Barber Herman James cuts a clients hair under a pergola in Central Park on May 6, 2021, in New York City. Shortly after coronavirus shut down New York last spring, Herman James picked up his clippers, headed outside and found himself a new identity: the Central Park barber. A year on, business is good for the 33-year-old as the famous Manhattan green space鈥檚 newest attraction 鈥� its one and only hairdresser. Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP
NEW YORK 鈥� Shortly after coronavirus shut down New York last spring, Herman James picked up his clippers, headed outside and found himself a new identity: the Central Park barber.
A year on, business is good for the 33-year-old, the latest attraction and only hairdresser in Manhattan鈥檚 green lung, renowned for its musicians, roller discos and birds.
鈥淚 love it, being a trendsetter and having a monopoly,鈥� says James at his new 鈥渟hop鈥� 鈥� a foldable chair under a leaf-covered pergola near the Strawberry Fields John Lennon memorial.
After a 45-minute subway ride from his Brooklyn home, James opens his wheelie suitcase, removes scissors, mirror and comb and hangs them on hooks in the wooden pergola that overlooks the boating lake.
He lines up hair products on the ground and drapes a gown over the chair. There鈥檚 no red, white and blue-striped pole but he unfurls a banner that reads 鈥淐entral Park Barber: Complimentary Haircuts!鈥�
James started offering free haircuts in the park in May 2020 after pandemic restrictions temporarily closed all non-essential businesses in New York, including the shop where he was working.
He hoped the cuts would give New Yorkers a lift during a difficult time and was confident locals would show their appreciation through donations.
Clients customarily pay him the typical price of a barber鈥檚 cut in the Big Apple: $20 or $30. He has received as little as $1 and as much as $200 though.
鈥淚 decided to pretty much just take the initiative,鈥� says James, recalling his venture outdoors.
鈥淚 grabbed my chair, my tools, and I put them on display. I just laid it out to see how people would respond. About ten minutes in a guy came over and sat down.
鈥淥nce people saw he was getting a haircut, everybody pretty much gravitated over. It was 90 days into the pandemic and everyone was in dire need!鈥�
James鈥� foray initially caused some confusion among park authorities, but they have allowed him to stay.
鈥淭his was the first time they ever had to do with something like this before. There were no permits or application. They didn鈥檛 know quite what to do with me,鈥� he remembers.
鈥榁ery cool鈥�
Demand, coupled with local news coverage, has seen James, a barber since 2010, become a permanent fixture.
At the height of lockdown, he did around 20-25 cuts a day. Today he does 10-15 on average.
鈥淚t鈥檚 very cool. I would do this all the time if I had enough hair,鈥� said 72-year-old Joel Linchitz, receiving a trim last Thursday.
Customers can book via the Schedulicity app; walkers and runners regularly just drop in. James cuts women鈥檚 hair provided they don鈥檛 want anything complicated 鈥渓ike layers.鈥�
鈥淭o be outside amongst nature and have people passing by taking pictures, it鈥檚 a brand new experience that people really enjoy,鈥� he says.
鈥淎lso, it鈥檚 much safer. It鈥檚 less of a risk than being indoors. There鈥檚 fresh air that can circulate.鈥�
Another perk: no overhead costs, which James describes as 鈥渁 real blessing.鈥�
Cons include rain: the forecast dictates his schedule and he doesn鈥檛 work during winter.
Since his chair doesn鈥檛 move up and down, snipping children鈥檚 hair puts some stress on his back.
James also can鈥檛 plug in a hair dryer but says sun and the park鈥檚 pleasant breeze does a 鈥済ood job.鈥�
What does he do with the cut hair?
鈥淥ne of my clients gave me a dustpan and a small broom. I sweep it up and just dump it right in the trash,鈥� he explains.
Hair salons reopened last summer but James has no plans to return indoors.
鈥淭he demand is still alive. And I鈥檓 the first in history. To go from that back to building someone else鈥檚 brand is not something I鈥檓 interested in doing,鈥� he says.