Visit from Vincenzo Scapicchio
Need More Sand?”
I still remember the first time I heard that phrase. My religion teacher said it when I once scored exceptionally well on a test. It meant I’d earned all my points and more. And oh, how proud I was.
I recently thought of that phrase again, but this time I wondered: do we need more desert?
Because at ROMAIN, we had the honor of welcoming grandmaster barber Vincenzo Scapicchio as an instructor for the third edition of our Scapicchio Academy Belgium training. To me, he’s the best shaver in the world, and it was incredible to have him take on this role in person.
I, Stijn, couldn’t pick up the grandmaster from the airport myself because I was busy with another legendary barber, Danilo Alfonso. Our newest member of the barber family, barber Sebastiaan, offered to pick him up. And so it went.
The whole morning, we were counting down the minutes, eagerly anticipating his arrival like kids waiting for their Christmas presents. Suddenly, a car stopped in front of our small ROMAIN Headquarters, where it all began. And yes, there he was, Vincenzo, setting foot on Ghent soil!
He stepped into our little shop, looking around with admiration. A quick tour in brief German words, and then off to the center of Ghent. Of course, we had to show him our beautiful city and grab a bite to eat.
Afterward, we took a short stroll through Ghent, and Enzo (short for Vincenzo) looked around approvingly. He was happy to enjoy Belgian cuisine again, which has a slight resemblance to German food. Vincenzo had lived and worked in Germany for decades, where he owned five barbershops...
Then, it was off to bed early because the next day promised to be an intense training day.
Day 1 – Honing Day
The first day of the barber training is always, in my eyes, the toughest. The students are bombarded with information. We start with a brief theory session about the straight razor: how is it constructed? But more importantly: how do we hone it?
Enzo is a hands-on kind of guy. He wasn’t in the mood for much theory and nudged me aside to dive straight into the practical side of the training. And when the grandmaster wants it that way, that’s how we do it! So, honing it was!
It was an intensive but enjoyable day. Enzo stayed involved throughout, occasionally dozing off in a chair but always alert when needed. Naturally, we forgave him those little micro-naps. All students managed to get their razors razor-sharp.
We ended the day with a well-deserved meal at Bassin.
Day 2 – Shaving Day
The second day is all about using that razor-sharp blade correctly. It’s time for a demonstration shave, and today, that honor goes to Vincenzo Scapicchio, following my own demo shave on Day 1. It felt almost surreal watching Enzo work in my very own ROMAIN headquarters.
After the extensive demo and explanation, it was the students’ turn. We deliberately keep the group small, with a maximum of six students, to ensure in-depth and optimal guidance. After another delicious warm meal, each student was ready for their second client. Every student must complete two shaves correctly.
From Chicago to Ghent
The day ended with a photo moment, featuring all the students and their diplomas from the Scapicchio Academy. Enzo beamed with pride, savoring the moment. Seeing the craft his grandfather once started – the legendary Italian shave he developed in Chicago to better serve Al Capone – still being taught and carried on today felt almost unreal!
We celebrated the successful training together, Scapicchio family and ROMAIN family, with a delicious Belgian beer and a fine cigar, of course.
What a fantastic experience this was once again. We can’t wait for the next edition!
