Sharp Clippers and Fast Horses: The Legacy of Brakebill Barber Shop

Brakebill Barber Shop was more than just a place to get your hair cut—it was a piece of Portales history, a place where generations of men could gather, swap stories, and leave with a fresh cut and a renewed spirit. My Papa Warren ran the shop for most of my life, keeping my childhood signature flattop sharp. He’d been cutting my hair ever since I was born, and I’ll never forget the day I went in during junior high, asking for one of those trendy bowl cuts everyone at school was getting. Papa listened, nodded, then proceeded to cut it the way *he* thought it should be done—classic, timeless, and, as it turns out, a whole lot better than that fleeting trend.

I wasn’t alone in feeling proud of the man behind the chair. Classmates who went to Brakebill Barber Shop would ask if I was related to Warren, and with a grin, I’d say, “That’s my Papa.” He was well-known in town, and for good reason. His shop may have been basic, with a few western décor items, but the atmosphere was rich with tradition. An old record player console sat in the corner, rodeo pictures lined the walls, and a glass vase with barbicide held the combs that would touch every head of hair that walked through the door.

There was something special about the way he worked. No plastic clip-on guards—just heavy-duty metal clippers in his hands, guiding a tight fade or flattop with precision. As a kid, I remember the penny gumball machine by the door, praying I wouldn’t get the black licorice one, and the old church pews for waiting, Super Looper magazines piled on the end tables. Westerns flickered on the wooden console television, adding to the feeling that you’d stepped back in time. That was Brakebill Barber Shop, a place where a cowboy cut hair, and you could feel the pride and skill in every snip.

Papa Warren didn’t just cut hair; he cut memories into the lives of the people who sat in his chair. He mostly worked on men’s hair, but back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, he styled more than a few ladies too—especially rodeo queens. As the years wore on, the ladies moved on to beauty salons, but the men kept coming, young and old. Fathers brought in their sons, old-timers took their usual spots, and new folks who came to town knew what to expect when they sat down: no fuss, no frills, just good conversation and a cut that matched your stage in life.

Warren Brakebill’s journey as a barber began in 1961, when he enrolled in barber school in Lubbock. After completing his training, he worked in Lubbock for a time, honing his craft and building his reputation. By the early 1970s, he had opened his own barbershop in Dora, where he offered the kind of reliable, skilled service that earned him a loyal clientele.

In 1979, Warren officially established Brakebill Barber Shop in Portales. It quickly became a cornerstone of the community, where locals knew they could count on a great haircut and even better conversation. Warren worked at the shop until his sons, Donald and Davy, graduated high school. In 1983, after marrying his wife Cristy, Warren relocated to Canyon, Texas, where he opened another Brakebill Barber Shop while Cristy attended West Texas A&M University.

He operated the Canyon shop until around 1987, when he and Cristy moved to Temple, Texas. Even in a new town, Warren continued to run Brakebill Barber Shop with the same dedication and pride he was known for. After several years in Temple, in 1992, he returned to Portales, reopening Brakebill Barber Shop, where he would continue working until his retirement in 2020.

Throughout nearly six decades of barbering, Warren Brakebill’s commitment to his craft never wavered. His shops weren’t just places to get a haircut; they were places where community and tradition came together.

Even at 84, Papa Warren still lives out his cowboy dreams. Just this weekend, he reminded me—more than once, mind you—that he beat Shad Mayfield in a team roping recently. I congratulated him, of course, and smiled, knowing that even though the barbershop might be closed, his roping dreams aren’t over. His life has been a mix of sharp clippers and fast horses, and through it all, he’s been a figure that folks in Portales and beyond have come to respect.

There’s a lot of history in those old walls of Brakebill Barber Shop. A little break from reality, a trip back in time, and the unmistakable smell of barbicide in the air. Every snip from those heavy clippers told a story, and I’m glad that one of those stories is mine.