The relationship between a man and his barber is an ancient and extraordinary one, which dates back to 296BC. Traditionally men of influence would be shaved daily by their barbers and it would be part of their lifestyle ritual.

Pre-Wilkinson Sword, men were unable to find the right tools to shave their top lip without cutting themselves. Hence the extravagant moustaches you typically see in photographs of Victorian men.

Barbering is a custom that has recently returned to modern British fashion as the beard has made a resurgence. It’s something my brother and I support and it seems the art of beard building is becoming widely admired.

The advice I would give to a man growing his beard would be to visit your barber. A discerning man sees a beard as his comrade and has a cut to suit his individual face shape, needing a wax to create distinction.

My name is James Talbot. My brother and I own Woodstock Barbers which is a new gentlemen’s Salon in a barbershop established in 1961.

I originate from a dynasty of hairdressers and salon owners. My great-grandfather was a barber, my crazy Austrian grandmother was a hairdresser, and my mum and aunty both own hair and beauty salons in Witney.

Just over five years ago my brother and I dreamt of opening a bar-cum-barbers.

We have the barber shop aspect covered and are building a base of clients who seem to appreciate the efforts we are making. Every adult client is offered a complimentary beer. It doesn’t yet scream the elegance of an ‘espresso Martini and a wet shave… air', but give us time.

Our aim is to set very high standards in gents' barbering in an environment that puts clients at ease while offering outstanding client care.

Before opening in Woodstock I worked on Jermyn Street in the heart of London’s West End, and Stoke Newington in fashionable East London.

Hairdressing has allowed me to focus my energies into something productive and stimulating. It has kept me away from wanting to be an actor and pretending I was a rock star rolling around Hoxton Square because the buzz I get from giving someone a cut that exceeds their expectations, and crafting something they love, is amazing.

We are not perfect and sometimes don’t get it right first time. Sometimes we cut too short or leave the hair too long.

But that’s the fun of the trade. We do different haircuts to different music. The atmosphere in the salon is a big part of our business and our haircuts are done with passion and a flamboyant flare, and to a very good technical standard.

My barbershop is small, it’s focused, like stepping into a family living room, just with better music and worse language.

When redesigning the shop it was important to keep the authenticity of a traditional atmosphere, while creating a stylish welcoming haven for the modern gentleman.

Your barbershop doesn’t simply say something about your haircut, it says something about you.

The barbershop you choose reflects your personality and your style. A barber is not just your hairdresser; he’s your accomplice. So choose wisely. And, of course, 'what happens in the barbershop stays in the barbershop'.

My favourite time in the shop is Thursday and Friday evenings, when our clients are enjoying complimentary beers and an assortment of music and there is an encouraging atmosphere creating momentum for the weekend.

A big part of my life is sport. I was that annoying kid who ran everywhere before he could walk, and I have the scars to prove it. I play rugby, football, cricket, and every other sport I can. At the shop we have an invitational rugby team, the ‘Woodstock Barberians’ (see what we did there?) and we are looking to start a cricket team.

If there is one piece of advice I would give to a client about his hair, it would be not to rub it with a towel because the friction dries and kills the hair, and it will fall out like my dad's did.

Jamie Talbot