With 110 years of hair cuts between them, brothers Barry and Ian Wilson have hung up their scissors and called it a day.
The pair, who have run Wilson Bros Barber Shop in Rotorua since 1969, have retired.
The shop will now be run by Glen Atkinson, who has been cutting hair
with the brothers since 1992. And to keep the brotherly tradition going, his brother Cy is moving to New Zealand from the UK next month to work alongside him, but the shop will remain under the name Wilson Bros.
Ian, 67, finished last week and Barry's last day was Monday - the last haircut was for his brother who came in especially.
"It was like old times," Barry, 70, said of the cut.
"You've got to retire at some point. I don't think I'll miss it, I've plenty to do."
He and Ian moved to Rotorua from their home town of Hawera after they both were married. They set up the shop in what is now the police station on Fenton St and moved to the Pukuatua St shop in 1992. They each have 55 years of haircutting experience.
Over the years they have cut hair for thousands of people and can now count third generations among their regular customers.
"We've hundreds of customers we've been doing their hair since the 1960s," Ian said.
"We get families coming back from Australia bringing their grandchildren in for their first haircut. They say they save up so they can have the first cut at Wilson Bros.
"It makes us really proud."
Hairstyles have come and gone, rat tails, mullets, mohawks, short back and side, nothing has fazed them.
They both agree the sign of a good barber is one who can adapt and cut a client's hair how they wish. It's one reason for their longevity, Ian said.
"We've been reliable and good at our work, that's why people keep coming back. I'd like to thank them, they're why we carried on for so long."
