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Hair Metal Salon
Rating Details »
Category: Hair Salons [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Williamsburg - South Side, Williamsburg - North Side578 Driggs Ave
(between 5th St & 6th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 782-7961
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bedford Ave (L)
Metropolitan Ave-Lorimer St (G, L)
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- Yes
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57 reviews for Hair Metal Salon
let me start by saying i am a hair metal fan - i've been going here for almost 2 years. always got compliments on my hair... sent my boyfriend here, he loves it...
but in a fit of young-life-crisis, brought on by the onset of winter and the shitty economy, i made the hideous error of going somewhere else... and came crawling back... literally the same night, i burst into salon asking for ed and wanting to know if he could salvage the mess.
indeed he did. ed saved me from looking like nancy pelosi/hilary clinton. i had this cylindrical bob/ "female politician frontal wave" thing going on and for 3 days, i had put more than half my pot of expensive gunk in my hair, and wore a hat, literally hoping for hat head.
all is well. moral of the story is: appreciate the good things. ed and the other stylists understand hair really well.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/13/2009
the best deal in new york, for anything... (what?? something good that isn't EXPENSIVE... it's not… Read more »
I love this spot, and Allie continues to rock.
To convince you of how great this place is, my manly pants boyfriend could think of nothing he wanted more for his birthday than a Hair Metal hair makeover. WHAT????
DO IT.
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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8/17/2009
allie is seriously, seriously amazing. i know i said it before, but it's the absolute truth!
she… Read more »
PROS:
-prolly one of the best haircuts i've gotten in my life
CONS:
-still not perfect
ETC:
i always get compliments on my hair. yeah, ok, some (uneducated) people have described it as 'hipster' or 'emo'. i've been wearing it with the same spirit (out of control, crazy) since middle school, however, and upon getting older and wiser, and realizing what the atmosphere or williamsburg (affected or not) is, knew, that even if it made me feel disingenuous going to such a 'hip' place to get my hair done, that it would be worth it in the end.
and it was.
i still don't feel like i got the perfect cut- still too short. but here, more than anywhere else, i felt like they listened to me. and the better i get at describing what i want, the better my hair is going to come out.
yeah, the less direction you give them, the more typical boy cut hipsterish it's going to come out.
and yeah, it's kinda pricey.
but they fucking know what they're doing, goddamnit.
PROTIP:
know what you want. probably a good protip for life, also.
I am love with Hair Metal. I heard about it from a friend who goes there about 5 months ago. She had such an awesome haircut and I wanted to find a new salon (*ahem*Woodley & Bunny*ahem*) so I decided to give it a chance. I saw Ali since she was working that day. I got really lucky because Ali is amazing! She is the sweetest little thing ever and gives me the best haircuts! I've been to her 3 times over the past few months, both for full cuts and bang trims, and she always takes the time to give me exactly what I'm looking for and makes me feel super comfortable in the process. I'm hesitant to write this review because I really want to keep her my little secret... But she deserves to get a lot of new clients and help keep Hair Metal going strong, so I'm doing it anyways! Oh and I forgot to mention that the haircuts are only $60! That is just insanity in NYC for a great haircut!
Overrated. Uninspiring. The haircut had no direction. To be fair this was my first experience and I think I had a new talent. My Aveda salon back home would never let me walk out the door like this.
Sometimes I think most of the hair salons in the greater NYC area are overrated. Hair Metal for example is one of them, in my opinion. I think people like this place more for the "metal" mien than anything else. the cuts and prices are about on par with most smaller hip NYC salons. I'm growing my hair out and I used to go here to get my bangs done, just my bangs, so I could continue to go 6+ months between actual trims. Everyone is pleasant enough but Eventually when I wanted a cut, I ended up going to Velvet Roses. The stylist at velvet roses pointed out to me how BAD my bangs had actually been cut, underneath the top layer they were jagged and asymmetrical with more "bang" on one side of my head than the other. That said, I think I will continue to see other stylists, when it comes down to it, i'm not that cool in the first place, I guess i'm just not "metal" enough :)
Ed gave me great layers and I loved all the compliments on my hair - I do have good hair, especially now.
[This review is on the hair only, not the atmosphere or personal characters, chilled back vibe or the comfy couches - I agree with other reviews on the vibe]
$40 for a regular cut, that's the price!! ty.
I'd come here just to relax, It's the vibe and dogs needed in the lounges and bars, really cool atmosphere.
As far as $50 [40+tip] goes, I don't know, Is it a higher class barber? stylists? a rock lounge? a group of chillers starter cutting hair with no professional training?
It's somewhere among those lines, but what do I know, I'm only a yelper. They are 'confident' with the scissors, I'm not found by it, my stylist envisioned a kind of own style for my hair, and just couldn't help it.
At least someone feels good about my short hair - who said it supposed to be me. Kind of hair cut you do consider that emergency month vacation after all :-) .
Personally I don't care for the exposed brick, duuude attitude, sculls, rock, 'personal confidence', cash-only, cute puppies, roomy and comfy place, I'd go to a tent in a construction site if they got the cuts.
While it is painful to pay $40 for a hair cut, I ain't in Michigan anymore and I have tried to get cheaper haircuts in NY and had dismal results.
No one should hesitate for a second to enter this place. I have to admit, the first time I made an appointment there I was a little worried. I was recommended by a friend which calmed my nerves, but read the posts on here and thought I might be out of my element.
People talk about the great music and cool rocker, hipster vibe, all of which I am definitely not (besides cool obviously). I'm more of a prep, and while I like music, I couldn't tell you what band was playing if you told me.
However, the people are great and the haircuts that I have gotten are fantastic. I am not a hair snob, but if I am going to get it cut, I want it to look good. Ed did just that....and more. He took my crazy head of hair and tamed it down and gave me exactly what I didn't even know I wanted.
Best part is that he cut it in a way that I can wear it in a couple different ways so it fits any occasion including just bumming around.
Pros: They are Great. Everyone should go there. Play with the adorable dog while you wait.
Cons: Sometimes hard to get an appointment (but obviously that speaks highly for them) and they don't take credit cards.
Finally. Bangs fit for a (21-year-old) schoolgirl. It was so great to find a hairstylist who was able to gather up enough of my baby-fine hair to make straight bangs, instead of that sideswept nonsense that everyone and their mother gets. These bangs mean business. The cut was well worth the $60 plus tip. Plus, I got in on Alie's insider tip that Bumble & Bumble changed the formula of their Thickening Spray, despite the fact that the previous version was "the jam." It was. I miss it too, Alie. I hope we can commiserate and inhale hairspray fumes together in the future.
BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANGS. Oh, and it's cash only.
I wanted to write yet another glowing review singing Marissa's praises. I went to The Beehive Salon on a Monday to get a hair cut pre-anniversary dinner with the BF (ONLY b/c Hair Metal isn't open that day mind you). Figured I'd try another place and get cute for dinner at the River Cafe. I walked into the Beehive and met my "stylist" Jen. My first impression was "holy crap, this woman has THE WORST tattoos, HAIR cut, and over all lack of fashion sense that I have EVER seen a stylist have." I should of walked out then. I figured I was just being judgemental and gave her a shot at cutting my hair. It looked "OK" at best when I walked out, and looked like crap every day since the appointment. Her layering was whack, and she gave me absolutely no style for the $75 before tip that I paid. Won't make that mistake again. I recently returned to Marissa who fixed my hair and gave me a super cute new do that I've been getting compliments on ever since.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/6/2009
Went to get my locks rocked today, and indeed they were. I had a totally awesome first experience… Read more »
best haircut i've ever had, hands down.
misfits were playing as the beautiful stylist cut perfect bedroom-messy layers into my hair without going too short overall, not to mention the stellar job on my bangs. need i say more? I'll be back for regular haircuts as long as I live in brooklyn!
Usually I'm a little bit country and a little bit rock n' roll, but tonight I was METAL all the way. My first-ever visit to Hair Metal brought out my inner rockstar -- the badass wall art and pumping music made me feel like i was getting my hair cut in the back room of (the former) CBGBs.
My awesome stylist Marissa was friendly and really LISTENED to what I was looking for. And boy did she deliver! Even though I was her last appt for the day, she didn't rush through the cut -- she really paid a lot of attention to getting every element of style just perfect.
An hour later, I walked out with a super-sweet haircut, and grin on my face. Look out world!
Oh, make sure ya got cash on hand; hair metal doesn't take credit cards. And, despite the Driggs address, the entrance to Hair Metal is actually on N. 6th.
This place is, how shall we say, F*@!'n METAL!
Back when I had enough hair to warrant haircuts, Ed is the only person I would let touch my hair. He totally kept my hair on point.
I'll never forget when I first walked in there to get a haircut, they were playing Judas Priest's Painkiller at ungodly volumes. Not to mention, I had many great conversations on the Nightmare on Elm St. movie series with subsequent haircuts. I would relgiously go every four weeks even if I didn't need haircut because it was great just hanging out there.
Needless to say, FIVE STARS!
So this spot I feel its futile to write a review because I can just say read the million reviews below but I'll add a bit of my own sentiment.
So this spot is real legit. I've gotten like 4 haircuts there. I have been extremely happy especially with the grow out - and I have some thick ass hair - and it doesn't completely break my bank at $60 plus a tip. Super nice and just legit. They aren't trying to upsell products or coloring or any of that jazz. Marissa just said hey what you looking to do and she done it.
Kudos to hair metal - just don't get more expensive!!!!
Ed cut my hair for the entirety of my residence in Williamsburg. Not only did his repertoire of skills cover faux hawk, Chuck Liddell hawk, and Manhattan douche chic (only needed once), but he also always gave me vitamin waters and sometimes would even buy me beers at The Abbey!! He will also rock your face at no extra charge if you ask nicely and say Ben sent you. He hasn't yet rocked a million faces, but of the ones he's seen, he's rocked them all. At least that's the rumor.
Had all of my best cuts ever here, so much so that I simply shave my head in defeat now that I live in SF. Poop.
See pic of me in leather jacket for fresh example of Ed's handiwork.
Good: Kristi has been giving me the best haircuts I've ever had.
Bad: Every time I go it seems to be more expensive and harder to get into.
I've gotten my hair cut here three times so far and each time I have conflicting feelings about my overall experience. While I think Ed and Christy are knowledgeable and the shop has a great vibe, my reaction is always just a little 'eh' at the end of it all.
Customer service isn't top priority -- I walk in or call to make an appointment and everyone seems a bit confused as to why I'd be doing that. Whether it is intentional or not, I get the feeling that because I am not a personal friend they really couldn't care less if I was there or not. And when I come in for my appointment it's like "Oh. Are you here for a haircut?" and I think to myself "Isn't that what you have an appointment book for?". I enjoy the loud music 'cause it's the stuff (punk, metal) I grew up listening to, but it does hamper communication -- you always have to shout when you're on the phone with the front desk or when talking to your stylist. And they just aren't personable -- half the haircut I sit in silence, they'll talk smack on other clients or employees to me, and no one seems to remember me or my boyfriend even though we've been frequenting this shop for over a year now.
The haircut itself has been a little inconsistent. The first cut was with Christy who wouldn't cut layers in my hair even though I asked her to. I have thick, curly hair that I wear between my chin and shoulders (depending on length of time between cuts), so layers are really needed.
When I came in several months later for another cut, it was with Ed and I had told him my last cut had been with Christy. After washing my hair and combing it out he tsk-tsked whoever cut my hair last because they hadn't cut layers. I decided not to remind him that I had told him minutes ago it was his girlfriend who had cut my hair last. This time I got a great cut and was really happy with it. Although, Ed combed my hair out and put it into these little twists because he said it will help the curl. In reality the worst thing you can do for curly hair is comb it out -- 20 minutes later my hair was a messy frizz. He already started it before I realized so I just let him finish.
Last time I went in it was more of the same -- little personal attention, an 'eh' hair cut, and those twists. I decided this last visit would, indeed, be my last.
Although this seems like an overwhelmingly negative review, I do actually give Ed and Christy props. They know what they're doing if you have straight hair/want a trendy cut. I'm an actress so I have to keep my cut & style pretty basic, and I just don't think they understand curly hair. And for $50 - $60 it's a great price. It's just not the place for me.
Believe the hype.
For the past few years I'd been going to a super fancy salon in Manhattan and getting haircuts upwards of $100. My stylist there did a lot of editorial and was the go-to gal for many a rock star and my hair always looked awesome when I left.
Recently I needed to find a cheaper cut due to certain circumstances (read: the complete meltdown of the economy and my wallet) so I went to Hair Metal.
Marissa is freaking awesome and gave me a cut every bit as good as my fancy more expensive cuts, but for a third of the price. I'll be coming back.
I really wanted to love this place...after all the great things I've heard.
The female stylist asked me plenty of questions about what I wanted. She gave me her opinions and I trusted her to give me a good cut. She proceeded to shape my overgrown bob into a cute hipster cut with lots of layers.
However, instead of taking into consideration the texture of my hair, she cut exclusively with a razor, which is TERRIBLE for baby-fine hair. I feel she took a great deal of potential volume out of my style. It is also not a great place for color or any other kind of treatment.
Everyone is a bit "too cool for school" here...I didn't feel "at home" here at all. One day i'd really like to connect with a stylist in Brooklyn who is warm, intuitive and has serious haircutting abilities.
I went to Hair Metal recently and instantly fell in love with the place. It's so small and home-ly feeling.
I had Marissa and her dog was beyond adorable. I brought a picture for reference and she asked a bunch of questions so I would love it. She was super nice and friendly.
My hair turned out awesome and exactly how I wanted it. I'd definitely go back again and again.
Got an appointment right away. Receptionist was incredibly pleasant. Marissa cut my hair, and she was personable, talented and otherwise fantastic. My hair looks amazing! I will be back, for sure. Did I mention a cut was $60?!?!?!?! This place is a total gem.
I think I am one of the unfortunate few that walked out of here NOT pleased with the haircut I got. I loved everything else about this place though.
**Ed really tried to accomodate me as best as he possiblly could, it just wasn't in the cards for me.
LET ME NOT FORGET THE RAZOR CUTTING ... I thought my hair would be resilliant enough to withstand a choppy razorcut but that is not the case.
Two months later I have a halo of stray flyaway hairs and my hair is creeping down the back of my neck in a really admirable attempt at a redneck mullet. It's not just party in the back its party all over my domepiece (but a really BAD party)
All in all make sure you are really specific ( I even brought pictures!) about the style you want or risk wearing a nubby sad little ponytail until it grows out.
Amazing, just amazing! I just moved back to NYC and needed to find a new hair stylist pronto. Not just because I didn't have one, but it was because I had a disaster hair cut that needed help.
I heard about this place through my friends. You know you can trust them because they have the most amazing hair and are very picky about whom they see. All of them raved about this place. And when I checked it out on Yelp you could see all the amazing reviews.
I tried calling to get an appointment but I could never get through and didn't get called back. I kind of panicked after a week. Then my friend Lynh saved me and gave me her appointment. Thank god!
I walked in and had some idea in my head of what I wanted but I could not articulate it at all. But Kristi really tried to figure out what I wanted, she was careful to show me exactly what she was doing. Even cutting half of my hair to show me how it compared to the other half. Not only that, she was truthful to tell me my hair was f..... up. Haha, very appreciated. Anyway I ended up with exactly what I wanted and it looked good. I am so pleased. I'm a fan.
After a year of visiting different salons trying to find a stylist that would work for me I was directed to Hair Metal by a friend of mine. This place is pretty much amazing. The salon is a tiny one room set up with three chairs, an amazing red skull painted on the wall and as their title hints at, metal music. They have three stylists, Ed, Kristi and Marissa, all equally skilled in their hair working magic. I've had both Ed and Marissa cut my hair and both times have been not only really amazing cuts, but really pleasant experiences. They are laid back and hilarious. Anyone should trust their tresses to these people.
Prices are quite reasonable for the quality you get and who doesn't want to get their haircut with slayer playing?
Dood where are the props for Marisa!
This chic knows what she is doing and she totally belongs in a salon called "Hair Metal"! Not to metions she has been cutting hair for 10 years and even her Mom is a well known stylist in CA!
This neighborhoos salon is in the perfect spot and they make themselves available whenever. You can really tell they love what they do...plus you will laugh your ass off the whole time!
Kristi give me a great cut every time. She took my pony tail and gave me a short haircut that I love.
ALSO, they took my wifes dreads, _six years of them_, and gave her an amazing haircut. Most places do a #2 all the way around when you lose your dreads, but they spent two hours getting the most out of it and she has a super-hot chin-length cut now that I love.
I got my hair cut from Ed. He listened carefully to my requirements, and he gave me an awesome haircut. I'd say it's one of the best I've had. I had some very particular requirements about how long my hair should be in specific spots, and most places I've been have tried but failed to accommodate those requirements. I once had a stylist in San Francisco who was able to do what I want, but I lived there only briefly and never had such a cut until now. Ed gave me a cut that's even better than that one. I'm honestly very impressed. When I got home, both of my room mates commented on how awesome my hair looks. They've never done that before, so that really says a lot about Ed's talent.
EDIT:
I've recently also gotten some cuts by Marissa. The first time I got a cut from her, I was really surprised how different the cut she gave me was from the one that Ed gave me. I really liked the cut, especially when I saw how well it grew out. Each of the stylists has their own preferred style of cut, and if you are vague enough in your directions, their individual styles will show through in the final cut. I am going to be getting more cuts from Marissa and Ed in the future, and I'll likely pick depending on my mood. Anyway, based on my experience, you can't really go wrong with any of the stylists, but you probably want to try them all out to see the different interpretations of your directions. Maybe you'll find a favorite. (they all follow the directions, but their interpretations can be different if you're vague enough)
After years of having my mom and girlfriends cut my hair, I felt it was time to get it done right. I left my seemingly unobtainable curly locks to Marissa and she gave my non-jew jew-fro a great cut with a manageable style that I'll be able to keep for the long haul. Great vibe, cute dog, good conversation - can't beat it.
initially i was like OMFG lurve. but as my cut grew out, it looked weirder and weirder and then i found out that there are better deals for a haircut in wburg.
not a bad place by any means, but not my regular jam.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/19/2008
yes, yes yelp. hair metal is "woohoo! as good as it gets!"
as a former client of strange beauty show… Read more »
5 effing stars all the way.... I'm new to New York, and VERY paranoid about my hair after a very traumatic experience a few years back that ended up being a hot mullet mess..... I looked up hair salons in New York City read some reviews, and had a good feeling about this place. I called made my appointment and was set up with a hairstylist named Julie (so she obviously had to be great right?)... My subway got shut down, of course there is only only train that goes there, and I was stranded and about to cancel. I must have called the salon like 100 times asking for directions, getting lost every other minute, telling them I was getting a cab... they even texted me step by step directions. The kindness and customer service they offered me was nothing short of spectacular. I finally got to the salon which was full of generous, hip, DOG FRIENDLY, stylists and met Julie. I didn't even need to show her the pictures I had... she just knew and went to town on my hair... I was getting soooo nervous, but for the first time in my life my hair came out 100% perfect.... NO COMPLAINTS... I was going for the posh bob, long front, with bangs and a lot of volume in the back.
Now pricing is a bit on the expensive side-60 bucks... BUT if you are a girl, and you KNOW HOW HARD IT IS to find a good hair stylist then I believe it is totally worth your money. Hair cuts now-a-days are usually no less than 40 anyway.
Go into Hair Metal and have a blast... I will definitely be a regular!
Hair metal changed my life. OK, thats an overstatement. They changed my hair. But they rock. They will rock your face.
In fact, when you go, tell them Jay sent you and say "I hear you guys will rock my face." They'll love it I promise.
Hearing about Hair Metal from a friend, and also reading the reviews here, and also being THIS close (I'm holding my fingers really close to one another) to pulling it all out myself; I made an appointment.
I had an appointment on a rainy night with Ed. The salon is TINY. Tiny. Very small. Like, one sink, two chairs small. Despite this, I didn't feel claustrophobic, I felt intimate!
I was one of those extremely annoying customers who didn't have any idea what she wanted, but Ed was extremely nice and walked me through some different options. As the Iron Maiden (I don't look like it, I know, but I'm a huge metal nerd and I had to remember that rocking out could result in A.) A chunk of my hair missing, or B.) A chunk of my ear missing) blasted from the stereo, Ed gave me the best trim of my life.
Because, as it turned out, all I needed was a little bit of cleaning up on my former haircut in order to look fabulous, Ed undercharged me. "I didn't really do much, it's not a drastic change," he said, and seemed to feel bad about it, even though it's absolutely perfect.
I would and will highly recommend Hair Metal to any lost soul needing either a drastic change (the girl being tended to by the other stylist was getting about a foot of hair cut off, and it looked amazing), or a trim!!!
I just moved here & blindly booked an appt. I went in & asked for a bob. Ed said, " boring" & proceeded to use vision & custom design sense, letting me know each step of the way exactly what his idea was. I have never had people comment (let alone compliment) me on my hair except to ask if I cut it myself, even after $100 haircuts. I have very lifeless hair, it never does anything it should. I really have to say I got my dream haircut here. I can style it several ways & it looks good growing out because it was cut with exceptional skill. The guy's an artist.
I listened to all of Appetite for Destruction while hungover on a 90-degree Brooklyn day while Kristi made the miracle of cutting my hair so I look Williamsburg skinny.
They fixed what crazy-ass salons have been screwing up for years, and did it for $30. God bless you, Hair Metal!
I hate getting haircuts and I love having longer hair. These 2 reasons alone making finding an affordable decent cut very hard. I've paid $100 for an amazing cut and I've paid $20 for a decent one as well. However, I've been screwed on both ends as stylists tend to go trendy (i.e. mod these days) and barbers massacre your head with buzzers.
Hair Metal is located in hipster heaven but the staff was super chill. I went from a stoner shag to a close ass caesar. Ed, the stylist, was mad cool and recommended using a razor as opposed to a buzzer which I now agree with. $30 included a nice wash with some tingly shampoo.
I am definitely going back in 6 months for my next cut.
Hair Metal Salon is what my friends and I have long sought-after - the middle ground between a cheap $10 Supercuts-esque chopjob and a luxuriously overvalued $65 coiff. $25 cuts for guys, $50 for women (I know they also do colorings as well, with free consultations). The stylists are very attentive and ask a lot of questions about what you're looking for at every step of the process, and the cuts are stellar for the price. Right off the Bedford stop on the L, if you're looking for a stylish cut at a great price, go here - it'll be well worth the trip.
Welcome to my new favorite place to get a haircut. It also doesn't hurt that it's less than a block from my house.
finally!
i went to see marissa at hair metal last week and walked away with the most fantastic haircut i've had since i moved here last year. the price was totally reasonable ($60) and she listened to what i wanted and explained what she was doing the whole time.
i have no idea if there's an SF style way of cutting hair, but i've been missing the sweet haircuts i got when i lived there. perhaps it's because marissa cut hair in SF too, but she totally gets it and after walking out of hair metal last week i finally felt psyched on my hair again.
i will definitely be back.
I echo SGCL's sentiments. Mostly because I'm the girlfriend he spoke of that received a razor cut that did me absolutely no justice. When I walked out, I felt as though my hair looked perfect for a bartending gig at Union Pool or Royal Oak. It was kind of like a femme-mullet. I had to let it grow (a.k.a. sport a ponytail) for 6 weeks before someone could even go near it. I got 3 "fix-er-up" haircuts to repair the damage. I hate to be a complainer, but I love me some hair maintenance and this was some of the worst I've gotten.
I will say that Eddie was a very nice dude and I probably needed to stress to him that asymmetrical femme-mullets weren't my speed but I figured my business suit would pretty much say it all. Oy!
For the price, the results, the music, and the laid back vibe..this place can't be beat. The guy, what's his name again?, cut my hair ( I think they are a couple/business partner duo??) and even though he flat ironed the shit out of my hair..as soon as I got home and styled it myself it was as good as gold. I only get my head piece cut once or twice a year..but I have found that this is THE place to get it done. Guy cuts are only $25 and walk ins are welcome.
UPDATE: Just got my bi-yearly cut ...the price for a guys cut is now $30 and walk-ins are no longer due to their increased volume of business.
