I mean, look at that before and after picture. I look feral in one and then I look neat and professional in the other. They did a good job. They were quick, communicated. The price is market yeah recommend it's very convenient. If you're in the area, you know like Cayuga Heights, Lansing and stuff definitely give them a try. Small quaint shop. Grab a bit at Ithaca Bakery too if there is a walk in wait. read more

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My brother has a special event today and he needed a haircut so, we ended up here. The quality of the haircut was great! The vibe was bringing 1900's because of the Pop Rock playing on the background. read more

Gene's Barber Stylist - My brother getting his haircut done with an amazing lady. She's approachable and cut hairs very well. - Barbers Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I haven't had a bad haircut since I started coming here about 3 years ago. Charlene mainly cuts my hair and is always like seeing reference pictures if I want a different style. Never a complaint even if they're super busy. Good vibes during the process too (even for people who are not the most talkative). Great place! read more

The WORST! Absolutely the worst haircuts I've ever had. First, I had a young dude who cut my neck with his razor. I pointed it out and he said nothing. No apology, nothing. I had to basically walk him through the haircut. He had no idea how to do a proper cut. I then made the mistake of going back, and I had a woman who gabbed incessantly about her dogs, and whatever else, meanwhile, cutting off, literally all my hair giving me a buzz cut without asking along the way if I wanted it that short. I couldn't believe it.. I told her I wanted short back and sides, while keeping the top long and looking good. A common cut. She said she had been cutting hair for 37 years. My seven-year-old could cut my hair better than her. From now on, I will pay more for the best possible barber I can find. Beware of this place--they have no clue. read more

It was a good atmosphere and I had a good conversation but he cut my hair a little to short.

I've been coming here for a few years, and the quality of the experience has been steadily declining. Maybe that's mostly COVID? The stylists' skills are less good on average, and there aren't always enough of them to make the experience still "quick." The only one that's here this morning is doing a good job with the cut but *talking nonstop.* Like, this is his opportunity to say everything. read more

Got an excellent cut and beard trim from Nick. Showed him a photo and he nailed it. Great conversation, super respectful and polite. Welcome to Ithaca Nick! read more

This is a solid local barber shop. They give quick, consistent, no frills haircuts at a reasonable price and with pleasant conversation. My only complaint is that it's cash only. Come on, guys-- it's 2021. read more

Best barber in Ithaca ! Every time I see Joel at Gene's , I am never disappointed ! He has been my barber for years now and couldn't ask for more. He always pays special attention to his customers and does extremely well with children as well. Highly recommend anyone looking for a fresh cut check out Gene's & ask for Joel. read more

Gene's Barber Stylist - Best #barber in #Ithaca ! Every time I see Joel at Gene's , I am never disappointed! Top notch family friendly service :) - Barbers Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Britton was amazing with my 3 year old autistic son. Haircuts have always been a struggle for us and this was his first haircut at a barber. Britton was calm the whole time, took his time, was very sympathetic and invited us to come back next time. Just a great experience, even though my son screamed bloody murder the whole time. It is so hard to find stylists with the patience needed to work with kids with sensory issues but Britton was a true professional. Not to mention, my son was able to get a clean, great haircut and didn't have to get a buz cut, at home, like usual. a million thanks! read more

On a trip back home visiting from San Francisco. I've been in need of a haircut and had trouble getting the cut I wanted. Peggy gave me a haircut, it was fast and perfect! I wish I lived closer so I could come here every time I need a haircut. Best haircut I've had in ages. read more

The only reason I stopped by was to get my hair shortened and left with 2 inches off the top with an uneven fade. Plus some weird conversation went on... read more

I found Gene's through Yelp! My barber was friendly and relaxed and gave me a very good cut. This was the first time I'd payed for a haircut in Ithaca and I certainly got my money's worth. If you're looking for a friendly atmosphere with a good barber certainly go to Gene's! I will be a repeat customer! read more

I found this place on yelp and was not sure about it before going in ! Charlene (hope I remember the name correctly ) did my hair cut and she was such a star ! I didn't even have to say a word but she knew exactly what would look great on me. It's rare to find people who truly love their work and give their 200% but I am glad I found this place. Joel(the second stylist) was also doing a great job ! read more

If you go into Gene's make sure to ask for Joel. His haircuts are as good as it gets. But when he is either out-of-town or on vacation, all the stylists have given me a top-notch haircut. I am very fussy about my hair being just right and they are always attentive to details and will stop and show me the progress of the cut along the way. The shop is well-kept, clean and neat. There are normally three barbers / stylists working at the same time so the wait is very short, if there is any wait at all. I am a native of Ithaca and I have gone to just about every barber shop in town over the years, but now I go to Gene's exclusively since they have developed a great team of stylists. The shop is close to Cornell and there is always plenty of easy parking at the Triphammer mall since their parking lot is built the size of an airport runway. Highly recommended!! read more

I've tried a number of places for a solid men's haircut in Ithaca. Despite the rising prices at Gene's (now $16), it's still a great deal. They are a cash only place, and don't take reservations. This means you can sometimes have a bit of a wait, but if you expect that, it's never too bad. My only complaint is that the quality of the cut can be pretty variable depending on who you have. I've had 3 or 4 different people and I now make sure Joel is working and I wait for his chair to be open. The other cuts weren't terrible (except one terrible bowl cut) , but they weren't great. Joel is both fun to talk with and takes great care in his work. read more

When my wife and I had to go to an out of town wedding and needed a cut for me these people did the job and did it extremely well. My wife had her hair done at another beautician and her hair made her look like an old boy. Peggy took over and made my wife into the beautiful mother of the groom that she was always meant to be. Peggy we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the excellent job that you did that day. Sorry it took me so long to make this post but I'm just learning how to use Yelp. If we are ever back in town we will definitely come see you again read more

Joel did a great job on my undercut with hard part. He was also a great conversationalist and I felt like I was done in no time. Best of all, the price is extremely reasonable at a mere $16 for men for an excellent cut. read more

I have been going to Gene's ever since moving to the area. It is often hit or miss depending who you have do your hair. Often my haircut takes about 10 minutes, which is great, but it is often not done properly. I often have to clean up areas that were missed. The nice thing is there are many stylist that work for Gene's, so you just have to find the one that works for you. I have done that and it has been a much better experience since. read more

Friendly staff and I left with a decent haircut. They made sure they blow dried my head to get rid of all the hair clippings. What I liked about this place compared to other barbers in the area is that the staff has a sense of humor and could actually hold a decent conversation. Other places are very much lacking! Will return whenever I am in the area. read more

I will not return. New in town and was looking for a solid place to visit every 2-3 weeks. This is not it. To start she cleaned nothing after the man previous to me and I sat in his cut hair and used his dirty smock that she didn't even bother to shake out. Eh, I can get over that. Unfortunately the job was not even close to well done. She left me with one sideburn more than a half inch shorter than the other. Chops in my hairline and major stragglers of long hairs everywhere. I am not sure what even the back looks like because she didn't bother show me. I left covered in hair (not just mine) and most likely will have to pay someone to fix this disaster. Too bad because I work right next door and can't recommend them to anyone. Really poor experience. Fail! read more

Not only was it one of the best haircuts I have ever received, but the price was outstanding too. $15 for a regular dry cut with two of the nicest, friendliest, most outgoing barbers I have ever met. They are perfectionists, which in this field - unlike others - is a valuable quality to have. They truly want to make sure that the cut they are giving is on par with the customer's expectations. The barbers here actually care about you too; they are sincere, genuine people who are actually interested in getting to know you. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend Gene's. read more

Love this place. Joel, Carol and everyone are super friendly and do their best to give you the haircut you like. Highly recommend them. Love that you can just pop in any day and get a quick cut. Thank you!! read more

Fantastic shop! Always a friendly face and their updates look great. I can always count on a great haircut and atmosphere at Gene's.

I discovered Gene's entirely by accident. I felt like I was noticed and cared for, not the way I've felt at various other Ithaca barber shops. Joel cut my hair and did great job both delivering what I asked for and making sure it looked good. read more

Just dropped by here today for the first time based on a tip from a friend. Great service, really nice barbers (I saw Joel and Charlene), great with kids. Fair price at $15, a bit pricier than some places in collegetown but I feel like I got a better cut and really quick too. I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Would suggest. Not mobbed by cornell students but it should be. Much better than anyone I've gone to in collegetown. I now put off getting haircuts in NYC to go here. read more

I wanted a rock cut called a Disconnect that the first lady didn't know, so she stepped aside and another lady cut my hair. She did a great job. Prices were reasonable too. Unfortunatley, the lady who cut my hair had to leave town for a few months. read more

Gene's is a great localy own barber shop in ithaca. she is skilled, experienced and offers great hairstyles. Rina read more

I've been bringing my five year-old here since he was two. (He got his first real haircut here.) They've always done a great job and have been very accommodating. Definitely recommended. read more

I've Been going to Genes for about 5yrs. No matter who you get they are all amazing barbers. Joel is my personal favorite and I try as often as possible to go when he is there. I've had a Fade, Pompadour, Kennedy and a Right handed Comb Across, all cut by his expert hand. They have no problem cutting your hair any way you want it. I dread getting my hair clipped any where else. read more

My husband has been going to Gene's for 7 years and has always had an amazing experience. Joel is the Picasso of barbers. His attention to detail and commitment to his profession is unparalleled. I highly recommend this shop, walk ins are always greeted quickly and the staff is super friendly. read more

This place gave me the worst haircut I've had in this state. I told the stylist *exactly* what I wanted, and I still walked away with my hair cut two inches shorter than I wanted. She basically gave me a buzz cut. And they kept telling sexist, objectifying jokes about women the whole time I was there. Will never go back. read more

Closes at 5, so if you have a job it is a real hassle getting in. They do not take cards which is inconvenient, but there is an atm around the corner (a square is free, would definitely improve user experience). $16 is a bit steep for just a haircut around here, but you often get what you pay for in life so I decided to go for it expecting at least an average haircut. The haircut felt really rushed, and I walked out of there with a haircut that I don't feel that great about. I start a new job next week where I begin speaking in front of students and I was kind of excited to upgrade my look from boring crew cuts but now I feel kind of embarrassed about how I look. If it were just one thing or another I wouldn't mind because nothing can be perfect, but it was just an all around bummer of an experience. read more

Came in for a professional haircut. The place was dirty, they seemed very distracted with each other and not the client and the hairdresser forgot to cut large portions of my hair. Ended up having to get another haircut to fix her mistakes. read more

Doesn't matter who cuts your hair. Everyone does a fantastic job. Just tell them what you want! Highly recommend!!

Great Place!! I been in Ithaca for over 3 years, having a hard time finding a good place until I showed up here. Staff is extremely friendly, they don't rush the cut even when there are busy. Highly recommended. read more