The 21st century barber shop

We get just as excited as the next person about new shopping

adventures, be it at South Coast Plaza or Fashion Island.

And this time, it’s the latter that has drawn our attention with

the anticipated opening of several new stores, including baby and

women clothes boutiques, new food courts and a hip, new barber shop.

Hip, new barber shop?

That’s right, this new shop called First Cut, will come equipped

with 13 barber stations, each with an 11-inch flat television, DVD

player and video games.

Pardon us for showing our age, but that’s a long way from the

barber shops of the past with the spinning red and white poles.

Those came equipped with magazines and newspapers, plastic pocket

combs, Bazooka Joe bubble gum and in the case of one editor’s memory,

an aquarium that contained a live piranha to keep youngsters amused,

that is before the fish were banned as exotic pets since they had a

penchant to chew on fingers.

Yep, times have changed.

But we’re looking forward to the new look, even if it means

watching “Lord of the Rings” while you get a little taken off the

top.