Frank Gattuso is well known around Cobram.
The owner of Gattuso Hair for Men on Punt Rd is a proud born-and-bred Cobram local.
“My grandfather first came out here in 1929,” Mr Gattuso said.
“We’ve been here ever since.”
Though Mr Gattuso now cuts men’s hair exclusively in his salon, he was cutting female hair when he started in the trade in 1983.
“I started in ’83 as a hairdresser, ladies’ hair,” he said.
“In the ’80s, you had to be dual certified to cut men’s hair.”
That requirement saw Mr Gattuso work in Bendigo as he trained to be a barber.
While studying in Bendigo, he continued working in Cobram as a hairdresser at his sister’s unisex hair salon on Punt Rd.
However, Mr Gattuso realised that, though working in a hair salon was fun, he enjoyed the atmosphere of working in a barber shop.
In 1992, Mr Gattuso opened Gattuso Hair for Men at 93b Punt Rd.
Mr Gattuso said the thing he loved about having a barber shop was the conversations, and that men felt more relaxed and safe to talk their minds.
Many of his conversations with clients revolve around sport, with Mr Gattuso’s hair salon full of sporting memorabilia.
Like all masters of their craft, Mr Gattuso is passionate about the tools of his trade — and said clippers were a must-have.
“Without clippers, the work would be slow and difficult,” he said.
Mr Gattuso’s clippers get worked hard, with evidence of how many people’s hair he has cut evident on the floor next to the chair for clients.
“The floor is all worn out,” he said.
When he isn’t cutting people’s hair, the veteran barber can often be found sitting by the window and watching the world go by.
Mr Gattuso said anyone considering learning the trade shouldn’t hesitate.
“There are not enough barbers, and there are lots of small towns that are screaming for barbers,” he said.
“All you need is four instruments. A comb, scissors and clippers and a chair. That’s it. That’s your expense, and you can make money with it.”
Mr Gattuso said he was not planning to quit any time soon.
“You stick to what you know,” he said.
“And I still enjoy the job — still enjoy the conversations and the banter.”