What do you say when Grandmaster Luigi Scapicchio asks you to give a guest lesson in the holy grail of barbering? You can only answer that with a resounding YES, right?
Steven Romain in Bovino, Italy
Stijn (also known as Steven Romain because no non-native speaker can pronounce the name Stijn) did travel to Bovino in Italy before. In company with the team or with Thomas Gryson and Otis Weewouters as witnesses. Now Steve, will travel alone for the first time to beautiful Bovino.
It feels quite exciting to leave behind the safe Romain barbershop in beautiful Ghent to travel all alone to Italy. Many only see the glamour of traveling and going to these places. And it’s great to have these opportunities and be able to move into the pinnacle of the barbering world, but the traveling itself is still a big waiting game and pretty exhausting. After a nonetheless heavy and gripping goodbye, the journey begins – and for the empty moments, I took with me a laundry list of digital tasks, such as writing blogs.
I muse away at the airport. After the successful passage of the Italian guest teachers at Scapicchio Academy Belgium in ROMAIN, it itches extra hard to see la famiglia again. What a delightful bunch they are, who don’t take themselves seriously, but who become bloody-minded when it comes to their craft. For that, ROMAIN also stands. We do all have an angle off, but are very serious about our craft.
A Belgian and a Sicilian in a cab
It sounds like a scene from a comedy movie, but it’s just Stijn and Frank.
After all, when I landed I was already met by my fellow guest teacher: master barber Frank, a small, super friendly and energetic Sicilian who is as animated by shaving as myself. It is always nice to see each other again in real life after many contacts via WhatsApp.
We share a cab because of the late hour to drive from Bari to Bovino. During the ride we chat and both look forward to seeing the family again. Those little moments in the cab are, in retrospect, blissful little moments that we should cherish.
Warm welcome to Bovino
It has already passed midnight when we finally arrive in Bovino. Both I and master barber Frank were pumped from the trip and ideally we wanted to go to our room and rest. By half past one, our cab finally arrived at the Scapicchio’s.
Luigi Scapicchio, of course, recognized us immediately and greeted us with that heartwarming broad smile. The trainees and the other master barbers were still in the local cafe. We went to greet them briefly but warmly, but then our pipe was out and we went straight into our bed. Delicious!
Town hall becomes classroom
After a short night’s sleep, we were still fresh enough to start the day in good spirits. Our job was to conduct barbering training in the town hall (yay!) of Bovino. The venue was beautifully prepared and is a fantastic location. After some getting used to and making connections in French, German and English, the students flew in.
The day started with a history lesson on the origin story of the Scapicchio family and a presentation of what to expect from the course.
Still, pause for a moment to consider the words of Grandmaster Enzo Scapicchio. He sincerely wants to pass on the craft to barbers in order to transmit the correct way of the Italian shave. Because when he stops working, no one can continue that 200 years of history. Chance he’s doing a good job of passing on that ;).
We start with the basics and step by step the students learn the tricks of the trade. They learn how to handle the open razor correctly, how to apply the scotch tape, how to properly poach, etc. Great to see the students visibly learning and getting better at shaving with a real open razor. After a hard and intensive day for both students and teachers, it is time to freshen up and then, of course, enjoy the Italian local cuisine extensively.
Grand master in peignoir
I also think this is totally part of the course. Soaking up that real Italian atmosphere with the locals: blissful. Although I must say that I was so tired from speaking other languages all day that I almost fell asleep walking.
But not going to sleep before I went with barber Frank to visit grandmaster Enzo to explicitly thank him and to emphasize that we really do want to learn more. It was a great moment to see your big idol in his home situation and a peignoir. Fantastic moment to see this shaving god as a human being. A very humble man who really has it in mind to pass on his passion and life’s work.
I take you to the barbershop
The second course day takes place in the barbershop of the Scapicchio family, in my opinion the Valhalla of the shaving world. There are real relics there. And they are not just passively lying there in the display case, but are also effectively used. Daily. Unbelievable.
Stepping back into the Scapicchio family’s barbershop was coming home thanks to that typical delicious scent blend of the shop. The heavy scents of sandalwood and woody scents with yet again that mustiness of the old leather and the old chairs mixed with a little touch of citrus and freshness of the south of Italy. The village is therefore known for its Limoncello and olive oil. What a combo! On these scents we will continue to work with Krist Lefebre of Miglot. We would love to release a delicious perfume in collaboration with Miglot from these experiences I have been through. How wonderful wouldn’t it be to always carry a piece of Italy with you through a Gents perfume. — More on that later, because I’m deviating from my story here.
Model Day
Before the students make their appearance, we as teachers put our heads together. Today they are working with models.
Throughout the day I have to squeeze my arm a few times. Never thought I would do this, but it is really happening: I am teaching about my passion. I didn’t know I had that in me, and I never wanted to commercialize this. But you see: if you follow your passion, people will ask you about it themselves. This profession is really a niche of a niche, which means that people who share your passion absolutely want to learn as well, and thus are mega grateful when you offer a course to share your knowledge.
The last shave, Luigi challenged me to use a 12/8 razor from GB of the year 1840 You might as well shave with half an axe. An incredible razor. A sample. Typical Luigi to always put us to the test once again. Fortunately, I have large hands and it even felt very comfortable. At the end of the shave, the student — who by the way had not shaved for 12 years — was very satisfied and had not felt anything abnormal. Goal successful.
Respect: a driving force
We get a lot of respect throughout the training. Also from the students, and that is a driving force after all. Respect and humility are crucial, because you can always learn something from someone. It’s not that we invented hot water, but we pass on what we can. Top barbers with very well run businesses come to us for that specifically to learn that aspect, but of course then we can learn so much from them as well.
It is a profession in which you can grow and learn endlessly. Maybe that’s why I enjoy being a real master of that one little thing that is shunned like the plague for many barbers. Still, I think this is the basis of a barber. If you can’t shave with a shavette, let alone an open razor, then you are a gentlemen’s barber and not a barber. Then again, if you shave with a real open razor, it’s really next level. Expressing an opinion can sometimes raise eyebrows – and everyone’s views can coexist.
Of course, we end the day with good food and lots of laughter in Italian. The group of French students certainly knew how to make a party of it. But I was exhausted myself and fortunately took it easy. For me, this is relaxation but also mainly a job. Although it is the most blissful job in the world!
Home sweet home
After another quick but heartfelt goodbye to Enzo Scapicchio in the barbershop, Frank and I depart for the airport.
I’m going to miss them, of course, and fortunately, the reunion never takes long. Tired but satisfied, I arrive at my habitat: ROMAIN in Ghent.
Written by : Stijn De Sutter
