With the end of the war in 1945 and the complete collapse of Nazi Germany, a new way of life slowly began to emerge—politically, economically, and socially. During the years of reconstruction, people’s focus shifted increasingly toward the future. This included a desire for personal grooming and cleanliness.
The owner of this salon was Heinrich Puhe. You can see him in the photos. He learned his trade early on, along with how to interact with customers. At age 14, he began an apprenticeship.
After World War II and his time as a prisoner of war, he took over his father’s salon in Lette. He ran it for his entire professional career. He was as warm and friendly as his partner Mia, so much so that the customers in Lette even accepted their lifelong common-law marriage. After all, Mia had been living with the family as a housemaid since her early youth. The salon is her little home—and probably for her clientele, too.
You can learn a lot from the hairstyles and beards of the past decades: order and romance, a thirst for freedom and rebellion, a desire to experiment, or nostalgia. The magazine in the newspaper rack shows you more of this.
And in the next room, you’ll find what’s currently in style in Lette.