72-year-old barber keeps family tradition alive at Barreiro barbershop

In Barreiro, Portugal, a 72-year-old professional demonstrates that passion for the craft can overcome age barriers. Joaquim, who started working at nine by standing on a stool to reach his father's clients' faces, remains active at Os 5 Jovens barbershop. The case is of interest to the industry as it illustrates the longevity of a family tradition and the maintenance of a local business through generations.

Joaquim’s journey began in Penamacor, where all four of his brothers learned to handle the straight razor from their father, who only opened the salon on weekends. By ten, he was already cutting hair, but it wasn’t until he was thirteen or fourteen that he moved to Lisbon to refine techniques such as the French cut and the use of the blow dryer. After working in neighborhoods like Alfama and Caneças, he relocated to Barreiro, where an older sister lived.

The opportunity to run his own business arose in 1980 when a brother proposed buying a barbershop from its owner. Gathering the brothers, who were all barbers, they took over the establishment. Joaquim named the place Os 5 Jovens (The 5 Young Ones), a reference to the five professionals on the team at the time: three brothers and two employees, all young.

Today, Joaquim is the only one of the original four brothers left in charge of the business. He shares management duties with Gonçalo and Rui, who serve clients in the other chairs. While Joaquim maintains his preference for classic cuts, he refers clients seeking more modern styles to his colleagues. The barbershop continues to welcome new regulars but also maintains strong ties with long-time customers, including a 98-year-old man who has visited since the 1980s.

To get to work, Joaquim takes a daily route that includes two buses and a boat, departing from his home in Alfama. Despite the distance, he considers Barreiro his "workplace" and states he has no intention of stopping as long as his health allows. As the professional sums it up: "It’s out of love." This dedication ensures the continuity of a service that has spanned more than six decades.