Phil’s-Del Norte Barber Styling Shop

Phil is incredible! He is 79 years old and says there is no retirement in sight «as long as I’m healthy and the Good Lord is willing. As long as I love what I’m doing, money is not the objective.» He has been cutting hair continuously since 1958 – that’s 56 years at the time of this writing! He has one customer that has been getting his hair cut from him since that first year!
I used to get my haircuts on the east side of town, but since I no longer work in that part of town, I wanted to find one closer to me. I saw his shop on the way home today. I called him up. I said I’m looking for someone who still knows how to do the old school razor haircuts. He said he did. I made an appointment.
And you really need to make an appointment, because yes, if you want a haircut from someone that’s been doing it in Tucson for 56 years, you know he has a clientele.
The first thing he did was ask me how I wanted it, of course, then he looked at how I had it combed and styled and he went over that with me to make sure that is the way I wanted it. Some barbers are not that attentive. I’ve had barbers who didn’t even notice how I came in (or forgot) and do not consider that in how they cut my hair. He says he’s only there to give the customer a haircut the way he (the customer) wants it.
Before I go into the experience, I just want to say that the haircut was great! I’m going back. Now for the experience…
Phil is great to carry on a conversation with. And I mean talking with one another. No forced small talk or uncomfortable silence. And it was good talk. Here are a couple of gems that I got out of our visit today:
«I get asked a lot about what is the secret to a successful marriage? (He’s been married for almost 60 years now.) I tell young people to forget about this 50/​50% in marriage. I tell them to be successful it’s got to be 100/​100%.»
«I learned a good lesson (from a mentor) one time about what motivation is. It is the burning with a yearning for learning.»
No, he doesn’t give a complementary drink like some places do. No gimmicks. He does have a copy of the Saturday Evening Post in the rack, though. But if you want a great haircut by hands that have been doing it for over five decades then see Phil.
I’ll close with one of the quotes he has hanging by the chair:
«The world’s problems aren’t solved because all the people who could solve them are busy cutting hair!»