Boker Barbers Corner | BUSA Edition 2017 / 2018

BÖKER MANUFAKTUR SOLINGEN
3
editorial
THE RETURN OF THE BARBER
AND THE REAL WET SHAVE
Whether in Rotterdam,
Amsterdam, London, Cologne,
or Dusseldorf, you can
find them once again – the
hairdressers who specialize
in cutting and shaping men's
beards and hair. Most barber
shops have a special look,
which is typical for our times,
and has never before existed in
this new form. It is a special
mix of style elements from the
1920’s to the 1960’s, paired
with large tattoos, beards,
cuffed jeans, and tweed vests.
The technical level is usually
top notch and you can get a
cool beer at many of them –
but all of them seem to have
a relaxed atmosphere in which
one actually enjoys spending
time. Some customers will
even wait up to five hours in
some of the trendier shops!
A few gems can also be found
outside of the major cities
– the barber from the older
generation who has been in
business since the 1960’s and
has not forgotten the old tools,
hair care products, and their
use. Paul Kox in Breukelen,
the “secret pope” of men's
barbers in the Netherlands,
is such an original. Maybe
such a veteran works behind
an old, yellowed shop display
in your neighborhood, with
opening hours on Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. The shaving culture
also has a few very unusual
salons which are difficult to
classify. One such example
is the Scheersalon of Jeroen
in Bladel, Netherlands, which
presents itself in classical,
simple elegance.
Many men have a strong desire
to learn the almost lost art
of wet shaving with a forged
razor, and to be able to do it
themselves. This skill used to
be passed on quite naturally
from father to son – it was
applied on a daily basis. All
you needed was a belt, ashes,
and machine oil to strop the
razor. Today, many look at this
way of shaving as a dangerous
and awe-inspiring art, which
only few have mastered.
But actually, you just need a
basic but select knowledge
about leather, stones, soaps,
and a little bit of patience
to enjoy your classic morning
shave. We have compiled
this basic knowledge and the
corresponding products in this
catalog.
YOU MAKE THE CUT - WE
MAKE THE RAZOR
What the Boker manufactory
shares with this scene is
tradition, the strong will to
achieve perfect craftsmanship,
and passion for what we do. A
vital part of this is the ongoing
communication with other
experts and aficionados on
the subject that connects us.
We have been manufacturing
straight razors in Solingen,
Germany since 1869, and they
continue to be 100% produced
there. The tree of the Boker
family has even been registered
as a trademark since 1674.
The extensive knowledge and
skill for producing these unique
tools is still alive and well in
our manufactory.