Summary box:

Barbers try to woo business with ‘spa amenities’

OUT WITH THE OLD: The old-fashioned barber pole is disappearing as barbers try to win back customers lost over the last decade to the more stylish, male-friendly salons.

IN WITH THE NEW: High-end barbershops emphasize privacy rather than the boisterous camaraderie of older shops. They also offer services such as pedicures and facials.

DIFFERENT WORLD: Between 1960 and 2001, the number of licensed barbers fell by 48 percent. Today’s barbers say they have to change with the times.

By The Associated Press