After 60 years styling the hair of Armidale men, Mr Cowley has seen the cycle of trends come full circle. 

"We had to do all the styles the young fellas wanted," Mr Cowley said.

"The square cut came in by migration when a lot of Italian and Greek men had those cuts; before then it was tapered.

"There was also the sideburns situation.

"And then The Beatles became popular and everyone wanted their hair long. 

"The Beatles were the enemy of the barbers.

"Mums and dads didn’t like the styles, they didn’t like the long hair, but then when the style changed with it became short again, they didn’t like the short hair."

Mr Cowley has been operating out of his shop on Jessie Street for 40 years after starting his career as an apprentice in 1949, when he was just shy of 15-years-old.

"My first paycheck was £1.10 ­­- we didn’t have tax back then - which equates to roughly $3.08," he said.

Mr Cowley is a man who enjoys his craft, but his job is all about the people he sees on a daily basis.

He turns 80 next month and is looking forward to a celebration with his three daughters and eight grandchildren.