Contrary to the the assertion of Rev. Lucas in the most recent season of Luke Cage, maintaining a…read more"baldy" isn't REALLY that hard: Just keep your blade sharp, your water hot, and your hands steady...and maybe keep some aloe around to rub in afterwards, because we all make mistakes.
In contrast, keeping my own beard in order has proven to be damn near impossible. I tried for months to cultivate the dapper and manly "Will Riker" look, but always wound up with something more akin to an apocalypse-ready "Rick Grimes". This resulted in periodic reset-shaves and, due to the prickly nature of stubble, a thoroughly annoyed girlfriend. Clearly, if I was going to adhere to my plan of having a post-military look that featured as little of my chin as possible, I was going to need professional help with my facial hair situation.
...and that's what brought me to Dayton Grooming Co, and the three excellent barbers who work there.
So here's a useful bit of barbershop etiquette: Unless you're going to a chain like SuperCuts, your barber is supposed to be YOUR BARBER and, once that sacred pact is formed, it is not to be torn asunder. On return visits to a shop, it is considered extremely uncool to just jump in the first open chair instead of waiting for your guy to be ready. However, as somebody who hasn't consistently kept hair on his scalp since high school, I didn't know any of this...and that's how I wound up learning that EVERYBODY at Dayton Grooming Co really knows what they're doing:
- Bryan originally brought my beard under control, and made sure that I had a good conditioning plan (Honest Amish Pure is good stuff).
- Sergio convinced me to add a bit of shape to my cheekline, even though it required a bit of maintenance on my part.
- Rick fixed me up after I went rogue and tried to imitate something I saw in a YouTube video...and was kind enough not to mention it, ever.
Seriously, every one of these guys will make you look good.
To answer a question that keeps coming up whenever barbershops are discussed: DGC handles both white and black clientele in what appears to be about equal proportions, with customer ages ranging from children to old men. I've never seen any women in their chairs, but if you're male or want a male-style haircut, they've got you covered.
Also, unlike some barbers/stylists, these guys aren't afraid to use an actual straight razor when the situation calls for it, but they don't act like pulling out the throat-cutter is some sort of necessary ritual, either. They're proficient, but they don't grandstand, and that kind of professional confidence is to be admired.
Prices are very reasonable, with most hairstyles in the $10-$15 range. They don't take credit cards, but there's an ATM at the mini-mart next door.
