Brisbane barber draws praise for refusing to cut mullets, mohawks and undercuts
A Brisbane barber has earned praise from customers and social media users after posting a blunt notice in his shop window declaring he will not cut mullets, mohawks or undercuts.
Joseph La Motta, who runs La Motta's Hairstyling for Men on Adelaide Street in Brisbane's CBD, displayed the poster explaining his position after five decades in the trade.
"Over my 50 years of Men's Hairstyling I have been trained in all types of men's classical cuts," the notice reads. "As such I DO NOT do any forms of Mullets, Mohawks or Undercuts."
The stance reflects a deep commitment to traditional barbering that runs in Mr La Motta's family. The La Motta barbering tradition dates back to 1890 when his grandfather, Tomaso La Motta, started cutting hair in Italy, making it a 134-year-old family craft spanning four generations.
Mr La Motta's father, Giovanni, emigrated from Italy after World War 2 and settled in Brisbane in 1949, opening his own barber shop in 1959 at the corner of Wharf and Queen Street. Joseph entered the family trade at age 16 and opened his current shop in 1976.
Within the industry, Mr La Motta is known as the "Barber's Barber," having earned the respect of his peers over his decades-long career for his expertise in classical men's hairstyling.
Strong support online
A photograph of the poster was shared on Reddit, where it generated significant discussion and widespread praise for the barber's honesty.
"It's actually refreshing seeing a business be upfront and honest about what they'll do/specialise in," one user wrote.
"When I lived in Brisbane I used to go to him. No fuss, no fluff, quick and efficient service," another commented.
"For a standard guy needing a standard haircut, he is perfect," a third user added.
"Love a barber who knows his lane," wrote a fourth supporter.
The timing of Mr La Motta's stance is particularly notable given current hairstyle trends. The mullet is experiencing a significant resurgence, with professional barbers reporting they have cut more mullets in the last two years than in their previous 15 years of practice.
Mixed reactions
Not everyone agreed with the barber's position. Some social media users questioned whether the banned styles could truly be excluded from classical barbering.
"Never would have imagined a barber in Australia not doing mullets," one person wrote.
"Mohawks have been around for like 70 years," another pointed out.
The comment reflects the historical evolution of these hairstyles. The mullet originated in the 1970s when rock stars like David Bowie and Rod Stewart popularized it, becoming a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s. The mohawk was adopted by punk rockers in the 1970s and 1980s as a symbol of rebellion, while the undercut was fashionable from the 1910s to 1940s and saw revivals in the 1980s before becoming popular again in the 2010s.
"Glad his business is good enough that he can pick and choose which haircuts he gets, I guess," a third user commented.
Strong customer base
Despite the debate, La Motta's Hairstyling for Men appears to have a solid following among Brisbane locals. The business holds a 4.8-star rating on Google reviews.
"I was just a walk-in by chance on holiday, really good service and quality," one reviewer wrote.
"Very cosy place, but one of the best barbers around," noted another customer.
The shop's approach reflects traditional Italian barbering culture, where family-owned businesses have been passed down through generations and barbering represents a centuries-old craft tradition dating back to Ancient Rome.
Mr La Motta declined to comment when contacted about the notice.
This is not the first time his barbershop has attracted attention. In 2011, Mr La Motta claimed to be operating the smallest barbershop in Brisbane, with a custom-built shop front consisting of just two chairs and five square metres of floor space.
