks a can! Suavecito believes that your pomade should not cost more then your haircut. This is a big deal in a time where people have to watch there pennies. You are not getting an inferior pomade...I promise!!

I am not sitting here trying to compare Layrite with Suavecito becuase in the end it is like comparing a green Granny Smith apple with a Red Delicious apple. In the end it is all about what you  like the best. Give them both a shot and find out what you like the best.

But in the end this review is about Suavecito and not only as a barber but as a consumer I will support this company. They are a company that is working hard to put out a great product, looking out for there customers pocket books. For more information hit up Suavecito.

Apprentice v. Barber School

I am not sure I have written about this before but I do know that I have very clear of the importance of having a mentor when you are a young barber. For me not being able to develop a mentor relationship with more experience barber has been one of the biggest mitakes I have made as a barber.

In the past if you wanted to become a barber you went to school then became an apprentice and then after doing an apprenticeship you earned the title "Master Barber" (if I am wring please let me know!). Now in most states you have the option to do an apprenticeship or go to barber college.

I am going to use California as an example for this post, mainly because that is where I am living at this time. To become an apprentice you are required to complete 3200 Apprentice hours in a shop and 220 hours of supplemental instruction in a classroom If you choose the route of attending a barber college you must complete 1500 hours to get your barbers license. f you choose the barber school route be prepared to have to pay cash because it seems that for the most part barber schools are a cash only business.

As I sit here thinking about the pro's and con's you have to look at your personal position. Are you in a place where you can go to school full time or do you need to be able to work. Do you know anything about hair cutting and shaving or is this business brand new to you. If you choose apprenticeship, what kind of program have they developed for there apprentices.What is the barber program in the local school like. These are all things you have to look at going into this.

So what is the point of this post, it is this; be informed! Do the research and make a descion that is going to make you the most successful barber/stylist. Because in the end you hold your future in your hand. If you are like me and went to a mediocre school at best it is going to be up to you to make the best out of your career. Get more education, find a shop with experienced barbers.  But the key in the end is to make informed decisions about your future.

Apprenticeship v. Barber School....You have to figure it out for yourself. Just make sure it is the best thing for you!!

J.M. Mulcahy's SHAVE SOAP & Joe's Barbershop

I really like this shave soap!!

  Alright guys throw out the crappy can of Wal-mart shave soap, go and buy a real shave brush (you can usually find a good one for under 50 bucks) and more importantly buy a good razor!!! This steps will help you get a better shave, also shave in the shower or right after you get out of the shower. Trust me this will help!!
   I have been writing about Joe's Barbershop in Chicago off and on this last year for a couple of reasons: 1) There sweet custom Andis Masters that are powder coated (they are working on a chrome plated one right now!!) and 2) they do some cool events (go to there blog for more info about what they have going on). Today we are talking about the shave soap that they have available for sale in there shop.
  J.M. Mulcahy's is a small company based in Chicago that makes soap with products that come from the U.S.A. They make there soaps with Lye and essential oils instead of using detergents (which most soaps use). The shave soap comes in a metal tin which is why I said previously that you need to get your hands on a good shave brush.
    You want to take that shave brush, some hot water and the can of shave soap and get it lathered up really good. I have found that it does lather up really good! The smell of the soap Joe sent me smells like cedar,which I really like. The shave is pretty smooth as well.
    If you are working in the barbershop setting you can use this as well. Take your can of soap and dissolve about half of it in about a 1/2 gallon of water and you can use it in your lather machine. You may have to mess with it a few times till you get the consistency you  want to see coming out of the machine.
    If you need any more information please get a hold of Joe's Barbershop or J.M. Mulcahy's.

Thank's for sending me a can of soap!!