What do the cool kids use!!

So this weekend me and the family went and saw the band The Great Commission. Earlier while killing some time in town we went by Barnes and Noble and who did I find in the comic book section of the store...Justin Singh from The Great Commission.

During our visit we actually got on the subject of hair, products and the kind of comb he uses. Justin went from getting his hair done at a salon (he had a faux hawk and a rats tail) to getting his hair cut at a proper barber shop in Fontana,CA called Stay Gold Barbershop. Justin no longer rocks the faux hawk but has cropped tight on the sides with a side part.

When asked what he is using product he let's me know he uses Suavecito and proudly makes sure I know he uses Tres Flores (which is not as easily found in the Inland Empire as it is around the Central Valley). He also has a comb that he uses especially for combing the front of his hair. It is a comb by Conair. He showed me this comb and I will tell you it has definitely seen its miles on the road!

Frankie the Barber w/ Justin Singh The Great Commission

One thing I learned is that you will find Justin preparing for a show (doing his hair and cleaning up) in bathrooms at Barnes and Noble so look for him in the comic book section looking for Marvel books he may not have and tell him I said "HI!"

Frankie The Barber presents...FOODxCORE

I am really happy to be doing this show because anytime I can do a show to get kids in our community to think about something other then themselves it is a good thing!!

Leaders (Facedown Records)
Darasuum (Riverside, CA)
Farooq (Fresno)
Hands On Deck (Visalia)
special guest

Cost is 7 bucks (5 bucks with donation of 2 or more non perishable food items). Below is a list of food items we are looking for.

Dinuba Youth Center
214 South L St.
Dinuba,Ca 93618

Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup)
Tuna and canned meat
Peanut butter
Canned foods with pop-top lids
Low-sugar cereals
100% fruit juices in single serving boxes
Canned fruit packed in juice

Customers...Ya need em!!

So I will be honest I have had a couple of slow weeks here at my work. if you follow my Facebook you will know the GoldStar Barbershop has only been open since November. This week I have been trying to find some ideas on not just trying to get new business in the shop but just as importantly....Keep the older ones coming back in.

So for me I am finding it important to stand out from other barbers in the community and try to develop a "brand" so I am working on flyers and other items that will get peoples attention hence the first Frankie The Barber sticker with a logo and contact info for myself is coming soon!!

Today while it was slow I grabbed the schedule books from the day we started keeping track until now and started writing down all the clients that have been in the shop that I have seen consistently and wrote there addresses down. I am going to be sending each and every one of them a postcard saying "thanks". This is a good way to not only stay in touch with clients between appointments but this lets you touch base with clients who have not been in for a while.

Postcard are cheap and postcard stamps are even cheaper!

Shearng,Shaving and Shining at BOLT Barber

So today I was walking up and down Melrose and walked past BOLT Barbershop and realized I had never been in to check it our so I dragged the wife in and with Paul's help got a tour of the shop!!

This 1100 square foot shop is the brainchild of “Mohawk Matt” Berman who spent 25 years in the corporate world in senior marketing and general management positions with Procter & Gamble.

I walked in to automatically see 3 chair and then a shuffle board table. As Paul showed me down a hallway there was a few more chair and then a "bar" where they had what looked like ice cold Pabst. As you walk farther down the hallway you find a room to a dark relaxing room were there are two shampoo chairs.

I had been looking forward to seeing this shop and the truth is it was cooler then I though it was going to be. When you are cruising down Melrose there are several shops to check out but trust me you should at least stop and check out the staff at  BOLT Barber!!

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.