It all began when I decided to grow a beard. Not a tiny little moustache, but a proper beard. This was a few years ago and I'm now used to having it really long, and only sometimes a bit shorter. I've always struggled to trim it myself, however.
My very tolerant wife is absolutely cool with it, but one thing is really important to her: however long it gets it needs to be carefully trimmed. It should be shiny and styled!
After returning from assignment on the Turkish-Syrian border where I was treated to a perfect trim at the hands of a Kurdish barber, my wife urged me to find one closer to home as well - not an easy task in Frankfurt.
. FRANKFURT, Germany. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
The online hunt began and I came across "Torreto's barber shop" in Frankfurt. It was there that I found both a barber and a paradise for a photographer.
Believe me, the name says it all. Torreto, Vin Diesel's alter ego in the Fast and Furious films and Alex "Torreto" Vellios, the founder and owner of the barber shop, are both, indeed, fast and furious!
. FRANKFURT, Germany. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
It's initially intimidating to gaze upon Alex's clinched fists, sporting a tattoo that says "barber", but one chat with the charismatic man will put you at ease.
His rules for customers are clear. One: "no girls" and two: "what happens in the barbershop, stays in the barbershop".
But no need to worry, ladies. It's not that there's anything to hide, but rather it's because the shop is more like a gentlemen's club where the men have a chat with a drink and a cigar.
. FRANKFURT, Germany. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
In fact, smoking, whisky and beer are allowed and even welcome in the barbershop, and customers have a drink or smoke while they get their hair cut or their beards trimmed.
. FRANKFURT, Germany. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Alex, whom you don't call a hairdresser unless you want to pay one euro into his savings box, has built a little refuge within the residential housing of Frankfurt's Basaltstrasse. His furniture is self-made from storage pallets and the old armchairs are collected from friends and bulky refuse.
The clubby atmosphere aside, Alex, who also has a razor-knife tattoo between his right thumb and index finger, gives a gentleman's beard perfect treatment.
. FRANKFURT, Germany. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
The 26-year-old Greek-born man started to learn his trade from an "ordinary hairdresser" but never completed his official training.
"I was fed up with putting on a mask every day and didn't get the chance to be myself and follow my philosophy of becoming a real barber," he said.
So "Torreto" instead became a self-taught barber, inspired a long while ago by his trips as a little boy back in Greece with his grandfather to the local village barber, "where the real men met, got their beards and hair cut, played backgammon and had a drink".
. FRANKFURT, Germany. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
When Alex opened his shop five months ago he had no idea it would be this successful. These days, if you want to make an appointment you have to wait between three to four weeks and he has already employed a second barber to keep up with the increasing demand.
Alex is living his dream now and can only smile when "ordinary hairdressers" discuss higher minimum wages. His customers are willing to pay for his work.
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