Roadside barbers were barbers who operated mainly out of makeshift tents on the roadside. Roadside barbers or street barbers were began as five-foot-way traders and later set up tents and shops. strongRoadside barbers were commonly found along Barber Street, a backlane between Jalan Sultan and Aliwal Street. They were also found along a cobbled lane that served as a link between Jalan Sultan and North Bridge Road. This lane was simply called the barber row. Most barbers were either Malays, Indians or Chinese. The barber shop often had a small beaten tarpaulin canopy for a roof, below which was the shop. The space between two canopies acted as a territorial boundary. The shops usually consisted of a few old-fashioned chairs, a box-like cupboard hung on the wall, a small wall mirror and a few plastic bins with water. The barber's trusted tools were the gunting, a pair of "scissors" in Malay, the ketam  or "clippers" and the pisau cukor, a "razor blade". Some of the street barbers used a special chair that looked like a dentist's chair.

Most barbers were usually self-taught. Sometimes though, they picked up the trade by working as an apprentice under an established barber. The barber usually started work at 8:00 am and continued to work until dusk. When it became too dark to continue work, they packed up for the day. Roadside barbers charged around fifty cents for a haircut in the 1960s. Their earnings per day depended on the weather, as customers on a rainy day were far fewer. Their charges went up during the Chinese New Year season, as it was customary for the Chinese to begin their new year with a new hair cut. The Chinese and the Indians have a tradition of shaving a baby's head bald in the initial few weeks or months. On such occasions, the barbers usually made a home call and were paid extra for their trouble. Roadside barbers also cleaned ears. They used a 5 cm long metal ear cleaner hooked at one end to fish out the ear wax. After that a small fluffy brush was swished around the middle ear for the final clean-up.

Apart from cleaning ears, the Chinese barbers also cleaned the eyes and the nose. The tongue was cleaned with the barber's knife by scrapping it to rid of its white coating. The Malay and Indian barbers gave their customers a good massage with their strong fingers and palms on their scalps. table and chair rentals salem maSometimes they added oil in the massage. cheap rocking chairs for nursery melbourneThey also massaged their clients' faces and kneaded their shoulders ensuring their customers went back feeling content and happy.chair cover hire darwin Roadside barbers are almost non-existent today except for an odd stall or two: like one in Katong and another put up for tourists at Clarke Quay. chair cover hire darwen

Barbers today work from proper shops. These barber shops, are found amongst neighbourhood shops of almost every housing estate. The present-day barbers no longer clean the ears, nose or tongues of their customers but they still use the traditional scissors, clippers and razor blades. chair and table rentals fremont caThey also use gadgets like the shaver and electric clippers which their predecessors were not equipped with. beach chair rentals daytona beach shoresMost traditional barber shops are air-conditioned. table and chair rental vallejo caThe shops have a row of barbers' chairs. buy papasan chair frameEach of these chairs face an individual long mirror fixed on the wall. buy fisher price luv u zoo high chair

One permanent feature of these shops is the barber pole that perennially keeps spinning around itself with its three colours. Their haircuts are inexpensive and very affordable which is the main reason why they remain popular. Dying occupations of Singapore (pp. 8-9). [1978]. Singapore: Raffles Interact Club. (Call no.: RCLOS 331.70095957 RAF)A journey through Singapore: Travellers' impressions of a by-gone time (pp. 162-163). (Call no.: SING 959.57 REE)(1980). Goodwood Journal , 1st Qtr., 19, 25. (Call no.: RCLOS 052 GHCGJ) Teo, G. (2002, July 19). Sketches of forgotten shops [Videotape]. (2001). Singapore: Educational Technology Division, Ministry of Education. (Call no.: RSING 381.147095957 SKE) Cheng, K. B. (2001, June 11). The Straits Times, Life!, p. SS7. Lui, J. (1992, June 7). Barber shop goes trendy yet stays traditional. The Straits Times, Home, p. 15. National Archives of Singapore. Archives & Artefacts Online. The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources.

It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic . Commerce and Industry>>Labour and Employment>>Vanishing Trades Business, finance and industry>>Industry>>Services People and communities>>Fashion and groomingNational Library Board Singapore 2004.“Yuri is a great guy, remembers everyone it seems and takes his time to get you the cut you want - and a great price!!” “And what toddler doesn't love birds??), candy, and the best part is that Yuri did an excellent job.” “Moved to Atlanta in August and was going to another barber but decided to give Vintage a try.” "If you live in Atlanta or are simply visiting Atlanta this is the place to get a cut. The owner has provided an upscale environment to fulfill your grooming needs. Go get educated about services a well…" "As the daughter of a hairdresser, I am very picky about who cuts my hair. I made my first appt and brought my two girls 10/12 with me to have a trim.