Boker Barbers Corner | BUSA Edition 2017 / 2018

BÖKER MANUFAKTUR SOLINGEN
19
BARBER STORY: PAUL KOX
The barber shop scene in the
Netherlands has taken the lead in
Europe. In metropolitan areas like
Rotterdam and Amsterdam, men
sometimes wait for up to five hours
for a haircut or a shave. On the other
hand, these shops offer cool beer,
good coffee, good company, and at
the end a professional, old-school
haircut in an earthy ambience. Almost
all of the trendy shops have one
thing in common – between all the
posters of old pomade brands and
autographed pictures of Clark Gable
and Johnny Cash, somewhere there
is an unassuming picture they took
themselves. It always features the
same down to earth older gentleman
with a humorous look on his face and
a short gray beard, together with the
owner or the team of the respective
LIMITED EditioN
barber shop. This man is Paul Kox,
the “secret pope” of men's barbers in
the Netherlands. “The Godfather of
the shave,” as he was referred to in a
historic magazine.
Cutting and shaving truly are in his
blood - if he didn't inherit it in his
genes, then probably from hair tonic
and aftershave. His father, Paul Kox
Sr., had taken over a barber shop
in Utrecht in 1934, and Paul began
helping him run the shop at the age
of 14. An unheard laugh reverberates
in almost every one of his words, and
punctuates each of his sentences.
When you meet him, you can feel that
this is someone who loves his craft,
and interacting with customers. In the
end, Paul and his brother John took
over the shop from their father, with
whom they moved from Utrecht to
Breukelen in the 1970’s.
The old shop in Breukelen's
Winkelcentrum Noord had closed its
doors in the meantime, but Paul could
not quit the business. He simply
opened his doors to customers again
just 200 meters away, in his own
apartment. His website, "The Dutch
Shaving Shop," has made this shop
into a small tourist attraction, visited
by Dutch, Germans, and even some
from further away (e.g. Australians).
You get the impression that you can
find everything here that has ever
been associated with men's haircuts
and beards that is no longer on the
market - including both tools and hair
products.
His decades of experience as a
lover and restorer of antique straight
razors have given Paul Kox very
specific ideas for the creation of his
very own special model. The only
blade he would consider was a 7/8"
version with negative blade etching
on a partially polished blade, which
harmonizes perfectly with the hand
selected horn scales.
p
i e c e s
1
FRENCH POINT
EXTRA HOLLOW
S O U N D
1 KOX DUTCH BARBER
The look of the Kox Dutch Barber
is reminiscent of English straight
razors from the 19th century. The
hefty 7/8" blade with French head
is adorned with an elaborate, wide
negative etching. Contrary to the
impression of a regular "shaving
axe," the blade is ground extra
hollow with belly in our manufactory.
The genuine, natural horn material
underlines the sturdy character
and subtle elegance of this piece.
Delivered in historic packaging
with certificate of authenticity and
individual serial number. Limited to
99 pieces worldwide.
ITEM NO. 140710 $ 259.00