Given the size of the Brunswick community it is no wonder that students sometimes struggle to find a cheap and convenient haircut.
But a few enterprising students on campus have taken matters into their own hands, opening shop in various dorms and apartments.
Before arriving at Bowdoin, Tim Sowa '14 had been cutting hair for years.
"My best friend and I went to the same barber and we both wanted to try cutting hair," Sowa said.
From ninth grade on, they practiced on each other, improving their barbershop expertise with each snip. Upon arriving at Bowdoin, Sowa expanded his business, opening his mobile barbershop, "Tim's Trims" in a Coleman Hall boy's bathroom. The business was "completely word of mouth" and he soon found a "good targeted group" shaggy Coleman first years in desperate need of his skills.
Now in its second year, Sowa's business continues to consist of those "in the know" and his football teammates. Equipped with his basic one to eight blade covers and regulation sets of scissors and combs, Sowa has succesfully transferred the barbershop from Coleman to his bathroom in Brunswick Apartments.
Tim's Trims doesn't include a hair prewash, so Sowa recommends that customers shampoo prior to the appointment. After the cut, Sowa prepares for his next customers by vacuuming the bathroom.
New customers often come with some hesitation, worried about Sowa's lack of professional experience. Sowa said he tries to reassure them with logic.
"I can't leave [them] looking bad, because that is only making me look bad," he reasoned.
Although Sowa is more than capable of giving a basic trim and touching up split ends and layers, his specialty cut is the fade, which he himself sports.
"My fades are my roots," quipped Sowa.
Customers have noted Sowa's expertise and care:
"I have curly hair so it is difficult to cut, but [Tim] does a really good job," said Eduardo Castro '14. "It's an experience when you get your hair cut by Tim."
Castro added that it is nice to spend time with a friend and that Tim provides cuts for a "pretty fair price."
Currently, Sowa charges around $5, depending on the haircut, but is contemplating raising the price to a flat $8 in the near future, noting that it will be easier to deal with. Or, "you can just spot me something," said Sowa.
New customers—both guys and girls—are always welcome and advised to bring an iPod.
Elsa Millett '12 has also carved herself a haircutting niche at Bowdoin, offering a unique set of perks like traveling to her customer's rooms.
Unlike Sowa, Millett picked up hair cutting at Bowdoin.
"I started sophomore year of college out of necessity because one of my friends needed a haircut," she said.
A member of the women's track team, Millett says that the men's team makes up most of her client base.
Millett usually cuts hair in the bathroom to ease cleanup. After three years of haircuts at Bowdoin, Millett has developed a routine technique to minimize the mess.
"I put a garbage bag over a desk chair and puff it out at the bottom to catch the falling hair," said Millett.
Millett usually uses a good pair of haircutting scissors, but she will borrow one if necessary.
This year, Millet began charging a flat rate of $8 for her services, but sometimes gives discounts for trims.
Haircuts are "pretty expensive in town, and I'm cheap and local," said Millett.
Her loyal customers cited her prices and accessibility as pulls.
"You don't get your hair shampooed like you do at a salon, but it's also not $20," said Colin Ogilvie '12.
"Also I know Elsa. I can call her up and [get my haircut] whenever," added Ogilvie.
Like Sowa, news of Millett's business is mostly spread by word of mouth, although she has made recent strides in advertising.
"I put a little sign outside of the track," she said. "Until this year, I only cut track people's hair," said Millett, adding that she wouldn't mind seeing some new customers.
"I have been completely satisfied," said Ogilvie, who says he gets the "same quality" haircut as in other Brunswick barbershops.
Besides enjoying "a couple extra bucks a week," Millett has other reasons for continuing her hobby.
"I feel empowered when cutting everyone else's hair," said Millett. "Scissors are powerful."