Re: lady barbers - may be a reference to females offering other services besides a close shave. Here's a clipping from 1947, Los Angeles:
An undercover vice investigation went badly wrong when "lady barber" Mary Fisher fled her shop at 451 S. Main St. clutching a fistful of hair. Police Officer Cook, investigating whether Fisher was offering haircuts and massages as a front for illegal activities, arranged for the full treatment: shave, massage, shoe shine and anything else.
According to The Times, Fisher put steamed towels on Cook's face, had given him a facial massage and started shaving him when she straightened his hair, only to have his toupee come off in her hand.
The woman gave one look at the handful of hair sticking to her hand and another at the bald head of her customer and, with a shriek, she dashed for the stairs, The Times says.
"Hey," yelled Cook, "give me that hair. I need it!"
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Possibly a variant of "massage" parlors?
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