In my travels as a Chicago photographer, I love discovering the unique and sometimes quirky businesses that lend character to our city’s neighborhoods. I thought it would be fun to focus specifically on one type of business, and each week feature an example from a different neighborhood. After some consideration, I decided on an exploration of our city’s barber shops and the people who work there.

My new weekly column will focus primarily on independent barber shops that have a distinctive personality and/or legacy. This can take many forms…

Stephanie Barto/Chicago Patterns

Some are great because they celebrate old school barber shop style and a friendly neighborhood atmosphere.

Stephanie Barto/Chicago Patterns

Some are unusual because they exist in a historic place, like the one in the photo above on the ground floor of the Congress Hotel downtown.

Stephanie Barto/Chicago Patterns

Some are special because they are uniquely suited to the character of the neighborhood they inhabit.

Ashland Swap-O-Rama. Stephanie Barto/Chicago Patterns

Some barber shops thrive in unexpected places, like this one at Ashland Swap-O-Rama.

Stephanie Barto/Chicago Patterns

Some barber shops are special because they’ve been around forever, and are full of neighborhood stories.

Every Tuesday I will feature a Chicago neighborhood barber shop, with photos and a bit of info about the barber on duty and a few things that make the shop a special place. I am hoping for some recommendations from fellow Chicagoans.

Is there a barber shop you’d like to see featured? Please share you suggestions with me via the comments here, or on twitter at @balinesecat.