The Unkindest Haircut

September 21, 2010 4:46 PM

I'd like to find a conservative, reasonably priced barber in Boston who can give me (a 23 year old white male) a professional-looking haircut.

I've had some pretty awful experiences with barbers/salons in the past. At the beginning of the month I moved to Boston from Chicago, and am looking for a new beginning to my tonsorial life as well. Here's what I know I want and don't want:

-I don't want anything that advertises as 'trendy' or 'edgy' or is covered with images of sultry supermodels with absolutely ridiculous new styles
-The barbershop I'm looking for would best be described with adjectives such as 'conventional,' 'plain,' 'no-frills,' 'simple,' 'professional,' etc.
-$30-$40 price range
-I don't know a whole lot about hair or fancy style terms, and I need someone who can work with that.
-Familiar working with men
-Ideally close to Jamaica Plain/Mission Hill, but really could be anywhere in the city or near suburbs (Cambridge, Watertown, Somerville all would be OK)

I guess that's about all I can say, hopefully someone will have a great recommendation. All my friends are either more into that 20's culture trendy/edgy stuff (works for them, not for me) or have absolutely terrible haircuts, so that's why I've come to you!

posted by notswedish to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (9 answers total)

I like Charlie's Barbershop in Cambridge (Porter Square, Mass Ave). But it is less expensive than your price range ($16).
posted by ifandonlyif at 5:38 PM on September 21, 2010

When we lived in Somerville, my roomie and I would stop by Mario's, which is pretty much in Davis Square. They're very flexible and straightforward. They do both men and women's hair, and have, in the past, given us both excellent cuts. They'll go crazy if you ask them to but they also do very simple short back and sides normal haircuts, and do it well, without charging an arm and a leg. If you can swing it, try to get Mario himself. He was always my roomie's favorite. They have lots of magazines and portfolios on hand so you can point at a picture and say "like this, but (insert change here)" instead of complicating things with terminology you don't know.

Stop by Dave's Fresh Pasta nearby for the best damn prosciutto, fig spread and mozzarella sandwich you ever eat while you're there.
posted by Mizu at 6:20 PM on September 21, 2010

If it has newspapers, Sports Illustrated and perhaps a Playboy or two but no fashion magazines and is staffed by old guys and does not charge more than $20 you are likely in a barber shop where they won't get too creative. Find one in or near the business district and when they ask what you want say "a business haircut".
tl;dr go to a barber shop in the business district.
Protip: barbers tend to cut your hair to look like their own haircut so if your barber has hair a little too short tell him you want it a tiny bit long &c.
posted by vapidave at 6:59 PM on September 21, 2010

Best answer: State St. Barbers in the South End. Ask for Tom.

Very Professional. Very Full-Service. He will (if you're anything like me) interpret your ineptly-described conceptual idea, and execute it far better than you thought it up in your head. It will also be cut such that you can get lazy and not get a haircut for 10 weeks and it will still look good.
posted by weaponsgradecarp at 7:47 PM on September 21, 2010

I haven't lived in Boston for years, but I found La Flamme in Harvard Square to be a competent and straightforward barber shop.
posted by andrewraff at 8:03 PM on September 21, 2010

2nding LaFlamme. Wait for one of the older barbers if you want the 1950's look...YMMV
posted by Gungho at 3:36 AM on September 22, 2010

Fast Phil's, North Cambridge. $10. Won "Best of Boston" last year. Very traditional place - locals, Playboys, oldies on the radio.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:00 AM on September 22, 2010

John's Barber Shop, Central Square, Cambridge: very low key, not usually much of a wait, no fancy styling or anything else, just an old place with low-strung barbers and your basic hair cut for $15. Bonus: They also give shaves if you want.
posted by MasonDixon at 7:34 AM on September 22, 2010

Response by poster: Just went to State Street, and they were exactly what I wanted: no-nonsense, to the point, professional, and competent. I'll definitely be going back!
posted by notswedish at 12:39 PM on October 2, 2010