Nunley provides a traditional barber shop experience

Barber shops hold a special place in American culture with the red, white and blue striped barber poles, and the straight razor shaves. They hold a nostalgic experience with the smell and cool burn of aftershave and the sound of the brush clinking in the shaving mug as it lathers up the cream for the next client. Traditional barber shops like these are a dying breed, but not here in Olney, Texas.

Richard Nunley, owner and sole barber of Richard’s Barber Shop, has been cutting hair longer than most of us have been alive. Originally taught by his grandfather while still in junior high, he had long since before then been submersed in the beauty shop scene thanks to his mother – who owned and worked at Dimples Beauty Shop until her eyesight forced her into retirement.

Richard moved to Olney with his family in 1953 from Bryson, just in time to start second grade. He continued to play football for the Cubs for four years, and his senior year they were named All-District. In 1965, a couple years after graduating high school, he joined Fort Worth Barber College and it was not long until his career path of being a barber took off. He first worked at Smith’s Barber Shop in Arlington until 1967 when he moved to Irving. Charles Woodward owned a shop there where Richard went to work until Woodward opened another shop located in the Irving Bank & Trust building. Richard followed Woodward to the new location and a year later Richard bought the shop inside the bank, making him a barber shop owner at the young age of just 22. He remained the owner until 1976 when he decided to return to Olney. Now back in his hometown, Richard took over the shop at 108 E. Main until it burned in 1982. He then purchased a building, located at 221 N Ave C, from Doc and Rick Ickert, and is to this day still open and ready to cut hair.

Going to a barber shop is more than just getting a first-rate cut - it’s relaxing, welcoming and an experience unlike any other. Contrary to modern salons that pander more toward women, barber shops are constructed with men in mind, so they are decidedly masculine. They offer a place for men to sit back, relax, and enjoy themselves without the smell of harsh chemicals from perms and acetone.

There is a reason some customers have been coming to Richard’s Barber Shop for well over 30 years, so if you’re in need of a fresh cut, clean shave or just need your beard trimmed, Richard is waiting, ready to shake out his barber’s towel and welcome the next customer to sit in his chair.