Master barber Gian Antonio Pisterzi’s interest in grooming started early, when, as a child, he would accompany his grandfather to the local barbershop.
A few years later at the tender age of eight, the barber shop hired Pisterzi to do small jobs. At 19, he began to work at Enzo Belfiore’s Afrodite Salon in Rome. Then, in 2011 Pisterzi started at Dolce & Gabbana’s barbershop, giving Domenico Dolce weekly shaves. Acqua di Parma then named him their worldwide master barber. In 2015, Pisterzi opened the first Gian Antonio Pisterzi barber shop at Via Montenapoleone in Milan.
Pisterzi just made his debut stateside at the first Gian Antonio Pisterzi barber shop in New York, situated on the Club 55 level of Cipriani Wall Street, where visitors can receive a shave that combines old world charm with contemporary styling. The Manual quizzed Pisterzi on the differences between Italian and American grooming, how to maintain a beard in between barber shop visits, and how to take care of your hair before you need your next cut.
What are the differences between grooming in Italy and the U.S.?
Between Italy and the U.S., I don’t see many differences in grooming; it’s fun to care for Italian and US customers, both are wonderful. The only difference I will say is Italians are more particular and attune to details – like myself – whereas Americans are more fluid and open to my ideas and interpretation of what suits them best.
When I first came to the U.S., I saw a void in tailored and personalized services; everyone had the same haircut or beard shape and barbershops serviced clients as fast as possible without much attention to small but impactful details. My mission here is to educate people, that with the right cut or beard shape, any man can make the perfect impression whether it be on a date, at a meeting or interview.
What are tips for keeping up your beard in between barbershop visits?
It’s very important to keep the beard moisturized and clean.
- Wash once every two days with a beard shampoo, not hair shampoo or body wash
- Apply a beard conditioner then rinse
- Once dried, apply beard oil and brush with beard brush or comb
Using beard-specific products is equally important because facial hair is coarser, stronger than regular hair; the wrong product can cause skin irritations or frizz in the beard.
What are tips for maintaining your haircut in between visits?
Best advice is to use specific hair products for that type of hair and wash three times a week. When drying, do not rub the hair with the towel but actually dab it dry – rubbing wet hair causes damage to the hair structure and leads to breakage. I also suggest doing a hair mask once a week, especially in between seasons when the hair is more prone to damage. The mask helps strengthen hair and protects it from the elements – allowing hair to be its healthiest year round.
For more information or to make an appointment, visit gianantoniopisterzi.com.
Images courtesy of gianantoniopisterzi.com.
