It was only six years ago and before the rise of the hipster, young guns and trendy gangster tattoos that two central Queensland barbers believe Australian men last neglected their appearance.

Fast forward to 2017 and a trend for barbered haircuts and cut-throat shaves has seen barber shops re-emerging on many street corners throughout the country.

Rockhampton is no different, with one barber having watched them come and go over the past 50 years.

Jimmy Kondilis, 81, sits in his shop-front window every day, ready to put his clippers and scissors to work on anyone who walks through his door.

"I am not ready to tell my story. But you go next door and talk to my son, Sokratis," he said.

Sokratis Kondilis has followed the family tradition and runs a hair salon next to his father's no-frills barber shop.

"Everyone's on the street corner, there's five or six barbers just within walking distance, while 10 or 15 years ago there was no one," he said.

In the nick of time

The Kondilis family has been barbering in Rockhampton since moving from the Greek island of Samos in 1961.

Sokratis started helping out in the family business when he was a teenager and has now been in the industry for over 30 years.

"My grandfather was a barber on Samos, and my dad picked it up, then it happened to me. So we've kept it in the family," he said.

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"Back in the 50s and 60s, when the new immigrants came, I think business was hard because you come from another country and your work ethic is a lot stronger because you left everything behind.

"Your ideas were fresher. You wanted to succeed because you had nothing, so hard work was your only option.

"You also need to change with the times."

Sokratis said the resurgence in barbering really took hold about six years ago. Before that, it was difficult to recruit.

"It's become a sub-culture now. The male-only territory. That kind of look attracts different people and fashion is dictating this," he said.

Fade haircuts are the current trend and behind a new barber resurgence, but fashion is repeating itself.

"Will it last? I don't know. Will they change? Will they stay ahead of the styles? Because you can't just wear a faded hair cut for the rest of your life," he said.

Not fade away

Across the road, Jayden Graham has been running his barber shop, Faded, for almost two years and said he is prepared to stay there for the long term.

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In contrast to Jimmy's Barber, where older gentlemen congregate to gossip or discuss politics in addition to a trim, Jayden's place pumps with electronic music.

"I started working out of the spare room in my apartment and things took off from there so I decided to rent the space and fit my shop," he said.

Although he can do a variety of haircuts, the most popular is the fade.

"I feel the trade was almost extinct about five years ago but it has come back, maybe because your average man is taking more pride in himself," he said.

The opening of other barbers nearby has had an impact on his business, but he believed his will last.

"The shop isn't as busy as it once was, but the demand is definitely growing. The whole male grooming industry is huge at the moment," Mr Graham said.