I have a guy back near home that always does my hair. I wanted a cut before my upcoming anniversary trip, but I didn't have time to go to him this week due to my schedule. I was so close to just nixing a haircut all together and waiting until next week, but I changed my mind at the very last minute. I went on the hunt for barber shops within walking distance of my job, and though I used the '$' price filter, some places were still $40 and up! Someone needs to fix those '$' categories, because that's more like $$$. Anyways, I did finally stumble upon one within walking distance. I decided to go with this shop, which is located in the atrium area of the above the International Square Food Court. I called ahead to confirm that I could just walk in around lunch time, and so I did. Joanna was the one who answered, and she told me to ask for her when I came in. And so I did, and an Asian lady stood up. There was a black woman next to her that looked surprised that I didn't pick her. Under normal circumstances, she probably would've been my first choice (that's who I'm used to cutting my hair, in general). She seemed kind, and she gestured me to her seat, and prepped me for the cut. Around my neck is usually a white band that's tied, but all she put on the back of my neck was a paper towel... that was different. I told her I wanted a fade all around and a shape up on my beard. In the midst of working on my hair, she kept stopping to talk about stuff like where I was from and all, which I don't mind... and she told me what she was doing every step of the way before she did it --- I did really like that part. Once she was done with my head, she kept insisting on trimming the beard down, even though I only asked for a shape up. I declined, but despite that, she ended up trimming it anyway and I just went with it. All the while while tending to my face, she kept asking me questions that she expected me to respond to. How am I supposed to move my jaw when you have clippers to it? And when I wouldn't say anything she would stop and repeat the question. I was like "............". Another interesting part of the conversation was when she said: "I learned to cut your type of hair from a black man. I watched him!" That made me feel slightly awkward, and if she had said that in the beginning and not near the end, not sure what I would've done. The cut was finally done, and I do appreciate that I didn't have any nicks to tend to. When I checked the little hand mirror before paying, everything looked okay. When I got home however... I noticed that my fade was half way up on the side of my head on one side, and ALL the way up on the other side. It was completely uneven, and with little time before my anniversary trip, I didn't have much time to figure things out! I was able to use my own skills and salvage it, but nothing like a professional. I can only guess that I didn't see how off it was in the shop because of 1) the lighting or 2) because I was just ready to get out of there. Next time, if I don't have time to get a haircut from my usual, I will definitely just NOT get a haircut at all. Lesson learned, and $25 down the drain. read more

I've had a number of good haircuts at Jose's Barber Shop. Compared to many other places in the immediate vicinity, Jose's is cheaper, better, and ultimately nicer. My only real complaint is the location - because it is within an office building, the doors tend to lock quickly and Jose's tends to close after normal business hours, meaning it's a hair inconvenient for office workers. read more

I gave the same description I have given to 20+ barbers over the years. I asked for a fade, but somehow ended up with the same length all the way up, with an abrupt change to longer hair up top. I comb over my hair, but it was all cut the same length and that is no longer possible. The person that cut my hair was the lady to the left when you walk in. As other reviews say, DO NOT go to her. I should have read further down the reviews before I went. A smaller issue was that she didn't even make an attempt to clean the hair clippings off of my forehead/ neck/ ears. Also the workstation was very dirty and it did not appear that she had sanitized any of her tools, they were all in a pile with previous customers' hair on them. On top of it all, I called to ask for price before I went, and was told $25, however when I stand up to leave she asks for $30. I used to go to a barber school for $5 haircuts when I was a broke college student and even there I never had a haircut this bad. read more

A great place for an authentic shave. While growing out the winter scruff it was brought to my attention that I need to trim back my added layer of warmth and having tried all the new places I decided to go old school if you will. Jose did a fantastic job on cleaning me up, straight razor, hot towel and conversation. These are three things that every shave needs, everything else is just fluff. Don't waste your time and money paying three times as much someplace else, go see Jose and be sharp and savvy within 20 minutes and leave with cash in pocket. read more

I went to Jose's for a haircut and a shave. I won't be going back. To start with, the place isn't especially clean. More importantly, I paid $45 plus tip, which would be fine for a great haircut and shave. Unfortunately I ended up with a sloppy haircut and a terrible shave. The Haircut: Overall this was an average haircut. She did what I asked, and when I left the shop I thought it looked fine. When I got home though, I noticed that there were still patches of long hair left around the ears, and the sideburns were cut way too high. The sideburns I could forgive, as people have different ideas of where sideburns begin. But the hair around the ears is inexcusable. This was the first time I've ever broken out my own clippers to clean up a haircut I paid for. The Shave: I had never had a straight razor shave...and I still haven't. She shaved me with a safety razor, and not very well. It wasn't a particularly close shave, and she left patches on my face that I had to clean up when I got home. She also didn't shave far enough down my neck. There was a clear line of stubble just below my Adam's apple. Apart from the end result, the shaving experience itself was just uncomfortable. The place is certainly overpriced, but after this experience I wouldn't go back even for a free haircut. read more

I read the 4 and 5 star reviews and decided Jose's was going to be my go-to barber shop after arriving in DC. I went a couple weeks back for my first cut and was pleased with the level of professionalism. The haircut itself was average or slightly better than average. Jose's brother knew it was my first time there and spent the majority of the time telling me about his customers and the frequency of their visits. The message was gentle but clear: "you should get your hair cut every two to three weeks...". He asked if I wanted my neck shaved with a buzzer or straight razor and I happily replied straight razor, as this is the mark of an authentic barber, in my opinion. We chatted about that and he held similar views. Great job on the shave. So, good haircut, great shave, decent conversation... why only three stars? Having read the yelp posts before going, I knew haircuts cost $20. In fact, the person leaving as I walked in also paid $20. When I said "what do I owe you," he replied "$25 even." That $5 bothered me. I planned to spend $25 but figured $5 would be for a good tip. Knowing I had to tip something (he did do, as I said earlier, a good job, and I planned to return), I handed him the other $5 in my pocket and wasn't surprised that he quickly said thanks (barely audible) and turned around without offering change. Yes, I could have insisted on a few dollars back but the damage was already done. Maybe he knew I was new or thought I wasn't local and figured he could get free lunch out of the deal or maybe he decided I was too much work for $20, though I asked for, and received, a very basic trim. Either way, I went in with high expectations and left disappointed. Maybe that's my fault but I've received better service in slightly smaller cities and, for $20 including tip, had a barber for life! My experience was 2 stars but I admit that, if not for my expectations, it would have been 3 stars, hence the rating. read more

I have been here twice now, once Jose cut my hair and it was one of the best hair cuts I've ever had. He was very professional and is clearly a talented barber. The second time another barber cut it and It was one of the worst haircuts I've ever had. She did not listen to what I wanted at all, and essentially buzz-cut my entire head after I specifically asked her not to. She also rambled on about how terrible her co-workers were. In the end she did a very lousy job of cleaning the hair off and I was left with it all over my legs and shoes. TLDR; 5 stars for Jose, 1 star for the woman who cut my hair today. Ask for Jose. read more

My barber at Jose's Barber Shop is Anna Washington. If you ever want a Mohawk cut correctly check her out. I receive compliments from men, women, teenagers of how on point my hair is ALL the time. Anna Washington THANK YOU!! read more

Great old style barber shop at least for men. Ask for Jose the owner. He does an excellent job although it tends to look a little short at first. Not so sure about the women who also work here. read more

This is the best men's haircut you'll find, period. Jose's been cutting hair since the 1960's and knows how to make you look good. He still uses sissors, a straight razor and a head massager. You leave looking and feeling like you can take on whatever K Street has to offer. I went to Jose for years and even though I'm across the country now, I arrange my schedule to visit his shop when I'm in DC. read more

Walked in a little after 5:30, female barber was rude, acted like I was inconveniencing her. She gave me a quick haircut, very sloppy, charged me $25. I could have done a better job myself. Avoid. read more

This is a great place for a men's haircut. Unless you want to pay a ton of money, most other places will just take out the clippers and just slice up and butcher your hair. But for a solid price (usually ~ $20) you get a great haircut. The people there are extremely friendly and have been in DC since the 1960s. I was lucky enough to visit them my first month working in DC and I have been coming back ever since even though I work out in Arlington. read more

Just like a sheep shearing or a prison hair cattery. The barber (she) was trying to torture me - very rough and awkward. And of course the aesthetic result doesn't bother anybody - hair off, job is done, pay money and go. This is not the first place of that type I see in DC area but very typical one - you do not feel that you are a client and that somebody cares to make you look nice - you feel like a sheep who needs some technical procedure to be done. I miss hair cutters in Russia where young good-looking girls with a sense of style were tying they best to make you a cut like in a magazine cover. read more

First haircut I've had since moving to DC last month. It was better than I expected and I thought they did an excellent job. It was a little pricier than I'm used to ($30, with tip), but then again everything in DC is. Definitely worth it though for the straight razor shave of the back of my neck - that is something I've missed since leaving my college barbershop. Only downside is the hours, hence why I only gave four stars. read more

Today I had one of the most unprofessional, horrible experiences at Jose's Barber shop today. I wanted to start of by saying Jose is an older gentleman, and I was raised to respect my elders, but he tested my patience today. After he butchered my hair, I asked him to blend it in, and he told me he didn't want to cut my hair anymore, as he would "mess it up further". I swallowed my pride, and didn't complain, and I left. I forgot my glasses, so I went back to the shop. Before I went in, I snapped some pictures of the storefront, possibly to upload them on Yelp. Upon entering the store, on of Jose's employees began yelling about how she didn't want her picture on my phone. I explained that I would want to use the pictures to post a review on Yelp. She was extremely rude, and Jose sat there seemingly tongue tied. Bottom line, there are plenty of barber in the city that will absolutely cut your hair how YOU want it cut. Until you are satisfied. I was charged $25. Cash only policy here, but it says the accept credit on yelp. Poor Service, No skill, Bad Attitudes. read more

Good haircut for a decent price. They charged me $25 for a men's cut, which is cheap for downtown DC. My barber was efficient and thorough.

Good haircut, nice experience overall. More expensive than I expected ($25) and so probably will look somewhere else for a new regular barber. read more

I have been a regular customer for many years. Jose is the best barber I have ever had...never a bad haircut...He also takes the time to make you feel special. A wonderful man. read more