Born and raised in Chicago, I moved to Los Angeles shortly after graduating from high school in 1981 with the single objective of becoming a rock star. There, I began working for my cousin, famed Beverly Hills hairstylist Allen Edwards (Julianne Moore, Renee Zellweger, Laura Flynn Boyle, Donna Mills, Raquel Welch). While mostly relegated to making coffee, serving wine and sweeping, I got a good taste of the business and enjoyed learning the trade from seasoned professionals.

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​​Fast forward to 2017 when, at the age 54, while beginning my twenty-fifth year as a teacher, I started a small company, Usatinsky Bow Ties, and began designing and selling handmade bow ties. (See my bow ties HERE). 

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​Soon after, I approached Sam Aydani, master barber and owner of the upscale Benoah Barbershop in The Hague, and asked him if I could sell my bow ties in his beautiful shop. Sam agreed and when I told him about my experience working in a hair salon some 35 years earlier, Sam offered to train me with no strings attached. Half in jest, I said "so when do I start?" Sam smiled and (half in jest) said, "come next Tuesday at ten o'clock." The rest, as they say, is history!  

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​Over the next five and a half months, I gave 100 haircuts and 100 shaves while still working part-time as a Lecturer of English at the renowned Hotelschool The Hague. To facilitate my training, I offered free haircuts and shaves to my Hotelschool students who were both curious and pleasantly delighted to be getting a haircut and shave by their teacher "Mr. Morris."  

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​It was in the spring of 2018, nearing the end of my apprenticeship, when my students models—during what is the busiest time of the academic year—would ask for later evening appointments to accommodate their busy schedules. Before long, I was taking appointments as late as ten or eleven o'clock at night when the idea of an after-hours barbershop hit me. Seeing a niche for this type of business, The Night Barber was born and I became the first and only barber in The Hague offering late-night, after-hours barber services to discerning gentlemen. 

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Then, in the summer of 2024, I got a call one day from an eager young man––Sebastián––who had recently moved to The Hague from Spain where he had learned the barbering profession and honed his skills working in barbershops in Benidorm, a haven for expats and international travelers. Originally from Cali, Colombia, Sebas––a new father––brings his experience of executing both classic haircuts and contemporary styles like fades, crops and tapers to the Night Barber team. He also specializes in a variety of techniques for cuting and styling Black, Asian and ethnic hair.

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Finally, I know that going to the barbershop is much more than getting a haircut, it's your time to focus on you and in doing that you can rest assured you're placing your trust in someone whose only priority it is to provide you with the best service at reasonable prices. We take great pride and satisfaction in offering our customers a comfortable, safe and tranquil environment where they can unwind, relax, listen to music and have a chat with no distractions as they are the only customer in the shop whose full attention is our first and only undertaking. 

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Today, The Night Barber provides the ultimate gentleman’s barbering experience featuring classic haircuts and meticulous beard maintenance at convenient evening hours.  And watch this space as we'll be offering our services in Amsterdam SOON!

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At your service!

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Richard & Sebastián💈