I’m traveling so I’m a little slow posting this week but today I’ve got something good for you!

Women are teased about how much time and effort we put into our hair and makeup and clothes, but most men are quite as careful with their appearance. At least most of the men I know.

This picture of an Illinois barbershop was taken around 1900.

idaillinois.org

Barbershops are one of the few places where men can congregate and just be guys together. There’s a whole culture around barbershops that seems really fun. I’ve never been inside one. Aside from a brief period in the 1920s when women invaded barbershops to demand bobbed hair, these establishments are generally off-limits to females. That said, if you notice, there is a tiny interloper in this photograph! She was the barber’s daughter.

Not every man goes the barbershop route. This picture from the Indiana Historical Society depicts a “dapper fellow surrounded by three young women.” What do you think? Would you prefer the barbershop or this formidable team of women?

Indiana Historical Society

Lastly, I found an interesting photograph of a dentist, Dr. Caswell of Georgia. Of course, men are not the only patrons of dentists, but in terms of hygiene and grooming, it’s still on topic. The equipment doesn’t look all that different from what you see in a modern office. However, I’ve never been to a dentist who was attired in a fancy evening clothes like Dr. Caswell of Georgia.

georgiaarchives.org

The dentist picture really made me think. Why is the experience exactly like it was 125 years ago? I like my dentist a lot personally but most of what you could call “the dental experience” is about dreading going to your appointment and imagining how much it might hurt. There should be something to make seeing the dentist less painful and scary. You could get increasing doses of Valium a few days in advance. You could offer an option to be anesthetized for your entire appointment. Some cosmetic spas use laughing gas during painful procedures, along with numbing agents. Or maybe they could get a good hypnotist on staff.  You would need to be a really good hypnotist to make this work. Like Svengali level of good. I’m open to all of these options. I’m an awful coward about pain but I know I’m not alone in this!