Here’s the buzz: New barbershop on Hilton Head Island seeks long-term relationships

Tony Mazzochi said he started his barber career when he started cutting his friends’ hair at 16 years old.

Since then, he’s been styling and shaving for 11 years after getting his barber’s license and just recently opened Elite Barber Shop at 51 New Orleans Road on Hilton Head Island.

“It’s a traditional barbershop with like a new school flare to it,” he said. “So I specialize in all areas of barbery and not limited to one thing.”

Mazzochi said he worked for two months renovating his new shop and getting it just the way he wanted it. He said he previously opened and closed a one-man shop, Tony’s Barber Shop, at 11 Buckingham Plantation Drive in Bluffton, but it was only big enough for one chair, so he looked into other options.

“(I wanted) to expand out and be able to bring in other barbers and stuff, expand the business,” he said.

Among his services are traditional cuts, straight razor shaves and even intricate designs he comes up with, if customers desire them. He said each regular haircut is finished off with a shave around the ears and back of the neck.

“I specialize in pretty much all hair types, all hair textures, old to young,” he said.

Many clients are still looking for a good barber and don’t really know where to find one, according to Mazzochi.

“People just settle for ... one of those chains and there’s so many people looking for a barber,” he said.

Instead of handing out lollipops, Mazzochi said he wants to give his youngest clients little toys to take with them and that he’s great working with children because he has two boys of his own. He said he wants to establish relationships with his younger clients who could be friends and customers over the years.

“I think kids are the most important people because, ultimately...they become lifelong customers down the road ... 20 years from now,” he said.

This story was originally published December 7, 2016 at 4:45 PM with the headline "Here’s the buzz: New barbershop on Hilton Head Island seeks long-term relationships."