In Sidon, near Nejmeh Square, Shawqi Sentina (83 years old) sits in his barber shop for over six decades. A Lebanese man who inherited the profession from his father—one of the first barbers in Sidon—he carried it with him as a legacy.
Since his youth, barbering was an extension of his home where he was raised on the sound of scissors and the scent of the salon. He began alongside his father, where he learned the craft, before moving to Beirut to train in well-known salons, specifically those of "Prince Khaled" and "Jaber Al-Sabah."
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He says: "My youth days were incredible... We worked from morning until nine, and afterwards, we would go out to spend the evening in Beirut." Life was fast, full, and open in different directions.
Despite his age, Shawqi jokingly said, "I am the king here." 63 years have passed since he opened the salon and nothing has changed in his relationship with the profession.
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He was close to political figures at the start of their careers in a time when relationships were closer and simpler.
In his salon, Shawqi treats his customers as faces that must be satisfied.
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"The important thing is that the customer doesn't leave upset," he says, this rule is the foundation of his work. And despite his ability to raise prices, he still offers his services at low or for free. Money was never the main goal: "I love money, but to spend it, not to hoard it."
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To this day, Shawqi still keeps an old appointment log that he relies on to organize his work. A system he has maintained for many years and considers an essential part of organized work and respect.
Although the state does not provide the elders with a social security system that puts many in harsh realities, Shawqi does not see himself outside this salon. He cannot imagine retirement, and he says, "From work to the grave."
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