“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” — Colossians 3:23
For most of my life, a haircut has never been just a haircut.
Barbershops in Barbados have traditionally been places where men went to trim their hair. But they were always much more than that. They were community centers, classrooms, debating societies and places where friendships flourished.
As I reflect on a lifetime of haircuts, I see a journey that began with monthly visits to the neighborhood barber as a boy in the 1950s. It continued in barber chairs while attending university in Jamaica and the United Kingdom, shifted to do-it-yourself haircuts in Trinidad with the help of a friend, and eventually returned home to Barbados, where Crimpers hair dressing salon — established primarily for women in 1977 — transformed my expectations of what a haircut could be.
The common thread throughout has not been style. It has been trust. A good barber knew your name and exactly “how much off the top.” In Trinidad, two colleagues shared a pair of clippers because respect mattered more than appearances. At home, I cut my sons’ hair until their growing attention to style suggested otherwise. Later, I cut my father’s hair when his mobility became limited. The barber’s chair became a bridge across generations.
When Crimpers opened in 1977, it changed the equation. Ten minutes in a barber’s chair became 90 minutes of “tonsorial delight”: haircut, shampoo, massage and a subtle grey highlighter to keep the silver honest. You were not paying for time. You were paying for craftsmanship, care and personal attention.
Barbados has no shortage of quick-cut barbershops. What Crimpers offered was an experience that inspired remarkable loyalty through skilled service, repeat clients and word-of-mouth recommendations that no advertising budget could buy. Jessica Odle-Baril and her sister-in-law, Lynda Odle, built a business where the waiting area doubled as a forum for cricket, church, politics and family life. Clients came as much for the conversation as they did for the haircut.
Although Crimpers formally closed in 2025, I am fortunate to remain among Lynda’s private clientele for as long as she chooses to continue. The lesson endures: a chair is merely metal and leather. What truly matters is the person behind it and the care they devote to meeting your needs.
As we seek to grow micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises and strengthen the creative services sector, we must recognize and support the businesses that train apprentices, sustain experienced craftspeople and strengthen the fabric of our communities. A barbershop or hair salon is more than a small business. It is culture, mentorship and, for many, an important source of emotional well-being.
So let us celebrate the art of tonsorial delight in our own communities. Support the salons and barbers who invest in relationships, not simply volume. Encourage and train the next Lynda. And if you have built a clientele that returns faithfully for 48 years, remember this: you are doing far more than cutting hair. You are serving people with skill, dignity and compassion, one snip at a time.
Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a corporate governance adviser. Email: basilgf@marketplaceexcellence.com. Previous columns may be found at www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com.