Raygo Blendz is amazing. I came in for my first haircut in 4+ months (growing it long from a short fade). It was my first haircut at Paradox and it won't be my last. Even better, he is patient and takes the time to explain different methods and all of the fun insights behind different hair looks you can achieve. Also he makes recommendations to point you in the right direction, including other stylists at the salon that specialize in certain things. Highly recommend! read more

Paradox - First haircut in 4 months -- Raygo Blendz crushed it! - Barbers Near Me - San Jose, California

Phillip is great and super accomodating! The venue is also relaxing and close to a few cafes.

I had an appointment here the other day for a perm with one of barbers (Kevin/K-Luk) here who had a respectful portfolio on his social media. I showed him my reference pictures (loose flowy perm for middle part) and style (wolfcut) that I was hoping to achieve. He said we could achieve something similar to the pictures that I showed. I mentioned that I had processed hair on the back of my head and questioned how to proceed from that. He told me initially the perm wouldn't look right if he didn't my entire head so I agreed to proceed given the possibility that the perm may fry the back of my head. He also mentioned to me that I needed a haircut to which I asked him if I could add it on as I assumed I would be able like most of the other salons/barbers that I have been to before. He told me he couldn't as he was booked. He begins to perm my hair and talks to another colleague and mentions he going to avoid my processed hair. We finish the perm and he washes the solution out of my hair and shows me my hair. It's significantly curlier and different than what I expected. But didn't look too bad because it was still wet. I didn't want to say anything because I hoped once my hair dried, the perm would look less curly as it has in the past and I didn't want to say anything since I waited over a month to book this appointment. I had paid previously and tipped 20% during the booking of it. As I drive home, I noticed my hair looking more and more poofy on the sides--almost like those kids who grow out their hair/surfer hair. Once I get home, my hair is a lot more dry now and I noticed that the sides were all sticking out horizontally like a fish hook. I showed my girlfriend who told me that this was the worst thing she's ever seen. The sides were totally messed up and the back looked horrible. I ended up going to another salon that evening because I was in shock of how bad the perm turned out. I asked the stylist there if there was any way to layer and fix it, to which they informed they couldn't as the perm rods were not placed appropriately for a middle part and said the only way to fix it was it cut off. Given how bad the perm turned out, I opted to cut it off. I mentioned all of this to my barber the next day on his social and he didn't even seem to care. He told me I should've had my hair layered before the perm and that my hair looked weird because he didn't perm the processed hair. As a customer who showed him the reference picture, if he didn't believe he could achieve the results without layering my hair/didn't believe he could achieve it then why go through with at all. I would've skipped the perm or only done a haircut if that's what he believed was achievable from the reference picture. Even from the picture of the back I sent him, he could tell that the perm looked bad but let me walk out of the shop without even trying to fix it. I already paid/tipped beforehand so there's no incentive to fix a bad service because you're just an invoice at this point. The customer service at this places isn't good. If you gave someone a really bad perm/service and don't care about your mistake or don't care to offer ways to assist your client, it just shows you that you're just a dollar sign to them. read more

Paradox - The perm I got. - Barbers Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been going here for several months now and I couldn't be happier with the experience! From the moment I walked in, the space was clean and bright, and the shop had a great vibe - stylish, and comfortable. All the barbers were incredibly friendly and made for a welcoming atmosphere. My barber, Phillip, was absolutely fantastic. He took the time to listen to exactly what I wanted, offered professional advice, and executed the cut with incredible precision and attention to detail. Not only is he a highly skilled barber, but he's also genuinely friendly and made the entire process enjoyable. The location is also a huge plus - parking was easy to find, and the neighborhood is great to walk around and check out other businesses before or after your appointment. read more

I cannot recommend getting a cut by Phillip enough! He listens to what you want and also takes into consideration what fits your face shape. He is very meticulous and takes his time to make sure the whole process goes well. He's also a super friendly and personable guy. Highly recommend booking his services, you won't regret it! read more

See all

Hands down the best barber I'll be seeing for each and every haircut from here on out; Phillip Kong's experience and expertise really showed through with every interaction during my time here. In all my years visiting different barbers, Phillip Kong best tailored my haircut based not only on my personal preference, but on his technical training on aspects I seldom consider: head shape, symmetry, and hairline. Phillip Kong understood the assignment better than any barber I've visited Do yourself a favor and give him a visit, you'll instantly upgrade . read more

Finding a barber that you can trust is hard. Look no further, Phillip K. at Paradox will make sure you leave the shop looking sharp and confident. I very much appreciate his keen eyes and attention to details. I can tell that he takes his craft very seriously. He's always looking to improve his skills. His top priority is to make sure that you walk out his chair feeling confident, doesn't matter if you're his regular client or visiting from out of town and you'll most likely never see him again. Anyone who sits in his chair will receive top quality service. I've been to many barbershops and I can confidently say that Pardox fosters friendly environment and cleanliness/sanitization is one of their top priorities. I appreciate this because some barbershops can get little dirty and musty. Phillip K. is a professional. I will feel confident dropping off my little cousin and run errands while he gets a haircut. I don't have to worry about the little one picking up profanity/bad mannerism. I also appreciate Phillip K. being punctual with his appointments. This is huge for me as I value my time. Of course, some appointments may carry over little longer and you'll have to wait couple minutes before Phillip is done taking care of his client that's scheduled before you - That is understandable. What Phillip won't do is pull some BS and cancel on you last minute. When something does come up, he will communicate with his clients. I've had many barbers cancel my appointments last minute or fail to show up and I'm waiting outside for longer than 30 minutes (and this was reoccurring theme, and I refuse to do business with people that lack professionalism). Lastly, I personally feel like when I swing by for a haircut, it doesn't feel transactional. He remembers the little things and conversations from previous appointments. If you're still shopping around for a barber that you can trust and stick with for a long time, save yourself sometime and headache. Give Phillip K. a chance. I can guarantee that you'll be back for another appointment read more

Can't recommend Phillip enough! He absolutely nails the assignment every time. He always starts by asking what I'm comfortable with, then offers thoughtful suggestions based on his expertise with different hair types and face shapes. I've never left disappointed. On top of that, he's friendly, polite, and easy to talk to. The shop itself has a relaxed, lo-fi vibe that makes you feel at ease the moment you walk in. read more

When I left NYC I thought I'd never get as good of a haircut again, I've never been so happy to be wrong. Phillip Kong is straight up the best barber I've been to in the Bay Area (and I've been to many). Super talented and one of the few to be able to deal with my weird curly asian hair right. 5 stars. read more

K-Luk really does know hair! I've been to many barbers around the Bay Area and they always mess it up or make my hair worse. But I came to K-Luk and he was able to cut my hair the way I asked as well as add his own input which my haircut and style way better! I've been a regular now of K-Luk and I can say that each cut gets better and better the more you go. K-Luk is chili dude so he'll really cater the haircut to the person and make you stand out! I highly recommend! read more

Ive never been as self conscious as I am now after this cut. Brutal and nothing like the pictures I showed. read more

See all

Great for my teenage boys who's lots of hair and need scissor cuts. Cool vibe, always parking.

My son is two years old with a head full of hair! Kevin Arciaga has been cutting his hair since he was one. Kevin is patient, kind and skillful with the scissors. My toddler will go in looking like the wolverine and come out looking like a little gentleman. If you've ever had a toddler boy, you know it's hard to get them to sit still, Kevin makes it look easy. Also the vibes of the shop are amazing, it's kinda nice taking my son to a barbershop where he can observe other men taking care of their physical appearance. Highly recommend! read more

Paradox - Haircut - Barbers Near Me - San Jose, California

Highly recommend Philip! I started growing my hair out and was looking for a more layered hairstyle for a wolfcut, and I got exactly what I wanted but better with his own personal recommendations! He also took the time to explain why certain parts needed to be cut or trimmed to create a more complete/aesthetic look! For sure my go-to barber from now on read more

I've been struggling for ages to find barbers that understand how to cut my hair, always leaving dissatisfied. Until I went here! These guys are absolute legends, they truly understand their craft, and are AMAZING at what they do. The studio has a sleek minimalist aesthetic that really showcases their approach--simple, clean. The staff are all friendly and chill. My barber Kris, really stood out for his passion and I can't wait to book him again! While pricy, this ain't your typical barber. With the quality of their cuts, it's no wonder they charge as much as they do! read more

Highly recommend Phillip Kong. It was my first time at Paradox and I had been growing out my hair for a bit. I didn't know what to do with it but Phillip gave me a suggestion and cut my hair the way he thought was best and it turned out to be my best haircut yet. read more

Nando is great. Best fade I've ever had. Jokes 5/10 could use some work. lol Shop has a great atmosphere and always has good music playing. read more

I booked a haircut for my brother and Phillip Kong's work was absolutely phenomenal. He was super easygoing and his expertise really shows in his craft. My brother came out like a new man with renewed confidence all thanks to Phillip. We'll definitely be back soon!!! read more

I booked an appointment with K-Luk for my husband's birthday, and the experience exceeded our expectations. My husband wasn't sure what hairstyle he wanted, but K-Luk guided him in choosing the perfect look. He also took the time to teach us how to style and maintain it. The attention to detail and expertise made it well worth the wait! read more

I didn't feel I'm well-taken cared of. Just had a haircut with David at Paradox barbershop in Japantown, San Jose - he did a good fade but not good with scissor-cut on my top. I communicated the details and showed him photos of my previous haircuts to give him a better understanding of my expectations. It seemed to me he wasn't that willing to finish/ clean-up the proportions between my sides and top, which left some areas looking undone. After paying him, I asked if we can go back to just cut one size down on the top to correct it and he said "next time, we're closing now." I don't feel that I'm well-taken cared of. read more

Kevin Arciaga's passion for barbering is demonstrated through his skillset and knowledge. I asked for a mullet for my five year old son, in which he executed perfectly. He clearly explained what style would look best for my son's head/face shape whilst taking into consideration what I asked for. He didn't rush through his work and made sure that my son received the best service. His attention to detail, sense of humor and creativity are what makes him stand out. I would highly recommend getting cut by him. read more

Just got cut by Kevin A. HIGHLY recommend!! Don't sleep on these barbers. Very talented!

Highly recommend Phillip if you need a fresh cut or in need of finding a new barber in town at the San Jose Japantown location. He knows what he's doing and provides a great service. read more

I've been to many places to get my cut and usually it's never as I want it and especially now spending that kind of money for something that might not turn out the way you want sucks. But Phillip at Paradox knows exactly how I want my haircut, and never misses. Very knowledgeable, and understands trends and will give you recommendations if you're not sure. Extremely detail oriented and although expensive as is the new norm for haircuts, but you'll get what you paid for compared to most of these other barbers. 10/10 recommend. read more

Not happy at all with the hair cut. Been to many new hair salons, this salon was the worst of them all. Not every hair texture and head shape is same, and I would have been happy if there was some effort taken to understand the texture and adjust that with the head shape. Literally have hair horns on the back. Shows how well it was cut. I've never experienced a haircut with me facing away from the mirror for the full 1 hour, not knowing what was even going on. Learnt something new. Utter disappointment. read more

This review is for Rich. My hair has been messed up pretty much since I moved away from San Jose. No barber seems to be able to get it right or know what they're really doing. I finally remembered Paradox and on a whim decided to make an appointment and drove down to see if they could fix my hair. Rich did a great job, he really took his time, and I left with the exact haircut that I wanted for the first time in years. I'm definitely going to to be making the drive down once or twice a month now. read more

Been coming here for over a year and a half now and every time it's always a vibe. My barber Nando is amazing and what he does and makes getting my cut every two weeks something I look forward to! read more

Kevin A. was really nice and knows a lot about in hair-styling theory! He explained how he was going to cut my hair and really personalized the experience! read more

I got cut by Megan and the experience was great! Megan was super kind and very professional and personable! I appreciated how Megan took the time to ask me exactly how I wanted my hair and even gave tips on what would suit me personally. After going through several other barbershops I'm glad I could finally get a cut that was exactly what I wanted. The atmosphere was very nice, I would def go back. read more

Kris is hands down the best barber I've found since my previous one moved away. He's honest, skilled, and incredibly efficient. He nails every haircut or style I ask for, and I appreciate how quickly he works without compromising quality. Plus, he's easy to chat with. I've made the drive to see him twice now, and it's totally worth it. Thank you Kris read more

I made an apt through the shop and then Kevin cancels it because he wants me to pay up front for the haircut. Who pays for a haircut before it's cut? Especially 2 months before. read more

Ive been coming here to get my haircut with Kevin Arciaga, and I'm always happy and satisfied knowing I got a fresh haircut. Kevin is friendly, lively and very patient. Great service! Highly recommend! read more

Came here last Friday because my boyfriend needed a haircut. Once you enter, the interior is very bright, spacious, and modern-looking! There is a boutique at the front of the shop that sells clothes, hair products, etc. Then if you walk further back you'll see the part of the shop where the barbers work their magic. My boyfriend had an appointment with Nando who really took his time when cutting my bf's hair (his haircut turned out great btw!). I could tell all the barbers at this establishment are very skilled at what they do. Highly recommend this barber shop!! read more

Been coming here since 2017, great service. Honestly you can go to anyone at both locations and you will be satisfied

Very nice and clean atmosphere! The barbers were so friendly while I was waiting for my boyfriend to finish getting his haircut. We were visiting from Chicago and since my boyfriend is a barber himself, he definitely wanted to stop here after following them on Instagram to get a haircut. He was extremely happy with the service. We will definitely come back when we visit California again! read more

I don't usually leave any reviews but sheeeesh my guy Zach gave me one the best crop top w/ a short mullet haircut I ever had.

Loved loved my son's haircut!! Riv did an amazing job!! Definitely will be taking my son back!

Pick any barber at this place and you know you'll get a quality haircut. I've rotated due to scheduling but have always been satisfied with my haircut. For the same price you're pretty much pain anywhere else you get a hot towel and they wash your hair to be able to go on out throughout the day. The barber shop is always clean and professional. read more

Paradox - Complimentary hot towel - Barbers Near Me - San Jose, California

Really happy with how my appointment went! Book an appointment with Jeric if you want a barber who is passionate about cutting hair, asks questions, and takes his time to make sure the result is the best it could be. read more

Hello, I'm Lance, and for the longest time, I didn't believe in haircuts. "Why is this?" you may ask. Well, for about two years, every haircut I've gotten has been a complete disaster. Leaving my confidence low and wanting to wear hats all day, every day (even indoors!). My girlfriend's friend highly recommended we go to Paradox, and now I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT AS WELL because RIV MADE ME A BELIEVER. He took the time to analyze my hair type and growth patterns, and gave me a haircut I am proud to wear. GONE are my hat-wearing days. I feel like a completely new man. Thank you, Riv from Paradox. Thank you for helping me find my confidence again -- I guess it was just hiding under all my hair! read more