Being a barber I'm always engaged in a number of conversations on a daily basis. This is one of the best things about my job, I am constantly learning a lot of different things. For example, (did you know that the most dangerous animal in Australia is a horse?!). The conversations i have with my clients constantly inspire and entertain me.
Normally when clients meet me for the first time I get asked the same questions. I've answered the same questions over 800 times! It clicked to me one day I should write these down and answer them and put them somewhere for the world to see! so here they are.
WHY CUTRI AND CO.?
Cutri is my last name, it just happens to have CUT in it. I never wanted to use my last name but a friend that has his own business with his name in the title told me I should. He said you will look at it with pride. Best decision I made - I had come up with over 50 names. Why & Co.? It sounds cool, and I have an OCD with semetrey, everything has to be even!
DID YOU DESIGN THE SHOP YOURSELF?
No, I did not. I had an idea in my head but I had an architect help me bring my idea into a 35 square metre space. The black was his idea. He taught me that whenever you paint something black it makes it disappear so it gives the illusion of a larger space. The green wall was me. I love green! its an inviting and carming colour. Its the colour of Rolex and I do love a good Rolex! It also reminds me of an old Italian mob movie. I imagine men sitting around on those old school green leather couches drinking whiskey, smoking cigars.
DO YOU OWN THIS SHOP YOURSELF? IS THIS YOUR FIRST BUSINESS? "THAT'S A PRETTY BIG RISK FOR A YOUNG GIRL"
Yes I do. Yes it is. I had the idea in my head for over 5 years. I knew I would do it one day, when the time was right. So lets just say I had a long time to prepare myself to be set up right. My dad and brother own there own business. My mum owned her own hair salon. I guess it was sort of the norm for me to do my own. The path that was set for me.
DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
No. (This one gives me a giggle)
WHO CUTS YOUR HAIR?
My mum (love this question)
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DOING HAIR?
I left school the day after I did my year ten exam. I already had an apprenticeship lined up as I was working in a salon Thursday and Saturdays. That was 14 years ago.
WHY DON'T YOU DO WOMEN'S HAIR?
I did women's hair for five years, over the years I just realised that I enjoyed men's hair better. People think its because it's easier! Thats actually incorrect. The shorter the hair the more flaws you see in a hair cut. It also comes down to my passion for mens grooming as I explained in my pervious posts. I have this theory. To become great at something, the more you do it the better you will get! So from doing a women's colour and then a blow dry to a men's hair cut makes absolutely no sense to me.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS LOCATION?
I always wanted the barber shop to be in the inner west, I live in the inner west. I never wanted it to be on a main road, like Darling st or Norton st or Lyons Road. I wanted something that was for the community that had strong community support. Rozelle was the perfect place for that. The locals call it a "village" and it really does have that vibe un like any other suburb in the inner west. I love that I see my customers walk past the shop every day and we give each other that head nod that says without words "hey, enjoy your day. see you soon". I also fell in love with how beautiful Union Place is as a building.
and last but not least -
WHERE DO I GET MY COFFEE FROM AND WHERE DO I EAT IN BALMAIN/ROZELLE?
Penny Lane - If you've had your hair cut by me I've most probably mentioned Penny Lane. Penny Lane is a cafe by day, restaurant by night. I get my coffee there every morning before work. I even go on my days off. To me they have the best coffee on Darling Street and A LOT of my customers agree. I have dinner there at least once a week, the crab gnocchi is to die for!
Chon Thai - I love thai food, I have been to Bangkok and I got spoilt with amazing food by being taken to the best restaurants by locals. Chon is exactly what I ate in Thailand. It's got a really cool fit out and has such an amazing range on the menu. I always go for the crispy pork belly.
The Provincial - These guys are my neighbours and yes there food is undeniably good. They have a custom built charcoal grill designed for their dishes on the menu. All their meat is cooked over charcoal which gives it a very distinct and unique flavour. I have tried most things on their menu and have not been disappointed. My favourite is the wagyu short rib with watermelon salsa. They make the best Negroni I've ever had, and I'm obsessed with there strawberry desert with basil ice-cream.
Recco Lab- My neighbour again, this is the Italian place on the corner. Amazing pizza, I'm obsessed with there foccaccia. They have great coffee and they have a bakery on site I'm loving there biscuits, bread, cakes and pastries. They also make an amazing Aperol Spritz.
Thanks for reading,
Frances xx