The latest buzz on Argyle Street is Sailor Bup's Barbershop (1574 Argyle Street, Suite 5). The vintage-inspired, affordability-focussed old school barbershop opened for business last week, and owner Mark Peyton couldn't be more pumped.
"I've always been into the barbering culture and traditions," says Peyton who's been working on making Bup's a reality since the summer. "You've got this room where you can gripe and complain, talk about what's on your chest... it's a really cool environment and experience to have."
Experience is just as important to him as the hair cutting itself. Peyton wants Bup's—named for his father, who's navy uniform hangs on the wall—to be a place to get cheap haircuts, hot towel shave, beard treatments...but also to just hangout.
"I wanted vintage, I wanted worn," he says of the throwback decor, which includes two 1960s Belmont barbering chairs that once served the Dorchester penitentiary. "I look at these and think, they have a story, they have a background just like this whole barbering industry."
"We keep the old style tradition of having the chairs face away from the mirror, to engage people," says Peyton. "If there's a conversation in earshot you're part of it."
Not only does Bup's plan to host special events at its headquarters, but Peyton and co. are also playing around with recipes to a signature line of handmade, all natural beard treatments to condition both the hair and the skin (and smell damn good with scents like spicy, woodsy, earthy and citrusy). The long forgotten chins of dudes across town will certainly be thankful for that.
Sailor Bup's is open to you and your hairs Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
