LUIGI CATERINO can regularly be seen wielding a cut-throat razor.
But the mild-mannered Italian is no thug he’s the king of close shaves.
The Galashiels barber won the Best Shave In Britain award in a competition run by the British Barbers’ Association this summer.
And he’s just back from London where he was the centre of attention at Salon International, with industry experts from around the world marvelling at his cutting-edge skills.
To cap a fantastic year, the 35-year-old from Naples, was also asked to be the team barber for Rangers FC (having chairman Paul Murray as a loyal customer at your shop can pay off).
I took a trip to the Borders to visit Luigi’s shop, The Italian Job, and see just how good he is with a super-sharp blade.
I waited my turn, slightly queasy at the thought of someone slicing around my hairy throat with an open razor. I’ve never had a wet shave, and my chin and cheeks were starting to tremble.
Soon it was my turn.
A little pampering for Chae… (Andrew Cawley / DC Thomson)
Luigi is a quiet chap who takes his work seriously. Which was good. The last thing you want while someone scrapes your face with a gleaming blade is constant jabbering and unexpected fits of giggles.
Luigi massaged softening liquid into my bristles before applying a hot towel. Then came the brush and lather.
It was strangely soothing and, looking in the mirror, it made me realise that if this writing lark ever comes to an end I have a big future as a Santa Claus impersonator.
Then I saw a flash of metal as Luigi opened his razor. Gulp.
But I needn’t have worried. Luigi’s father is a barber in Naples, and he did his first shave (on his dad) at the age of 11. He’s so skilled now that you barely feel the blade slicing through the whiskers.
Another massage with after-shave and a second piping hot towel and I was done.
Before… and after! (Andrew Cawley / DC Thomson)
My face hadn’t been that soft since sometime around Primary 2.
He told me he came to Scotland 15 years ago. He couldn’t speak English and no one would give him a chance to use his barber skills. But he persevered and opened his shop two years ago.
Married to Eva, he has two children, Francesco, 8, and Julia, 2. He glows with pride when telling me Francesco is already helping him, just like he did for his dad .
Who knows, maybe it won’t be long before you can have your bristles banished by someone who isn’t even old enough to shave himself!
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