overall. an interestingly bad experience, completely unsatisfactory and never to return quick review. if yelp is any indication, i'd like to think they treat their customers, on average, better than i was treated. at some point, i got stellar customer care but in the end i got shafted on the deal. so i cannot recommend barbie barber and urge you to go elsewhere basically i used a groupon, which had expired but the manager at the time was nice enough to honor it at full value. my haircut was really off but I didn't complain. just paid and left with a thanks. the manager called me after i left and asked me to come back saying that she could tell i didnt love my haircut and that she'd personally give me the cut i wanted that her employee didn't succeed in doing. i returned but got my cut with a different manager and when i was done, the new manager charged me the difference of my expired groupon. so in the end, i would've been better off not coming back at all because i went back 2x, both haircuts were not what i asked for and had to pay for the service in full, and tip 2 different stylists for 1 cut. THE LONG VERSION the story behind my review is long, involved and if you need a quick decision on where to go, you have my blurb up top. if you are interested in the strangest hair salon situation i've ever been in, read on! Chapter 1 - the setup I bought a groupon, it expired but on the phone they said they'd honor it anyway, which they did but then they didn't. I make an appointment, arrive and it's all good so far. I'm the only one in the shop with 2 stylists. My stylisht cordially asks what i'd like for the cut and i show her a photo. I ask her if this can be achieved and she says yes of course. Chapter 2 - first signs of distress If you're a man you are familiar with the buzzer or trimmer. It is always part of your hair cut if you have short hair at all but this stylist cut all the hair around me with scissor and it took nearly 40 mins to do the sides and back. We haven't hit the top yet... Chapter 3 - i have a very bad feeling about this During the cut, the other stylist sat off to the side observing my haircut. She had the vibe of a manager. 15 mins into the cut she tells my stylist, "You should use the hair trimmer for the sides first." to which my stylist ignored and proceeded with her 40 minute Edward Scissorhands reenactment. The manager was not pleased. I was feeling anxious. The rain continued pouring outside... Chapter 4 - mirror mirror The cut is complete 60 minutes later and lo and behold, my hair looks nothing like the photo. This is cause for inquiry, which i handled in a passive manner. It went something like this: "Oh, this doesn't look quite like the photo. See?" I show her on the iPad. "Ah, well this guy is white and your asian hair is kinda coarse for it to be styled that way. This is the closest we can do." Confusion sets in. "I see. But didn't you say it could be achieved?" She nods and examines my hair, proceeds to cut a bit more and after 10 minutes, she is satisfied we're on the same page now. In the mirror I learn we are in different books actually. But my senses tell me I wasn't going to get more than what I had. I thanked her, paid the manager and left. The rain was pouring very heavy by now... Chapter 5 - the twist I get a phone call less than 15 minutes after I left and the manager told me I forgot my glasses at the shop. Darn! But the nice part was that she asked if I was happy with my cut, to which I said not particularly. She explained that the girl that cut my hair was new and apologized for my experienced. It happens, haircuts are all opinions anyway. The manager said she knows she can achieve the cut I'm looking for. Smart, simple, understated with a touch of that hipster everyone wants. She offers a second chance and I take it! But I told her to please schedule me at a different time because I didn't want my stylist to feel too bad about it. Also I lived 15 miles away so it wasn't convenient for me to return immediately. "Oh not to worry, she doesn't work here anymore." Silence. I was sure I'd only left the shop 15 minutes prior. Fired?! Because of my hair cut? Honestly, we'll never know. "She doesn't? Okay...I guess I'll see you tomorrow. In the AM." Chapter 6 - the returner book remains unfinished! you didn't really want to know the rest of this anyway did you?! read more

$18 for an amazing haircut, you can't beat it. I've been to so many places in Costa Mesa. Paying $25-$30 for a mediocre haircut. Basic Barbershop did not disappoint. Friendly staff and remember to bring CASH. CASH ONLY. I totally recommend this barber shop. read more

My first time here, and I had the best hair cut experience of my life, no exaggeration. I was treated like the King of Costa Mesa for 1 hour. It is most similar to the Sport clips franchises, but with way more character, extra perks, and less in your face corporate BS. This is my first yelp review, but I was so thrilled with my experience that I felt compelled to get the word out because they deserve to have a thriving business. It has a very local feel to it, you know for sure you are in Costa Mesa. Nothing fancy, brown walls, old shopping center but who cares. On the good stuff. I walked in and there were 4 other dudes in their 20's and 30's getting their hair cut. There was a big screen tv playing ESPN. And immediately they offer you A FREE ADULT BEVERAGE. This should be all you need to know about this place...and oh yeah they cut your hair. I had Norma as my hair cutter. She really knew what she was doing and clearly had a lot of experience. She was very nice and communicated with me clearly on how to cut my hair. She opted to use scissors over my whole head, instead of the quick and easy buzzers. I appreciated her extra efforts. She took about 40 minutes cutting my hair which was great because I was drinking beer and watching sports the whole time. It was just a rad place to relax after a long day of work. But my hair was exactly as I wanted, great length, even, clean around the edges and nicely texturized. Then, the best part: She MESSAGED MY NECK AND HEAD for about 5 minutes. It was glorious. After she washed my hair and did a good job on a styling. All this for 24 bucks which is more than I normally like to pay but WELL WELL worth it. Also, I was very happy to give Norma a generous tip. I can't imagine what went wrong for the people below with bad review, but I think if go here you will have a great experience as I did. read more

I've been coming here for a little over a year now and I've been really pleased with the consistency, professionalism and service at Basic. All the barbers do a great job and it's one of the best values in town. They do get pretty busy on the weekends so I usually try to get in late afternoon on a weekday and usually it's a pretty short wait- or no wait at all. They usually have a game on the tv. All the barbers are courteous and friendly. They'll give recommendations if you're not sure what you want, but also don't judge if you show them pics of what look you're going for. All in all they do a great job, charge an extremely fair price and are a nice addition to the Costa Mesa community. read more

Cute girls cutting guys' hair... What more could my boyfriend ask for?! I live in Manhattan Beach, so occasionally I cruise down towards Costa and one of my guy friends told me about this place. So as it was perfect timing that my boyfriend needed a haircut we decided to try this place. The barbie (barbress?) who cut my boyfriend's hair is super sweet and did not make me uncomfortable at all that she was cutting his hair (meaning she was very classy and professional). If you are in the area, I would highly suggest this place... These girls definitely know what they are doing when it comes to cutting hair! Definitely coming back here in the future! read more

I wanted to get a haircut during my lunch hour and I came across Barbie Barber. I popped my head in and the stylist, Leah, said she could take me right away. Okay, now I get the unusual name for the barber shop. Anyways, I was expecting the typical franchise salon chop 'n crop but, the stylist didn't rush it. She went through my hair meticulously sizing and trimming inch by inch to get it perfect. I was very impressed by the care and attention to detail she gave me on my haircut. She offered me some refreshments, which threw me off because where am I? In a Beverly Hills salon? No, just a nice, clean and friendly barber shop in Costa Mesa. I like this concept a barber shop where a guy can be pampered. read more

Don't bother...go elsewhere! Hurt my little boy on a recut after they jacked it up. They hurt him and they didn't even fix the mistake! Won't be coming back. read more

Have been going to Barbie Barbers since they opened! Great hair cut, great staff, great price! Fairy and her team are excellent. This is not a "super cuts" type of place, they take time and put energy into giving you the cut that is right for you. They all know what they are doing and they do it right! Great Haircut, Great Price, Great Atmosphere and a beer! Doesn't get better! read more

Not a fancy/upscale barber shop, but those things never interested me anyway. I'm not the type to spend more than 10-15 on a haircut. I decided to drop in when they were opening. I didn't want to have to call make an appt etc etc. Just dropped in 10AM and two friendly ladies were inside just setting up shop it seemed. I ended up with a stylist named Katie and when I walked in she was eating her breakfast and I have to be honest, I was expecting/hoping she'd finish her meal just because I didn't care too much to wait a couple extra minutes. Either way she put down her bowl of cereal and asked me how I want my cut etc. The experience was beyond pleasant, minus the phone calls I kept getting from work ehh. She was real friendly, started up some small talk about work, etc. Sometimes I like to get my cut in peace and not have to create conversations just to make it not awkward and this was not the case here. I chatted with her for a few min and then spent the rest of the cut peacefully. She was very meticulous with my cut which I definitely appreciated. It followed with a shampoo and then back to the chair for final snips. Then a brief shoulder/neck massage which was much needed. Overall the place is not the newest thing around, but the service speaks for itself and I definitely say its worth a shot. read more

Came here for a cut before EDC '19. Their place was pretty roomy and small, but they definitely looked like they had the gear and vibes to accommodate all types of clients. The guy who cut my hair was pretty considerate to what I wanted. They are very professional here and although I wanted my hair to go one way, he helped layout what would better work for my hair in a different way. read more

My husband is a guy's guy. He not a "metro" so he could care less about going to a fancy salon. Unfortunately, Supercuts was no longer cutting it for me. His hair just looked dated...and it never looked good the first week of a haircut. So for his bday, I decided I would "treat" him to a nice haircut as a present. I called several salons in the area...and I just couldn't pull the trigger on a $65 men's cut. Mine doesn't even cost that much! I just wanted a nice cut...from someone who knew what they were doing. Well, I found it! Fairy is the BEST! She was super patient on the phone when I asked her a million questions. She assured me that she had extensive experience and was properly trained on the geometry of haircutting based on one's head and facial structure. My husband came home "HOT!", and we were thrilled. The best part is we paid $20 for a $65 cut! Thanks Fairy! read more

Fairy is the best!! Always spends time To get great detail in my cut and I always have a beer . Came here once on a whim and I keep coming back because it's consistent, friendly, and well priced. Definite Costa Mesa hidden gem! read more

At the time of this review, I've been there three times and had two different barbers. Every cut has been consistent. Other places I've been to will try to cut you as quick as they can so they can move on to someone else. These guys take their sweet time (I say this as a compliment) so as to satisfy your every haircut need. On top of that, each cut is $15. This includes the razor lineup at the end. Back in the Bay Area, that would cost nearly twice the amount. Props to Basic Barber for giving affordable, high quality haircuts. read more

Tam has been cutting my hair for the past 3 years and I have never left disappointed. Throughout the years, I've been changing the type of haircuts I've been getting, and whatever style I ask for...Tam delivers. He has been cutting hair for many years now and no matter what style you are going for, I can promise that it will be exactly what you asked for. I used to always drive 20-30 minutes just to get a haircut when he was in Fountain Valley. But now that he has finally opened up his new shop near my home in Costa Mesa I will be visiting more frequently. Being 27 and living in Orange County my entire life, I've had many different barbers and I can truly say that Tam is by far one of the best. Thanks for all the clean cuts! read more

My boyfriend gets his haircut here..... of course we found out about this place on yelp.com - they do a good enough job , but it's really nothing all that special.... They will honor the yelp.com coupon - only if you are a first time customer, so i witnessed some arguing with a customer because he had been there before. It's convenient and they are never too busy - the haircut was just fine.... this place is a safe bet , but if you are looking for the royal treatment, look elsewhere Major bummer: Leigh no longer works here :( She was pretty awesome read more

Came across this place via a groupon offer. After months of not having a haircut the wife finally said, get a haircut or don't come home! not really, but she did say please... based on some of the previous reviews i expected to be felt welcome and pampered. Although the staff was friendly and who can complain about being offered a beer (except for the fact its macro-light beer). Still felt like the staff had been overworked and are slightly irritated from all of the groupies coming in for the deal, but what are you expecting a drop in business? I'm used to getting a budget clipper cut from a local barber shop where most of the employees struggle to speak clean English, but i still felt like i was initiating conversation out of an uncomfortable awkwardness. Maybe its me, but i would think you might want to give an exceptional experience to a first time client. The haircut itself was fine, no complaints really. However the groupon deal was supposed to include a wash that i never was offered and a shoulder/neck massage. Perhaps I'm spoiled when it comes to massage, but have you ever seen the episode of Friends where Ross agrees to massage one of Phoebe's clients because he thought it was a hot chick, but turns out to be for her dad and then he proceeds to massage him with a set of salad tongs? No, not that bad but severely lacking... Bottom line: A decent place to get a cut for less than 20$, watch some TV and have a beer. read more

Finally a barbershop that actually knows what they're doing. Every time I visit Priscilla or Roxy they always make me feel and look like a rockstar. I really admire how serious they take their craft. They're also not afraid to offer sincere input on the type of haircut you want. read more

Basic Barber - Awesome haircut and beer too! - Barbers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Best barber shop in OC! I have tried so many barber shops in OC, and I was never satisfied with my hair cuts. For many years, I would always get a skin fade hair cut. Fairy suggested a different hair cut that would fit me. Ever since then I love my new hair style! Fairy is an amazing hair stylist! She is really good at what she does. When I get a quality hair cut, I don't mind paying extra. read more

Basic Barber - Barbers Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time writing a review on Yelp and I am sad to say this was a horrible experience from beginning to end. I called in and an employee (I believe her name is Lin, I found out later she was pretty new to the Salon but supposedly has been cutting hair for about 7 years...I don't believe that) assisted me with what I thought was an appointment for the same day. I came to the Salon and she told me she mistakenly put my appointment down for tomorrow. She then informed me that she just gave away the hair stylist I requested. Lin asked if I wanted to get my hair cut with her or wait for the stylist I request (Fairy). My gut was telling me to wait for Fairy but instead I said "sure, why not?" I described to Lin what I wanted for my haircut, pretty simple to take what I had right now and basically trim it. As she cut my hair, I did not like it at all. I tried reiterating to her and also showed her a picture of how I wanted my hair to be cut. She kept cutting my hair and I didn't like it... The thing that made it even worse is that I'm pretty sure she is a smoker; the reason I suspect this is I could smell it in her hands as she was cutting my hair!!! When she thought she was done, she asked if I liked it. I asked if I could see it with gel on because at its current state it just didn't look right. She applied gel on and I asked if we could possibly cut the sides more. However, the more I thought about it the more I started to think in my head "there's a high possibility that this woman will ruin my hair even more." So I just decided to leave it as is and just get out of there because I was overall very frustrated with this entire experience. I would for sure NOT recommend Lin. read more

Ask for Roxy. Been here twice already, and she's the only barber in the OC that I've found that can go cut for cut against my old barber in Alhambra (sorry Dre! If I ever move back up, I know where to find you!) I've got the wild Asian hair that needs taming, and she understood that right from the get-go. Even if you're not sure of what you want, just describe the look or ask for suggestions. She makes sure you get the cut you want. It's $21 a cut at the time of this post, and apparently there's also a discount for students. And if you like the cut, be sure to tip! Edit: As of March 2013, Roxy is no longer there. I haven't been since. Old review still stands, but that was specifically about Roxy. Have yet to experience the other staff. read more

I tried out Basic Barber for the first time and was a bit nervous going somewhere new. Tam was very patient and asked many questions about the specifics of how I wanted my cut before he started chipping away. He was laid back, had a good conversation, and did a great job. Zero attitude, 100% committed to making me happy with my cut. Totally satisfied with everything, including the price! read more

I just got one of the worst haircuts of my life. First visit here went great but Kevin didn't listen to what I wanted and used too short of clippers and went too high up on my head. I wanted a trim and to just neaten up the edges and I got butchered. Avoid Kevin if you can. read more

Can't say enough good things about this place. I've been coming here for the better part of 4 months or so and have never left disappointed with my haircut or the service provided. All the girls are super nice and extremely helpful. From the haircut, to shampoo and wash, to a hot face towel, I'm always left satisfied and feeling fresh with my new haircut. We'll priced for what you get, if you're like me, you appreciate good service, good atmosphere, and more than anything, a great haircut, this place is for you. Special mention goes to Anna, she's been cutting my hair since I first found out about Barbie Barbers, and to be quite frank, she is simply the best. Always greets me with a smile and allays gives a great cut. read more

Kevin is the best barber I've ever had, I won't let anyone but him touch my hair. It's affordable and always leaves me looking fresh. I highly recommend you going to him. read more

I have been going to the same hair stylist for 3 years now, but they aren't currently cutting hair so I needed to find someone new. I came across Basic Barber and saw they had a lot of great reviews so I decided to check them out. Phil cut my hair and did an amazing job! He listened to exactly how I said I wanted it cut, stopped along the way to ask if the length was okay and all around just a perfect haircut for $15!! I highly recommend stopping by this barber shop. read more

There is a small portion on a sign at the front desk that indicates you'll get a Vidal Sassoon hair cut from the staff at this totally unassuming looking salon. Hah, right I thought. Look, I went to NYC many times while in college and went to Sassoon for hair cuts, incurring the cost of a train from Philly plus the $80+ charge the service. I know the attention to detail they brought to my hair cuts then -- they were stuff perfect. Now, there is this place, without the polished brass and chrome a Sassoon shop, a receptionist dressed in some over-the-top outfit and attitude. And, yet, you do exactly get a Sassoon haircut, that meticulous attention to detail (read: this is a 30-45 minutes plus experience) that will cost you about $25. Wow! I recommend that you simply go -- ignore the Jersey mini-strip mall feel of the location, rejoice in the incredible find you've made, and then walk a few feet over to a super Vietnamese restaurant and enjoy some pho. This salon is a miracle, a diamond in the rough. Look no further for excellence without attitude or insane pricing. read more

Ask for Kevin,the best barber I've ever had and don't forget to make an appointment cause he booked up super quick, thanks cuz

Updating my review, I received a horrible haircut today. She did not know how to cut a fade. I asked for a shaved fade with a little cut on top. She did not give me a shaved fade instead all I got was horrible mess. I don't know what happened but the other guys that I used to see where not there. I use to waiting long hours but not if I'm getting a mess at the end. Sadly I'll have to look for a new barbershop. This barbershop for me is getting worse, high wait times, too expensive for a horrible haircut. I don't recommend this place anymore. read more

I went to Barbie Barber a few years ago, not really knowing what to expect. It was close to home, and I was in a pinch to get an appointment. What I found was a sweet Persian lady named Fairy, and she wowed me with such a fantastic cut, I was hooked. Getting a great haircut boils down to talent, skill, and experience, and Fairy has it all. She started out cutting and styling women's hair (cuts my girls' hair), and broadened her skills as a men's barber. I have such a relaxing time getting my haircut by her. She offers a cold beverage, is personable, intently listens to my style requests, and most importantly pays great attention to detail, insuring the best cut possible. I highly recommend Barbie Barber for your next cut. read more

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Awesome chill spot to get a clean fresh cut or shave, really chill barbers Jaime , long & Jack they really know how to cut ur hair and make u look fresh for any occasion, read more

An amazing experience every single time. The atmosphere is fun and relaxing. They welcome you with an always cold beverage that hits the spot, every time. The stylists are all very talented and they always have a smile on their face. Ask for Rin! read more

Been having my haircuts by Tam for a while now.. Let me tell you.. if you need a nice clean fade for night out clubbing, picking up ladies, or even just to look good.. Tams the guy to go too. Hes a good , young experienced barber that knows how cut hair, to your preferences as well. Just let him know how you want it and he'll get it done! Hes an awesome person to begin with, and makes every visit worth it! Thanks tam! read more

I have some coworkers of mine that recommended this place to me. I made an appointment on yelp and Tam was really quick on getting back to me for the appointment time. This place is still in its early stages as far as decor but the service was fantastic! I'm definitely planning on going back! Keep up the good work Tam! See you again soon. read more

Went to get a fade, paid $21, it was the worst fade I ever got. I had to Nancy's on harbor and hazard to fix it.

Sigh... Just when I was happy to have a regular, good stylist, Leah is now gone. Got a new gal named Megan. She was nice and fun... but unfortunately... she lopped off an inch off the top when I asked her to just clean up and even out the top. I doubt that the top was that uneven where some areas were an inch shorter than others? I reacted "An Inch? That's a LOT" when she said "I'm ONLY taking an inch off"... Then as she got to the bangs.. she barely took anything off... so the bangs are a lil over an inch longer than the rest. I guess she took direction for the bangs when I asked to have the top cleaned up and evened out? I'm starting to wonder if it's just too dark in there where they can't see as well? So now it's 2/4 stylists where I am starting to feel like they do what they want to instead of listening to what you want? Too bad the 2 that did listen left Barbie... They just raised their prices to $21 from $18 too. read more

This place rocks!! All the girls here treat you like a king and they are all very skilled at giving you the haircut you want, fast and reasonably priced! The service, the atmosphere, the pampering, it is all so worth the trip and the relaxing hour you will spend on your appearance. Just the fact you get to have a beer, soda or water, while watching sports on their HD flatscreen is reason enough to give this place a try. Linda was the stylist that took care of my hair and color. She did an amazing job asking exactly what I was looking for, as well as suggesting ways she felt would help the overall look and feel. Especially with the color needed to help my gray. She took her time, made sure I was happy with the result, fine tuning as much as I asked. She was always smiling and having fun at what she does, and that goes a very long way in making me, the customer, extremely happy. Not only was the haircut and color an awesome experience, the icing on the cake was all the extras that follow. The neck and shoulder massage felt amazing! I did not feel it was rushed as you tend to feel at other similar salons. Linda even took the time to make sure all my excess hair was nice and trimmed, including eyebrows, ears, and the neck/chest area! Talk about feeling pampered!! Highly recommend to all looking for a great place to get your hair done. I believe any stylist there will take very good care if you, but I like Linda the best!!!! read more

I'm new to Costa Mesa and have been struggling to find a barber. I came here. Sam N cut my hair and trimmed my beard. Reasonably priced and one of the best fades I've ever had. Definitely coming back every time, from now on. read more

I highly recommend this barber shop. I'll never go anywhere else. All of the barbers there are very skilled! I used to go to tam but now I hop from Tam and Phil. They're very professional and the shop is always clean. read more

Excellent value for the price! Ask for Anna, although I'm sure everyone else is great too, just haven't had a chance to work with them yet. I have searched and tried many stylists and barbers and know how much of a challenge it can be to find the right person to do your hair. I usually go to a barber in downtown SA, but I was in the Costa Mesa area running errands so I figured I would try this place out. From the moment I walked in everyone was nice and welcoming, offering me a beverage. The place looks clean and down to earth. I got the chance to get my hair done with Anna, and she was awesome. She listened to what I wanted and delivered just that. She took her time which stands out, while many other establishments seem to be more focused on how QUICKLY they get you out the door as opposed to how WELL they cut your hair. She kept going until the hair looked just right, at the time they style I got was a fade up on the sides to a bit longer on top, where it was long enough to style (messy spiky). Very friendly, very professional, good conversation and learned a bit extra on how to style my hair and etc. Would definitely recommend this place and Anna to others. Go see for yourself. read more

Shout out to Kevin and the crew for cutting me up last min. After trying 4 other salons and"Barbers" I was on the brink of giving up. I heard about these cats through a patron from Mesa at the camp. These guys came through for me and left a strong 1st impression. I know that my hair is hard to work with since its curly. I gave their barber Kevin the ultimate test and went with a Med-Combover skin fade. The results were fire! I will definitely keep giving these talented gentlemen my bussiness. You may want to book your appointments in advance after you give this place a run. As I hear it can get fairly busy. Wait times vary by haircut which is normal, but it's worth it. It's obvious these guys love what they do and work hard to make their clients happy. 20/10 My new favorite Barber Shop for OC satisfied with their product -IGN read more