The Barbershop Revival – Why Classic Men’s Hairstyles Are Back
Since the late 2000s, and particularly throughout the 2010s, a new barbershop culture has emerged around the world. Classic men’s hairstyles are making a comeback, modern barbershops are opening in many cities, and traditional styling products such as pomade have once again become an established part of modern men’s grooming.
This phenomenon is often referred to as the barbershop revival. It describes the return of classic haircuts, traditional barbering techniques, and high-quality grooming and styling products – combined with contemporary cuts, modern aesthetics, and personal advice.
However, the revival is about more than pure nostalgia. Historical hairstyles are now being reinterpreted and adapted to different hair types, modern cuts, and individual styling preferences.
What Does Barbershop Revival Mean?
The barbershop revival combines elements of classic men’s grooming with modern haircuts and contemporary products. Many new barbershops draw inspiration from historic barber shops while also using current cutting, shaving, and styling techniques.
The barbershop revival includes:
- classic men’s hairstyles and modern reinterpretations
- precise scissor and clipper cuts
- traditional shaving and beard care
- pomades, hair tonics, and classic grooming products
- personal advice on haircuts and styling
- a distinctive barbershop aesthetic and community
The Return of Classic Men’s Hairstyles
Hairstyles such as the Slick Back, Pompadour, and Side Part were already widespread during the first half of the 20th century. Film stars, musicians, and gentlemen of the era shaped an appearance that is still associated with classic elegance and well-groomed style today.
In modern barbershops, these hairstyles are not simply copied. They are combined with today’s cutting techniques and adapted to hair texture, head shape, and personal preferences.
| Hairstyle | Classic Form | Modern Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Slick Back | combed smoothly backwards, with longer sides and visible shine | with a taper, fade, or undercut and a more natural finish |
| Pompadour | a voluminous, shiny, swept-back front section | shorter sides, relaxed texture, or a matte finish |
| Side Part | a clear side parting and neatly combed sides | with a fade, hard part, or relaxed, textured surface |
Classic men’s hairstyles are no longer tied to a particular era or subculture. They can be worn elegantly, casually, in a modern way, or with an intentionally historical look.
Why Barbershops Became Popular Again
Modern barbershops combine skilled services with personal advice and a deliberately designed experience. Many customers appreciate their specialisation in classic and modern men’s haircuts, as well as the opportunity to have styling products explained and applied directly.
Important reasons for this renewed popularity include:
- Specialisation: Many barbershops focus on men’s haircuts, beard care, and classic shaving.
- Craftsmanship: Precise transitions, clean contours, and traditional scissor techniques take centre stage.
- Advice: Haircuts and styling are adapted to hair texture, growth direction, and everyday life.
- Atmosphere: Interior design, music, and products create a distinctive barbershop experience.
- Grooming Awareness: Men today pay more attention to hairstyling, beard care, shaving, and fragrance.
- Community: The barbershop is often seen as a personal meeting place and a space for conversation.
Traditional Craftsmanship Meets Modern Techniques
Today’s barbershop craft combines historical influences with modern tools and cutting techniques. Classic shapes are paired with precise transitions, neatly refined contours, and individually tailored hair lengths.
Typical services offered by modern barbershops include:
- classic scissor cuts
- tapers, fades, and undercuts
- contour and neckline shaving
- beard trimming, shaping, and grooming
- traditional wet shaving
- advice on using pomade, hair tonic, and grooming products
The finished haircut provides the foundation. The right styling then reveals how differently a classic cut can be worn.
Pomade as a Symbol of Barbershop Culture
Pomade plays a central role in both classic and modern barbershop styling. It gives the hair hold, control, definition, and – depending on the formula – natural to intense shine.
Classic oil-based pomades and many UWB pomades remain flexible. This allows the hairstyle to be recombed and reshaped throughout the day. Orthodox water-based pomades, by contrast, often harden like a gel and provide particularly firm, clearly defined hold.
| Type of Pomade | Styling Feel | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| Oil-Based | classic, flexible, and recombable | traditional slick backs, pompadours, and side parts |
| Water-Based | firm, precise, and often hardening | clearly defined styles with easy washability |
| UWB | flexible and usually easier to wash out | classic shapes with modern product properties |
The Return of Classic Grooming Products
The pomade revival also brought back other traditional barbershop products. Hair tonics, styling creams, aftershaves, beard oils, and classic shaving products are once again offered by both traditional and modern manufacturers.
Hair tonic can make the hair smoother and easier to comb before styling. Together with a blow-dryer and brush, it can also serve as light preparation for pomade. Oil-based varieties can soften existing residue from classic pomade and refresh the style the following day.
Vintage Style and Classic Men’s Fashion
Another reason for the barbershop revival is the growing interest in vintage style, classic men’s fashion, and products with a long tradition. Style elements from the 1920s to the 1950s became visible again through music, film, fashion, and various subcultures.
These include:
- classic men’s hairstyles with clean contours
- vintage barbershops and traditional interiors
- classic wet shaving and beard care
- nostalgic packaging and distinctive scents
- rockabilly, greaser, and vintage culture
Modern barbershop culture is not limited to a historical look. Many customers combine classic hairstyles with contemporary fashion and a modern, individual style.
Social Media and International Barbershop Culture
Social media, videos, and international barber events have further accelerated the revival. Haircuts, styling techniques, and new products can now be presented and compared around the world.
Barbers demonstrate step by step how classic hairstyles are cut, blow-dried, and shaped with pomade. As a result, knowledge that was once passed on primarily within the hairdressing trade has become accessible to a broad audience.
At the same time, small manufacturers and so-called homebrewers were able to develop their own pomades and introduce them to an international audience. This created a great variety of classic and modern formulas, levels of firmness, finishes, and scents.
The Barbershop Revival Is More than Nostalgia
The barbershop revival draws on historical influences while continuing to develop them. Classic shapes are combined with modern cutting techniques, new products, and individual styling preferences.
Craftsmanship, personal advice, and a conscious understanding of hairstyling and grooming take centre stage. This is why the new barbershop culture has spread far beyond vintage and rockabilly scenes.
PomadeShop – Pioneer of the Pomade Revival in Europe
PomadeShop brought pomade back to Europe. At a time when classic pomades were barely available in Europe, PomadeShop began making traditional brands accessible again and sharing knowledge about pomade.
In May 2008, Stan Soldan opened PomadeShop as Germany’s first specialist shop for pomades and nostalgic hairstyling products. Alongside selling classic products, the history, application, and special characteristics of pomade were central from the very beginning.
Today, PomadeShop is one of Europe’s most important destinations for classic and modern pomades. Founder Stan Soldan is also the author of the first German-language reference book about pomades and hair tonics – “Das Pomade-Buch”.
You can find more information about pomade, how to use it, and classic men’s hairstyles in the Pomade Academy.