I came in here with my best friend recently. He had seen the shop in town (he recently moved here…read moreand was looking for a new barber) and wanted to try it out. So he checked their Facebook page and found Danny. Made the appointment and off we go. They don't have a real website, just Facebook. Danny did ask how my friend had found them, and they seem to be interested in how people find them.
We walked in, Danny greeted him by name to confirm he is the right customer. Says he'll be with him in a few minutes. The shop is fairly small, more narrow than anything. There are five chairs in the shop, and they were all full. Google reviews are very good, so I expected a lot.
They discussed the flat top look and Danny asked the right questions. A sign of a good barber is being able to basically free-hand a flat top, not using what I call the cheater comb. Danny did this free-hand. Which is impressive to me. My friend wore an old t-shirt and planned to shower when it was over. Danny kept the hair off his neck well enough that the old t-shirt wasn't necessary. He could have gone through the day without an immediate shower to relieve the typical uncomfortable itching.
Danny offered a straight razor service, which my best friend accepted. He always enjoys this part of the barber shop experience. Now, when I think of a straight razor experience, I think old school barber. Hot lather, brand new razor, barber takes his time and does a thorough job. I'd expect it to take at least 5-10 minutes, this would be the part where you slow down and it becomes time consuming. But that attention to detail and taking the time is what makes it great. It took Danny 2 minutes, max. He dry shaved my friend, which I keep waiting and checking for the razor burn to show up. He also took a razor out of a drawer, immediately started shaving him, and then put it back in the drawer when he was done, like it was ready for the next person. This just screams unsanitary to me. He may change it out once each customer leaves, I don't know. I'd like to think and hope he does. But not changing it out in front of a customer before shaving them, gives the impression he doesn't change it out each time. Which to me, is what matters. Showing customers you do what's right, that way there is never a question.
This service cost $16, which is a pretty typical price. Not a big deal, not expensive by any near means. My best friend handed him a $20. I don't know about anyone else, but I would expect $4 back, and then I give you a tip, whatever that may be. I may even hand you the entire $4 back. If I didn't say keep the change, I would expect change or at the very least, a barber asking if I wanted change. Waitresses do this when you hand them cash. They always ask, do you need change. Danny pocketed the $20, shook my friend's hand and said, have a nice day and I'll see you next time. Little presumptuous in my mind. I wasn't impressed by that move at all.
When I asked my friend if he would return, he said yes, because Danny did a great job with the hair cut itself. Being able to free-hand a flat top and keep the hair off his neck and prevent the itching takes some pretty serious talent. What dropped it from 5 to 3 stars for both of us was the fact Danny dry shaved him and didn't change out the razor in front of him. Then just pocketed the change without asking if he wanted change. Both of these things were really big on making a good impression. Had he done a proper straight razor shave and asked if he wanted change, I would've been raving about this business and so would he.
Review 38 of 2017
