In the old days of barbershop, the rhyme went, “A shave and a haircut; two bits.”

Today, customers of The Groom Room, 303 Main St., can’t pay in bits.

But owner and stylist Troy Tinnean gives them the same friendly, relationship-based approach to men’s style that came with the barbershops of yore.

“Guys need to look like guys, and they need to feel like guys,” Troy said.

So, he and his wife, Karen, set out to create the exact opposite of today’s unisex salons, hoping to recreate the feel of the old barbershops with a trendy update.

Despite the shop’s modern appearance, Troy’s old-fashioned approach shines through.

To finish off each haircut, he uses a safety razor to shave the back of the neck.

“I still lather up the back of the neck and do the massage,” Troy said. “It’s a very relaxing experience.”

It’s practical, too, since shaving cuts the hair closer to the skin and helps define the shape of the style.

“It makes the haircut last longer,” Troy said.

If it’s an old-time shop he’s trying to reinvent, he’s in the right spot. The space he occupies had been a barbershop for decades, up to the previous owner’s retirement a few months ago.

Before that, it served as the lobby for the Sheldon-Munn Hotel, which formally opened for business May 31, 1916, according to information from the Ames Historical Society.

“It was the premier hotel in Story County,” Karen said. “They would have orchestras playing in the lobby. There was a fireplace.”

Some of the original construction, such as the speckled terrazzo floor, can still be seen. In fact, that’s part of what attracted the Tinneans to the space in the first place.

“This is the original terrazzo,” Troy said. “It gives it that character appeal.”

And character is what guys are all about.

Troy said that in his previous work as a stylist, a lot of guys wouldn’t open up about their style or grooming, especially when women were nearby.

That’s the advantage of having a barbershop or a salon targeted at men as opposed to a unisex salon, he said.

“This is their own little world,” Troy said. “That’s what I love about it.”

As such, Troy often plays a consulting role, dispensing advice about everything from cologne placement to the perfect shave.

“Most guys just spend a minute raking a rusty blade across their face,” Troy said.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. One tip: using a shaving brush to apply lather to the face can result in a closer and smoother shave.

“The brush will lift the hair off the skin,” Troy said. “When you use a hand, it pushes the hair down.”

It’s advice that even a time-stretched college student can take advantage of.

“It doesn’t take that much more time; it just takes some thought,” Troy said.

In today’s fast-paced world, slowing down a bit can help make a person feel better about himself — and make a big difference.

“You still gotta take some time for yourself,” Troy said. “It helps you face the day better.”