I have never left unhappy, great customer service, cash only and there's an atm right down the street

Great haircut, fun conversation, good price. My new place for haircuts. Try them out.

I've been going to Sal's since 1998! Old school barbers who do excellent work. From a simple buzz cut with fade, to more intricate scissor work for longer hair. My favorite is Akiel (sp?) he's got a great eye for how to style my hair, with an eye toward 'pushing' me to keep it a tad longer on top with scissoring into a low fade, late 1950's, mid 60's look, just before hair got long in 1967!! Rarely wait more than 10 minutes, 15 max. Fair price , $30 I think now [$10 tip ]. read more

I've been going to barbers and hair stylists for more than 70 years and Izzy, formerly at Sal's in Jamaica Plain and now in his own new shop in The Arcade on Harvard in Brookline, is the best I ever went to. He's extraordinary at his craft, he's fast, he's pleasant and he's especially good at trimming my beard and his stylish little shop fits right in with the other shops in The Arcade. I recommend it highly. read more

Sal's Barbershop - BEFORE Izzy, my best barber in 75 years of haircuts, does his magic. - Barbers Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

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Excellent haircut and even some beard trimming. Always quick, courteous, and friendly. Highly recommended for anyone wanting a traditional barbershop. read more

My new favorite barber. I have lived in the JP area for over a year and struggled to find an affordable and nice barber. I always worry that when I go to a new barber that they are going to mess up the vibe that I want. I walked in with no hair inspo and asked Sal to really just do his thing and he gave me the most relaxing haircut with the old barber shop aesthetic. He was very accommodating and sweet. Cool guy and very skilled, definitely coming back. read more

Walk in went well. Used a picture for reference and I think the barber did pretty good. Vibes was intimidating but you just sit and wait your turn for the next available barber read more

Sal's Barbershop - Barbershop price list. I visited June 10, 2025. - Barbers Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

Went here for a haircut based on the number of positive reviews but was sorely disappointed and frustrated with my experience. Had specifically told my barber to just even out my top and keep it the same length, but when he actually got to my top, he grabbed a fistful of my hair and started cutting without even asking if this was the right length I wanted. I reiterated to him to not take too much off the top and his response was "that's why I'm using my hands instead of the razor". To make matters worse, he was cutting my hair while casually watching the TV which meant he had positioned me away from the mirror to even see what he was doing and just told me to trust him. Well unfortunately he clearly didn't know what he was doing and I ended up being highly dissatisfied with my haircut. read more

Unless you're getting your hair cut by Sal himself, don't go here. Some kid with a black snap back hat, didn't speak a word of English, fucked up my hair. I don't think he's ever cut hair before. I've gotten a better cut at Sports Clips and that's setting the bar real low. read more

Excellent hospitality and even better hair cut. Walk-ins and cash only. Haircut was less than 15min

love this place. The man(whom I think is the owner?) is kind, accommodating, and good with kids/at least my adhd boy who cant sit still. $20 for a nice layered look. And he offered a free trim in two days if it doesnt settle in well after wash. Of course.. my 6 yr old likes it here primarily bc of the lollipop they offer after the cut, but the Mom is satisfied as well. I always try to trip well. esp during this time when things are rough. No frills cut. In and out within 30 min looking nice and sharp every time. read more

TL;DR - Sal's changed the way I think about getting my haircut. - - - Let me preface this by saying that I hate getting my haircut. I'm always anxious about the decisions that someone else is making with my hair. I'm anxious about making small talk. I'm anxious about not knowing how to convey what I want accurately. I'm anxious about how long it takes to cut my hair; I want to be in, out and on my way. If only I knew that Sal's existed, maybe I could have relaxed a little! I was in and out in 15 minutes with the best haircut I've had in 10 years. I brought up my concerns to Aqil about my cowlicks and how I wanted my fade and what I wanted done with the front of my hair and he answered my questions with ease and patience. He made me confident that he knew what he was doing. He cut hair with such ease that it looked like he was miming how to cut hair - except that 10 min later all my COVID shagginess was gone and I looked like a new man. If you live within 30 min of Sal's check it out. They have COVID measures in place and they're ready for all the business they deserve (and that's a lot). read more

Fantastic haircut. Very reasonable prices. The staff is very friendly and the shop has a nice welcoming and traditional local barbershop feel to it. read more

Took only 5 minutes. The back was fine, but my god is the front butchered. I have a bold spot at the corner, and I have hair from other place try to cover it. They completely removed that part and my bold spot is entirely revealed. Never coming back. read more

I should make a big disclaimer that I personally haven't visited this shop. But I sent my family in and they came back with great haircuts! Yay! My daughter had her bangs and hair trimmed - just a little, nothing dramatic, but it makes all the difference in cleaning up the strays after my trimming her bangs for a year and not cutting the rest of her hair in the same amount of time. Rapidly balding husband got a pretty great haircut considering the challenges of that head of hair. Son also got a great haircut that still left things a little shaggier as he prefers. They listened well, were quick, and the price was right. read more

Had been going to Sal's regularly for a couple years. Had a lousy haircut last time but willing to let it slide. Went in recently for a cut (basic clean up of what I had) and a beard trim. I specifically said that I wanted my beard cleaned up but "keep as much length as possible". When I put my glasses back on I learned that when I said "keep as much length as possible" he somehow heard "buzz it down to the bare minimum". When I got upset the barber assured me he'd be doing this for years and that the beard he gave me looks good as though that makes a difference in openly defying a customer's request. He also criticized some styling done on my previous haircut only to bumble through more excuses when I told him I got that cut as this shop. I'll sooner cut my own hair in the dark with a hacksaw than return to Sal's. If I'm gonna hate my look this much, I'd prefer it be self inflicted but if you need a tutorial on how to lose a loyal customer, it's a slow burn but Sal's might just be for you. read more

I hate to leave a local business a bad review, but I went into Sal's and told the barber exactly what I wanted, even brought a picture, and was very specific about what I was looking for. My barber proceeded to ignore what I asked for, completely shaved off the part of my hair that I wanted left long, and refused to cut the top as short as I asked him to because he thought it "looked unprofessional". I told him, very respectfully, that I didn't care about that and I just wanted to haircut that I asked for, and he proceeded to ignore my wishes and cut my hair in a completely different style that it'll take a long time to grow back from. I'm so frustrated that the barber completely disregarded my wishes I won't be coming back. If you're looking for anything specific, don't go here. read more

Received the worst haircut of my life today. The problem with this place is that there is one guy who knows how to cut hair and then the rest of the guys are a complete joke. I had "the bald guy" today who might be the owner. He rushes through the haircut with his dirty blades and doesn't pay attention to a thing he's doing. It looks like a received some military crew cut that is completely uneven and need to get fixed ASAP. Really terrible. Edit: I just looked in the mirror and.....yikes! read more

I have been coming for years and had my hair cut by every barber there. Never once have I felt rushed, and I am always asked what I would like, how short, what if any product I use, etc. I have liked some cuts better than others, but I have always felt welcome to ask for a re-do; either then or a few days later. Finally, every barber there has greeted me warmly, acted with respect and genuine appreciation for my business, and made sure I was pleased before I left. I consider them among the best neighbors and most valuable local business. read more

Being a transplant from NY I was a bit uneasy with having to find a new barbershop. While taking a few chances through the JP area, I found that Sal's Barbershop has always hit a homerun with my haircut. Each barber IS skilled, you just have to be descriptive so that they know what you want. Aqil is my personal go to, with conversation for days and knowledge of a scholar, he is quick, easy going and to the point with what you want. I've never had more than a 30 minute wait or a bad experience in almost 4 years. Keep up the great work Fellas! read more

Walked in with 20 bucks, left with a good haircut and good vibes about 10 minutes later. NB: cash only. read more

Great service. Akeel, my barber, got me in and out fast with a solid cut. Check out his scissors they are cool. read more

Sal's Barbershop - Scissors, and various tools of the trade - Barbers Near Me - Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

My name is Steve and I would like to share my recent experience at Sal's Barbershop. My barber was Freddie Ramos a well mannered and great listener. I told Mr Ramos that I was getting ready to travel out town and wanted to present myself, at my best. I explained in few words how I wanted my hair to be cut the hair cut was outstanding. I will be back again and I'll highly recommend Mr Ramos to all my friends. read more

This is my go to place for haircuts. Aquil is my man and he gives the best fades and advice on how to shape your hair. Price point is fair and it usually packed so be prepared to wait. read more

I can't speak highly enough of this barbershop. I've learned not to even make suggestions as to how to cut my hair. My guy knows his business and gives me the absolutely perfect haircut every time. On the outside and, when you walk in the door, it's, stem to stern a real, old-fashioned barbershop from the barber pole to the straight razor and aftershave with which they finish the back. But old-school ends with the haircut itself which is as good as any I ever got at 2 1/2 times the price. Most amazing is that you're done in 15 minutes tops. Try it and, if you do, ask for Izzy, talk to him about his home country of Morocco, look in the mirror when he's done, smile and give him a hefty tip. He's worth every penny. read more

Not the worst haircut I've ever had, but basically the whole experience was kind of negative. The barber took a really long time on the haircut and it didn't look like the picture I had showed him. When I raised some objections, he was condescending, talking about cowlicks and how he wasn't finished yet and that I should just "wait". He also stopped to text in the middle of the haircut, which seems unprofessional. Finally, when I went to pay, he whipped the change down on the counter instead of handing it to me. Anyone one of these things isn't huge by itself, but taken together it was not a pleasant experience. Too long, bad haircut, rude barber. I won't be going back. read more

Sal's provides consistently good haircuts no matter which barber you get on the day. This year I was living in JP and I got my hair cut there probably 5 times and I was always happy with the result. read more

Having only seen one other review by a lady, I feel the need to add for any future curious people. Sal's was a great experience and they definitely have a new regular. I was nervous about going because it is definitely a guy's joint. I am a fairly androgynous looking queer lady and I have a men's hair cut similar to a Mad Men style. When I walked in, I say down for literally 1 minute until I heard the "next!" The barber I received was named Nasir. He smiled at me like it was no big thing that a lady walked in the door. I gave a few specifications for my haircut and he went to it. He paid close attention to detail and probably combed my hair with three different brushes before he sent me out the door. My haircut was exactly what I asked for and it looked better than it ever had. Nasir was also easy going and nice to talk with. He told me all about how he learned his trade and even told me a little about his family. The place is clean, smells like a barbershop, and the barbers are nice and skilled. What more could you ask for? read more

Some places pretend to be old-timey but it's all a pose. Sal's isn't like that. It's a barber shop right on the main street of town. They're not going to give you a lot of extraneous stuff, like unnecessary shampooing or a sales pitch for salon products. They will give you a haircut. For a low price. Cash only. One of the nice things about being a male is you can do things simply that give the ladies endless stress and trouble. (Hint: Peeing standing up is not our only asset.) Take advantage of being a man by getting a classic haircut at a classy place, Sal's. read more

I get my haircut here regularly. It's a typical barbershop with walk in service. You remember your place in line, go when you hear "NEXT!" and hope you get a good guy. All the barbers are pretty good, but some cut my hair better than others. Find the guy who is right for you and try to stick with him. It's cash only and if you pay with a $20, you'll get a $5 and a $1. Guess which is the tip. read more

Great haircuts, great price! I love the people here and the atmosphere, and a consistent fantastic haircut for $18 is pretty unbeatable.

I recently moved to JP and very much wanted to like this place. Alas, my first visit is likely to be my last. Why? Well... I've been getting the same haircut for the past few years (you know, that short on the sides and longer on top kind -- nothing fancy) and no matter where I get it, the result is always pretty much similar. Somehow, Sal's Barbershop managed to get it wrong. The sides are too short, the top too long, I am unable to part my hair (which I pointed out to the barber is how I wear it), and there are a bunch of hairs on the top of my head that stick out (perhaps trying to escape this hideous haircut). I wish it was all in my head, but I've actually gotten bad feedback on the haircut -- never a good sign. Oh, this was also one of the quickest haircuts I've ever gotten. Maybe that has something to do with it. -4 stars for the bad haircut, +1 star for the price and the nice conversation I had with my barber. read more

This place *always* has a few people waiting for cut, but there's always a bunch of barbers working so you usually won't have to wait long at all. Like Jason mentioned, you get a complete cross-section of JP in here, definite multigenerational appeal. Are the barbers flashy? Nope. Theyre efficient. I've got a pretty standard cut and they nail it every time. I'm not sure i'd come here for a super-fancy cut, but if you've got a relatively normal hairstyle I'm sure they can do it right. The hot lather/straight razor action on the base of the neck is nice, especially at the cheap price. Also, I love the way this place smells. It has that true "barbershop" smell to it, a nice mix of antiseptic, lime, hair creme, aftershave, and machismo. read more

I have lived in JP for 11 years. Sal's Barbershop is without question the best place to get a haircut in the area. Izzy, Aqil, and all the rest do a fantastic job. Every one of them. In all my years here I've seen many other shops come and go. The one constant has been Sal's, and for good reason- they'll give you a good hair cut, done efficiently with great attention to detail at a good price. I highly recommend them. Furthermore, I felt comfortable enough to bring my son there for his first haircut. They were great with him. Good guys all around. read more

Least attentive barber I've ever been to. I asked him to take about an inch off because I'm heading out of the country for a month and I wanted it a bit shorter than normal. He seemed like he was in a huge rush the whole time... in 5 minutes, he cut about an inch and a half. I was a little concerned that it was a bit too short, but what are you gonna do? He put some gel in my hair and as I was coming to terms with my already short cut, he just chopped off the last inch without even saying anything. Now I have no hair. read more

I have a difficult head of hair to cut, and being new to this area I needed to find a barber who wouldn't just mow it like SuperCuts. It's great that Sal's only takes walk-ins, so you're in and out whenever a barber becomes available. I ended up waiting 15 minutes but that's not too bad. You sit in the chair and tell the barber how you want it to look and they know immediately. Being able to actually chat with mine during the haircut made it a pleasurable experience as well, without those awkward silences you get when you're trying out a new place. Before I knew it, my hair looked just like my barber from back home had cut it. They have it where it counts and have made me a loyal customer for years to come. read more

Sal's don't go a changin.... When I first moved here from Seattle I was worried that I would have trouble finding a good place to get a haircut. I went to a place called Rudy's in Seattle which was full of hipster, tattooed hair stylists that did a great job. The price was reasonable and the service was friendly. Sal's beats them by at least a star. Sal's is a small shop that looks like it has been in business forever and with the service they provide they will stay in business forever. The barber I usually get does a great job. He asks a few questions and begins his work. He makes small talk comfortably. The service is quick and the result is great. To round out the great haircut, the price is great. $14 for a haircut is cheap. $14 for a great haircut is super cheap! I usually end up giving the $5 part of the change as the tip. read more

I was in town visiting my sister and mother this past week, and I thought I was finally due for a haircut since I hadn't cut my hair in seven months. When I Yelped barbers in Jamaica Plain, lo and behold a barbershop existed less than half a mile from my sister's house and reviews were good. But not only were they good, they had the atmosphere and price I was looking for all within walking distance. I felt like I'd struck gold. Anyways, the reviews are straight up. I went on a late Wednesday morning. Only one other dude was in the place getting his hair cut, so I was seated immediately by Aqil. He got to work and after about 20-25 minutes, I looked transformed. Being a barber is part technician, part artist from my perspective, and Aqil did a great job. Professional, polite, and polished, I would return to get my hair cut by him again any day. Couple of notes: - Didn't have time to check out any of the magazines, but they looked like they have a great selection of stuff while you wait if need be. - Price for a haircut is $14 and includes shaving the back of head with straight razor, which I love. Really good price for the city and actually just a really good price anywhere these days for a haircut. - Close to City Feed so you can grab a coffee before or after haircut. All in all, a great barber shop. It's always nerve-wracking getting your hair cut at a new place, but once you find that shop you feel comfortable in, it earns your loyalty. Sal's has earned my loyalty; whenever I need a fresh cut, I'll go here. read more

Watch out for Freddie. I sat down, brand new customer, new to the neighborhood, and waited 25 mins or so to be called. Freddie sat me down, I introduced myself, and I described what I wanted. I showed him a photo and he got to work. I told him I had a hair cut 5 days ago that I didn't like, so I told him to go #1.5 on the sides and scissors on top. About 15 mins in, it seems like he's still cutting the exact same areas over and over, cutting no hair at all. I asked him what size clipper he was using and he said #3.5. I gave it another minute before I asked him to go shorter on the sides. At that point, he got overly defensive for reasons I still don't understand. He said that what I described wasn't what I showed him in the photo. I used it as an opportunity to calm the nerves, clarify what I wanted, and he immediately went to work with a #2 clipper. It was his attitude that worried me; the guy was clearly upset with me and going at my head with force with the clippers, so I told him to stop and I stood up from the chair. I don't want someone who's so clearly upset with me cutting my hair. He told me I still owed him $18 for his time, at which point I asked for the owner (who I knew was Izzy, the next chair over, and who I've read great reviews here about) who said "Just go, man, just go." With my half cut head of hair, yeah right. He was willing to let a customer leave angry with a terrible half haircut. He turned to Akheel (sp?), who said he'd cut my hair. I sat down in the waiting area for him, flustered, for my turn. I've also read great reviews about him, so I was happy they were taking care of it. Akheel sat me down and I tried to re-explain what I wanted. He got it immediately and finished the whole thing in about 10 minutes, gel'd me up, and then refused to take my money. He wouldn't even take the $10 tip I offered him. I left very happy. It was only when I got home that I noticed how uneven and choppy my haircut is. Forget layering or texturing or anything else; he just cuts as fast as possible. Really folks, you get what you pay for, and this place is cheaper than Supercuts. I won't be back. read more

Great people. Great haircuts. These guys are the best. I come in frequently and get my hair cut by Izzy and Akiel. They are kind, professional, fun guys to talk to and do an awesome job cutting hair. They always do a great job. Tres bien! read more