Business Spotlight - Windham Barber Shop - By Michelle Libby

A barber shop is not a salon. After sitting in one of the waiting chairs for five minutes one can see many of the differences. Windham Barber Shop is clean, quick and ready to serve their customers and get them back out the door from ages two to 92. 
 

Owned by Carolee Beaulieu, Windham Barber Shop, located at 15 Heathwood Drive in Windham, is a drop-in shop where no appointments are necessary and wait times are minimal. Windham Barber Shop offers everything from haircuts to beard and mustache trims. Every cut is followed by a hot lather and straight-edge shave of the back of the customer’s neck.

“I like the convenience of the walk-ins myself. What happens, happens, not predetermining my day,” said Beaulieu. “I like the pace of it.” The Windham Barber Shop has been open for three years. Beaulieu worked at another shop for more than seven years until she was ready to go out on her own. 

 

“Walk in service if different from a salon,” she said. “At a salon they have huge consultations. The men know what they want.” There is zero drama at the barber shop, she said. Men want to come in talk about the weather and sports or if they are regulars, they might discuss Windham gossip and then they’re off.

The average appointment is about 15 minutes from start to finish. Most of the cuts are done with clippers like high and tights, buzz cuts and hard parts.

Julie Fabrizio has 14 years of experience barbering, and is doing an apprenticeship under Beaulieu to become an official barber. “The hot lather and straight-edge shave are what people comment on the most. They love it,” she said. 

“I try to offer a clean environment, consistent haircuts,” said Beaulieu. She does traditional haircuts to Pompadours and scissor cuts. They can wash hair, but Beaulieu said traditionally it’s in and out. 

Windham Barber Shop also offers Layrite Pomade in four types for styling. Pomade goes in like a wax and washes out like a gel. Layrite allows men to put a modern style on a classic look.  

The shop has a massage chair, coffee and magazines for those waiting. It’s used a lot by the moms who bring their sons in, said Beaulieu. They have two chairs running most of the time, so even if there are a few cars in the lot, there’s not as much of a wait as one would think, she said. 

Rod King from Windham stopped in to get a trim with Beaulieu. “She cuts my hair very well with what I have for hair,” he said. 

“Salons are for girls – real men go to the barber shop,” Beaulieu said with a laugh. 

Windham Barber Shop is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. Saturday they are open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. To reach the barber shop, call 370-0054.