Shop Talk: Sebastian's Barbershop's Sebastian Aliberti

Sebastian Aliberti was finishing up a man-cut when we walked into his still-newish shop off Main. when he first opened some months ago, so I wondered if the life of a business owner had soured him yet; and how much of that free espresso is he downing these days anyway?

So buy local and go say hello to...

Sebastian Aliberti of White Plains, owner of 

1. How hopped up on the free espresso do you get?

SA: [Laughs, as does stylist John Siravo]. I guess it depends on how busy I get. If I’m talking a lot most likely there’s no espresso left for the day. Maybe I’ll do three to four a day. When I’m in Italy though, I get along on six or seven. [All caffeine and no water is how he operates, chimes in Siravo.]

2. There’s the old joke that if there are two barbers you go to the one with the bad haircut because they cut each other's hair. Who cuts your hair?

SA: John or myself. I use a lot of mirrors; the master of the mirrors. We’re walking billboards; that’s what it comes down to.

3. Was it lonely in the beginning when it was just you here manning the fort in the winter?

SA: That was tough in the beginning. It was just me. I watched a lot of TV and drank a lot of espresso. It really puts you to the test.

4. But business is picking up? Have you inherited any old guys from the last barbershop that was here?

SA: It’s going good. Growing every week. Some of Oliver’s old clients come and they kind of expect me to be open at 6:30 in the morning; that’s a bit early for me.

5. You had mentioned you were looking to move here, any luck?

SA: I'm looking. It’s been eight months but it feels like I’ve been here forever. I’ve adapted to the community. It almost feels like home. It’s a nice, incredible community; I must admit. No one forgets to say hello in the morning.

Aliberti will extent a discount to Patch readers. Mention you saw him here and get $1 off your next haircut.