L.A’s underrated art form brings “shear” delight

Take a seat, and enjoy the transformation.

In an area covered with skyscraper businesses and big suits running hastily about the streets, it might be hard for anyone passing by to notice the unique establishments the Financial District has to offer, like the rock-n-roll-esque barbershop rested across Pershing Square. Yet, it is not just unique. Some might even call it a place where art comes alive.

Angelo's Barbershop is one of three hair establishments located along Olive Street. However, once someone walks through the glass door and into the crowded room of tattooed high-spirited men, he or she will truly notice this place is quite different. Angelo's ranks among the top barbershop locations in L.A., a popularity that is not surprising. From the witty back and forth banter between barbers and clients, to the incessant collection of 80s photos lined up around the walls, this establishment is intriguing, and its authenticity is inviting.

"It's not looking to be identified as anything else," said barber Max Thomas. "It doesn’t have the extra trimmings that a lot of the new shops have."

Then again, Angelo's was never really meant to be like anything else in the first place, and this becomes clear knowing how the shop came to be.

In 2004, Eric—how everyone has grown to know him—an ambitious law enforcement officer, was interested in learning more about the barbershop lifestyle, so much so that he finally bought off a 71-year-old barber's Valencia shop. After several years, and formed partnership with his two best friends, Eric continued to build the Angelo's franchise, purchasing locations in areas including Santa Monica, Little Tokyo, and one right in the center of L.A.'s bustling Financial District. Aside from their namesake, these locations exemplify tradition.

"Angelo's is a traditional style barbershop where a guy can come in and get a haircut, get a conversation and leave at a decent time," Thomas said.

However, what separates L.A.'s version from the rest of the businesses appears to be the location's collection of indispensable barbers.

From Wynn—the veteran barber for over 30 years and downtown L.A.'s current manager—to the newer faces—like Johnny Marte and Max Thomas—each brings years of craftsmanship to the chair, thus forming a strong and reputable foundation in which they can build their art form.

For Thomas, he began to build his knack for the trade as a child when he started visiting his local barber.

"I didn't like the way he cut my hair. He used to walk away for about 20 minutes and then he used to always rest his stomach on my shoulder and I hated it," Thomas said. "So I got a pair of clippers and started cutting my hair, and then my brother's hair and then my friends' hair."

Marte is another fresh face on the Angelo's team who started just over a year ago. While he served as a U.S. Army Soldier for three years, Marte always had a passion for the arts, and working as a barber for over 11 years made him realize that this type of art was something he could never leave.

"It is an art form," Marte said. "If it wasn't I wouldn’t be doing this."

Marte added, "I even took a break from cutting hair, and I became a soldier in the U.S. Military, and then I came back to this because this was chill."

Aside from the technical skills these barbers developed over time, much of the artistry comes from the barber's attitude.

“You got to be creative. You've got to be consistent. You've got to be professional," Marte said. "It's a combination of a lot of those things."

Once skills and attitude collide, it becomes a natural ability for barbers to know how to shape someone's head, especially customers who may not know anything about trend and style. Among those clients are business professionals and lawyers.

"They just don't have the time to go out and research what's cool, what's hot, what's the latest style and what not," Marte said. "They come in here and they trust us to do that."

Marte says clients are amazed by the artwork 8 out of 10 times. Yet, if they are truly successful, a barber's work can often have an impact on the client's life.

"Sometimes we completely turn that bad day into an awesome day," Thomas said.

That is also what makes it an art form, according to Angelo's men.

"Being that responsible for a person’s day and how they see themselves, yeah that’s a craft that’s an art."

As the Financial District and surrounding sections of L.A. continue to revitalize, Angelo's not only feels confident that the establishment will prosper, but also that it's art form, will continue to be held in such high regard.

"For right now, it's going, it's flowing, it's popular. It's profitable," Marte said.