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Alex's Unisex Styling Salon
Categories: Beauty and Spas Barbers Beauty and Spas Hair Salons Barbers, Hair Salons [Edit]
3163 Mount Pleasant St NW(between N Kilbourne Pl & N Kenyon St)
Washington, DC 20010
Neighborhood: Mount Pleasant
(202) 232-3831
- Nearest Transit:
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Columbia Heights Metro Station (Green, Yellow)
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 7:30 pm
Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
22 reviews for Alex's Unisex Styling Salon
22 reviews in English
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Review from Red R.
Washington, DC
11/30/2011
This place gets 5 stars because I get a great men's haircut at a great price.
For the past 8 years, I have been getting my hair cut by a particular salon professional for $40 bucks a pop. My hair is short and curly so I would need to get it cut almost every 10 days in order to keep it looking clean. Recently, my stylist left town so I had been trying various other salons all summer and was not happy with the results. Finally, I called my former stylist and asked him where he got his hair cut because his hair was similar to mine and always looked great. He referred me to this place in Mount Pleasant - Alex's Unisex Hair Salon. Specifically, he told me to ask for Freddy.
Desperate for a haircut I ventured over to Alex's, even though I had only ever been to Mount Pleasant once before, which is surprising. For the record, this place isn't much from the outside and inside is simply decorated...if you can say that. The front has a row of barber chairs and the back of the shop I assume is for processed hair services.
On my first visit the place was packed and I wasn't really sure what to do as no one greeted me, so I followed general barber protocol and sat in an empty cue of chairs until someone called for me. Eventually, a woman asked if I wanted a haircut and I explained I did, but I preferred it to be with Freddy. She pointed out Freddy and eventually he was free to cut my hair.
Freddy turned out to be great. My hair can be a bit difficult to work with as it is naturally salt and pepper, so fading it can be a little tricky. He, however, took his time and made sure that my hair was evenly cut, faded properly, cleaned up, and I had a great line. For some reason all of the Spanish I know evaporates from my mind whenever I enter the shop, so my conversations with Freddy are limited, but pleasant nonetheless.
The place is busiest in the evenings and on the weekends, so I often try and go during the day M-F. It's rarely busy then. -
Review from Andrew C.
Washington, DC
3/21/2012
3.5 STARS
Okay, out of fairness, I have to disclose that I'm a white guy with thick hair. This has been a huge obstacle living in Petworth, a neighborhood that clearly does not cater to my hair needs.
Having said that, Alex's is a very decent spot. It's cheap (20 bucks, I think), the employees are friendly, and they have the fastest turnaround I've ever seen. From the time I hit the front door to the moment I was back in my car was 16 minutes (I timed it, don't ask me why).
This review, however, is specifically for white guys. Hair cutting is possibly the biggest cultural disconnect, and people that are used to cutting black or latino hair have an understandably hard time with the basic mechanics of white guy hair, and vice versa.
Case in point: When cutting a white guy's hair, it isn't necessary to edge the entire hairline and both sides of the sideburns with a straight razor. I should have caught this before it happened, but I didn't, and ended up with a hair line like Steve Harvey. It looked weird, and even worse as it was growing back out.
Alex's is good at the thing they do, I am unfortunately just not that thing. -
Review from John M.
Washington, DC
10/1/2011
Despite the language barrier (her English was as bad as my Spanish, I didn't even catch her name), I walked out with a pretty good haircut. I was a little nervous about the amount of buzzing going on (most of my past haircuts were scissor heavy, giving me a little clipper-phobia) and troubled by the appearance of an unannounced straight razor, but everything turned out all right. The beard shaping was an unexpected plus, although she shaped my sideburns on the skinny side, so I looked a bit bro-ish for a few days. Over all, I was pleasantly surprised, though. The beard trim adds value. $20 including tip.
P.S. The signage isn't all that noticeable. Note the address or you might walk right by. -
Review from Alex D.
Washington, DC
6/6/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Melky is the man! After getting thoroughly insulted by Mohamed of Mohamed's Barber Shop on Georgia Ave. I tried Alex's in Mt. Pleasant. Not to play the name game too much, but I (Alex) was pleasantly surprised by Alex's of Mt. Pleasant. Har har.
Particular advice to women who go to barbers--speak up! Say you need a barber, because they will send you to a non-barber as soon as you walk in.
Knowledge of Spanish is a plus in this shop, sure, but Melky's English is good (I am a secret non-gringa, so I shocked him when I asked him to carve some stripes in my hair...en espanol). His knowledge of barbershop terminology is as solid as any other barber I've been to. He was totally chill with giving a woman a fade, we chatted about music and he definitely took his time to deliver some meticulous, fresh cuts.
Very positive experience! I have finally found my barber in D.C., and he's the second chair from the door at Alex's! -
Review from Wayne L.
Updated - 8/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Needed to get a haircut early in the morning. I called Alex's and they were open at 8AM even though their official hours are 9AM-7:30PM. Definitely worth calling to see if they're open even if it's outside of published store hours.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/23/2011
After recently moving to DC and Columbia Heights I was desperately in need of a haircut. But I no… Read more »
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Review from Mike K.
San Francisco, CA
10/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Milky is the MANNNNN. I was visiting my friend while on a work trip and needed a haircut as I didn't have time to cut my hair before starting the trip. My buddy knows what I need (and have stated in other barber reviews): a solid fade, finger length on top and most importantly the straight razor line up. He told me to drop in to Alex's and ask for Milky, and boy am I glad that I did. A very solid haircut and i'd be a regular if I was a local. Oh and at $14 its definitely on the cheaper side in the good way!
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Review from Salmaan T.
Washington, DC
9/22/2010
These guys are very good. Never had to wait the two times I came for a haircut and I've been happy with the results. In and out, they'll chat you up if you want but also cool with cutting your hair without the chitchat.
I wish the cut was a little cheaper ($14) but that's actually pretty cheap in D.C. -
Review from Chetan S.
Washington, DC
10/12/2010
I went here based on other reviews but I'm not going to knock those ppl. And my policy is to wait a week before critiquing things so here it goes.
I came on a Saturday which was probably not the best idea but I rarely have time during the week to walk-in. Every barber in the house (about 7) was busy so I waited. About 10 minutes in, one of the cutters told me a seat opened up at the end. My cutter asked me in broken English how I wanted my hair cut. I explained it to her and she went at it.
Granted I've mostly cut my own hair for the past 3-4 years but I still know what it's like to go to a shop to get it done. So I was a bit surprised that my cutter had my back to the mirror the whole time - I could never see what she was doing! When she turned me back around during the final cut, I was not satisfied with certain parts. As I explained this to her, it came out that she didn't really speak English. I don't have anything against those who can't speak but when you're in a service job, it's vital you speak some English.
After I told her the spots that needed more attention through psuedo-Sign Language, she received a phone call on her cell. She picked it up and continued to limply cut my hair while chatting away on her cell (positioned between her shoulder and ear) for almost 5 minutes. The other cutters where making fun of her but seems as though she ignored it for the most part.
I'm not trying to be mean but first impressions go a long way. Maybe it was my cutter who was the bad apple and the rest of them are pretty good but I probably won't be heading back there. I will say that $14 is a decent price for a haircut in DC these days. Regardless, I'll go back to cutting my own hair. -
Review from S S.
Washington, DC
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
Child haircut for only $10 and she listened and followed what I asked for.
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Review from Aaron W.
Washington, DC
5/19/2011
I checked this place out because it was open later than most other places in the area, and it had great reviews on yelp. I sure am glad that I trusted the reviews, I walked over, and sat down in the second chair from the door. I told the barber that I wanted a trim, and to keep the exact same style that I had going . For further emphasis, I showed him a picture of myself on my cell phone from shortly after my last haircut. Thrity minutes of clipping and buzzing insued, afterwhich I ended up with a great trim and a nicely shaped beard. I happily paid the $14 charge and provided a $6 tip - The beard trim alone was worth the $14 . Other than the fact that my hair wasn't styled exactly as I like it when I left the place (went home and re-styled to my taste); it was a great cut. I will be getting my hair trimmed at Alex's from now on.
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Review from Sudhir D.
Washington, DC
12/1/2010
I've had my hair cut by several of the barbers in this place and all of them know how to fade. Great price for a great cut and in my neighborhood. The also accept plastic which is amazing given the number of latino barbershops that don't.
I got there at 6:45pm last time and even though they close at 7pm, the barber had me on the chair till 8.
This place makes Mount Pleasant more so. -
Review from Mark K.
Washington, DC
12/29/2008
I grew up during the period when places that cut men's hair went from being real barber shops (there are still some around) to unisex hair salons. It's when blow dryers became a home necessity and men's hair was layered and feathered, heavily gelled and all that arghhh.
I've lived in DC since 1976 and have been to numerous "salons", mostly in Dupont. About 15 years ago I decided to give up the Dupont "salons" (and what was reaching a $25/cut) to try places in my neighborhood. I tried several on Mt. Pleasant Street (Pan American, Melissa's, Golden Scissors, and Alex's) and the best in my opinion is Alex's.
Alex's calls itself a unisex hair salon but it feels more like a barber shop and I've never seen a woman get her haircut there (which doesn't mean they don't.). Three men man the barber chairs in the center and a couple of women work two chairs in the back. I've gotten very good haircuts from everyone who's cut my hair.
They're good. They take their time, they work patiently, and if you have facial hair, they will usually tidy it up with a straight razor (something the Dupont "salons" never do). The place is often very busy although first thing in the day or mid-day during the week you can almost always walk in and get immediately seated. There was even one time when they'd just closed and they re-opened to cut my hair. "He's our customer", the manager said. The price for a man's haircut, as noted in another review, is $14.00. -
Review from Tom L.
Washington, DC
4/8/2009
As a haircut drifter, I checked out Alex's on the recommendation of a friend. I liked the place. It's very family-oriented and unpretentious. The mostly Latino clients and barbers were all very friendly and welcoming to a gringo like me. Unfortunately the cut was weak. Maybe I got the junior cutter or something. Everyone else seems to love this place. And I want to love this place too, but it's just not worth walking around with a lame cut.
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Review from Mark D.
Washington, DC
11/17/2007
I came here on a Saturday and this barber shop was packed! They had 5 or 6 stations to get your cut and they were all busy clipping away. My barber (didn't get his name) was very attentive to detail, and gave the straight-edge razor cut at the end that I've had a hard time finding in the DC area. Cuts are $14.
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Review from Matt S.
New York, NY
7/6/2009
Fantastic. Had a better first experience than Tom L and will surely go back. $14 is the cheapest haircut I've had in DC.
[Side story: My last hair cut was $30 at a place downtown called Shears (15h & H). I left looking like an elementary school boy after the inept stylist, even though I told her several times throughout the cut to keep them, entirely chopped off my sideburns. DO NOT GO TO SHEARS. EVER.]
The guy at Alex's who cut my hair was a real pro. At times I thought he was paying more attention to the Spanish language TV news than he was to my hair, and for about 30 seconds he was actually talking on his cell phone as he continued to snip away, but the cut still turned out great.
My cut is pretty simple--clippers on the sides, hair off the ears, square or slightly rounded in the back, keep the sideburns (duh), and parted on the left side--but some places (Shears, Hair Cuttery) can't even get that right. Other place (Bubbles) can, but at twice the cost.
Whether you're a suit-and-tie wearing lobbyist or an "everyday is jeans day" non-profiter, whether you're a Smith Point prepster or a BYT-reading indie kid, Alex's Unisex Salon can take care of your simple male hairdo needs. -
Review from Rob H.
Washington, DC
12/12/2010
I was definitely skeptical, but this place is solid. Great haircut, very quick, very cheap. Can't ask for anything else.
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Review from Matt B.
Washington, DC
4/28/2011
Luis hooked it up! Best hcut I've gotten in dc in a long while. Good suggestion, yelpers.
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Review from Paul S.
Washington, DC
4/21/2011
I can see how this place is good if you want to get a fade or an edge-up. I had curly hair kind of like a shorter Andy Samberg style. I asked them to give it a good trim and take about an inch off all around. I got the worst haircut of my life and this will probably need constant fixing as it grows out. The parts around my ears are back of my head are buzzed and significantly shorter than the rest of it. The barber was on his cell phone and watching soccer for part of the time.
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Review from Steve T.
Washington, DC
4/19/2011
I love this place and have been going here for about 10 years.
I cannot speak much to the skill of the female cutters as I do not use them. The best cutter here is "Milky" who is second from the door. But you will find that out anyway because he always has people waiting for him. People, including myself, will wait 15 mins, 30 mins... even and hour to have him cut their hair because he is just that good. He listens to you and takes his time. I have always been happy with his cuts. The other barbers do a good job too. Luis, who is last in the line is also pretty good and there are some newer ones I have not tried but have heard good things about from friends. The place can get packed so expect to wait a bit. Once you get a regular cutter you can establish a system of arranging appts... now, having said that, it is not a salon with a reservation book, rather you can pop you head in and ask your cutter what the wait time is and then run errands in the meantime and you will get to know the peek hours for your cutter. Mt Pleasant is a Latino neighborhood and places like Alex's have managed to stay despite gentrification because they are good and inexpensive and friendly and welcoming. The owner, Alex, is rarely on site but he gives a good cut too if you happen to find him there ( he will be at the first station if he is there)
I used to go to Hair Cuttery before I found this place and I find the quality and value to be better. * it should be noted that they do not shampoo and wash your hair here... I think you can request it but that may be extra. I know, getting a shampoo and mini- head massage was one thing I liked about Hair Cuttery but, the value and skill these guys have will outweigh missing the shampoo experience. -
Review from Dave L.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2010 6 photos
Took on my fellow Yelpers' advice. Alex's in Mt. Pleasant Dist. Was easy to find. Cross St. Kilbourne. Parked in neighborhood. They Close @ 7 on weekdays. Walk-in OK. Guy in first chair by window was great. English speaking Salvadorian, Not super fast but hey, at least he didn't rush into it right? He asked all the right questions ie. "how do you like your back? You want the front shorter?" They have several "Barber Posters" for kinky hair Blacks and straight and wavy Latinos which works like a "menu". Hey I'm Chinese, I should know how to order from a 200 item menu right? I picked picture #21 with a combo of another poster for sideburns. A picture speaks better Spanish than me so I highly recommend it. He systematically proceeded to deliver a nice clean and tight cut. The price: $14. + $6 tip. I know, seems high for a barber shop but Since I was happy and on vacation...plus he did both barbering (razor) and salon styling as well. I'd go again if I lived here.
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Review from Tushara E.
Washington, DC
5/13/2010
My favorite barber shop, I almost didn't write a review because I didn't want to draw more attention to it. Melky is my favorite barber there, always does a perfect job. They'll keep the shop open if you come around closing time. Won't go anywhere else as long as this place is open.
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Review from Robert L.
Washington, DC
12/30/2008
i tried this place based on the 1 Yelp recommendation (at the time) and i wasn't disappointed. a woman in the back cut my hair and did an excellent job. i was really pleasantly surprised as it was my first time there. i have since gotten my hair cut by the men and they are excellent, too. the price, at $14, is very competitive.
