Classic Barber Shop Opens In SOCO
By Barbara Giasone
January 4, 2008
OC Register
FULLERTON - While his truck was in for service at Rollings Automotive, Dan Farrow decided to stroll up Commonwealth Avenue and check out the SOCO District.
In a matter of minutes, he stumbled upon an old-fashioned barber shop - a far cry from the today's chic salons that cater to men and women.
Once inside, Farrow slid into the barber chair, leaned back, closed his eyes and listened to cool jazz on the speakers.
Barber Ana Hernandez snipped, clipped, trimmed and styled.
And when she attained "the right look," Hernandez slathered hot lather from an automatic dispenser on Farrow's neck.
Farrow realized this was no ordinary clip joint.
Lather One at 126 W. Commonwealth Ave., is an experience, a throwback to the old days of barbering with new tools.
Hernandez displayed a straight razor, one that seemingly takes off a thin layer of skin without using the traditional razor strap.
"My memories of the razor strap aren't pleasant," Farrow said. "Let's say my father had one, and it wasn't always used for shaving."
The conversation blending the traditional and contemporary applied to the history of the small space in a building that housed Hupmobile Sales and Service before 1941. The short-lived vehicle was designed to compete with Ford and Chevrolet, but to no avail.
According to Fullerton Library Launer Room historian Cathy Thomas, the city directories indicate there were men listed there as barbers from 1941 to 1960 when Stewart's Barber Shop opened its doors.
The business with its familiar barber pole catered to many of the city's old timers.
After many years of staying vacant, the space was leased to Hernandez in May. She spent $15,000 bringing the electrical and infrastructure up to standard.
She hired Bill Giles' "Anything in Wood" company to build custom cabinets, invited east Los Angeles street artist Rudy Mendez to spray paint the portrait of a jazz musician on a giant canvas for the shop's centerpiece. And she purchased cutting-edge tools of the trade.
"This is my dream, to have my own business," Hernandez, 31, said. "I was raised in Fullerton, my family owned La Chaquita restaurant, and knew I wanted to come back here."
The creative businesswoman attended Maple Preschool, Raymond Elementary, Ladera Vista Junior High and Fullerton Union High School (Class of 1994). She graduated from the Fullerton College Cosmetology Department, and earned her state barbering license in 2001.
"I found it challenging to work on women's hair," she said. "They're often not happy with the outcome. Men seem to be more relaxed, and like talking about what's happening."
She worked as an assistant at Empire Salon in Irvine, at Richard's Hair Design in Yorba Linda and with two barbers at Telegraph Barbers in Placentia.
"They're really the ones who showed me the shaving techniques," Hernandez said. "Now, 50 percent of my clients ask for a shave."
Prices run $25 for a haircut or $30 for a cut and beard trim.
After spending about 30 minutes in the barber chair, Farrow said it was one of his most relaxing experiences.
"She's got a soothing touch, and the results are great," he added.
A new customer emerged a potential "regular" from Lather One - a full-service shop in the SOCO District.
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