Ed Garcia now offers barber services at Hair Works, located off Gloucester’s Main Street.

Garcia is an independent contractor, renting a booth at the shop. He cuts hair there Wednesday through Saturday.

Owner Carolyn Thomas said this is the first time a male barber has worked in the shop, which previously featured only female stylists.

Garcia said he does all types of barber cuts, although he does not offer any of the color or other chemical services that the licensed cosmetologists at Hair Works provide.

Garcia has had a lengthy career in barbering, starting with 16 years in the U.S. Navy where he gave the required very short cuts aboard a number of ships. After retiring from the Navy, he received a Virginia barber’s license in 1989 and cut hair for many years at Rilee’s Barber Shop at Gloucester C.H. and later at Gloucester Point Barber Shop, which recently closed.

Also, he has worked at a Gloucester restaurant and as a teller at Colonial Downs in New Kent Coun...