BUCHANAN — Angie Hoyt and Lisa Kurty have seen quite a few hairstyle trends over the years, like mullets in the 1980s and skater styles in the ‘90s.
A “skater,” or “bowl” cut, “looked like somebody put a bowl on it and you shave it around,” Hoyt said. “Mohawks are probably the hardest to do. Flattops are also really hard.
“I’m still trying to talk my (4-year-old) son into a mohawk, and he says no,” Hoyt said.
The two Niles residents honed their skills in barber school, and both worked at Light’s Barber Styling in Niles for many years — Hoyt for 19 and Kurty for 12. Their last day at Light’s was the same day.

Hoyt applied for a job at Light’s when she was 19 years old; Kurty was already employed there.
“I can still remember Lisa laughing at me,” Hoyt said.
Three months after they quit their long-time employer, Hoyt opened Hoyt’s Haircuts for Men on Nov. 9 in downtown Buchanan, and brought Kurty with her.
“I like the community over here,” Hoyt said. “Everyone’s super nice. Very family oriented.
“I would really like to say thank you to everybody because if it wouldn’t be for the wonderful folks around Niles and Buchanan, I wouldn’t be here,” Hoyt said.
“She’s very customer-oriented,” Kurty said of her new employer. “I wouldn’t want to work for anybody else. We cut about the same.”
The shop lures clients from Niles, South Bend, Granger, Sawyer and Baroda, but the stylists brought with them many longtime clients, including Buchanan resident Dick Haigh. He was in the shop Thursday to receive his usual “Princeton” cut — very short all over, and gradually getting slightly longer in front.
“I have a cowlick in the back of my head, and there’s nothing I can do with it,” said Haigh, who has been getting his hair cut by Hoyt for at least four years.
“Angie makes people want to come back,” Haigh said.
The stylists said they prefer styling men’s hair because they don’t have to work with chemicals. Although it takes much less time to style a man’s hair, precision is key.
“It takes a lot of art, because when people sit down, you have to picture what they want,” Kurty said.
“It’s all about communication with the client,” Hoyt said.
Hoyt said they receive the most requests for crewcuts and the “high and tight” cuts — zero length up to crown, with the top usually crewcut length.
They also offer a shave with hot lather, and will trim eyebrows, noses and ears.
“We gotta get the guys lookin’ fabulous,” Hoyt said.
Cuts are $10 and $8 for men over age 62.
“We always try to give our older and wiser people a break,” Hoyt said with a laugh.

Hoyt’s Haircuts for Men

Address: 107 Redbud Trail, Buchanan

Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for walk-ins and appointments and from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday for walk-ins only

Appointments: Call (269) 591-9771