Bethesda Metro Hair

This is one of the best places to get a haircut in DC. The barbers an stylists always listen to you and give you exactly what you want. I have searched long and hard for a place like this and am excited to have found it. The trip here is well worth it.

I have been going to Tri for a year now. He is awesome! Cuts my hair perfect every time and always in a good mood. Great haircut and great people!

Was in the area and happened to need a haircut and a shave. Found this place via Unilocal and the reviews were favorable, so I gave it a try. For the purposes of this review, the one star rating reflects my experience at this barbershop.
The shave:
We started with the shave. My beard had grown in a little beyond a stubble. I was asked if I preferred the machine ($ 8) or the straight razor ($ 18). Having delicate skin (I shave with a double edge razor), I chose the latter option.
This is how the shave went. The barber whittled my beard down to skin level with two machines. Why did I pay the premium for the razor if he was going to do most of the work with a dry shave? Before we started, I had clearly communicated that my skin was very sensitive. But no matter. The next phase entailed applying warm shaving cream all around my face with his fingers (were his fingers clean? I didn’t see him wash them.)Then, a warm towel — I imagine to loosen the pores after he already did the heavy lifting. Then came the razor, and 10 minutes of pain as he slowly hacked away at the remaining hairs on my face and neck.
I paused as he began on my neck and reaffirmed that my neck was sensitive and asked that he cut with the grain instead of against. He insisted that against was better. As the customer, I thought best not to argue with a man holding a sharp object to my neck and simply endured the agony that followed. By finish my neck and mouth area were exceedingly red. No aftershave or lotion was applied to my aching skin. So much for $ 18, huh?
The haircut:
The haircut came next (another $ 18). I told the barber (the same barber) how I liked it (2 on the sides and an inch off the top using scissors) and he complied. The haircut was OK. He didn’t fade in the sides like most barbers do. Instead, he applied the #2 evenly against the sides, giving my head a distinctly rectangular look. Like I said, the haircut came out OK.
Individually, the haircut alone would merit a 4 (rounding up from a 3.5), and the shave would be a negative one, if possible.
The overall 1 star rating reflects the amount of value I felt I received for the amount I paid ($ 36) for my visit. As a man, you want to feel fresh and confident leaving a barbershop. You want to feel better than you did going in. Sadly, I felt worse about my overall appearance and I felt aggravated about the poor job the guy did on my face after paying a premium for the shave. There wasn’t a shave+haircut bundle.
If you’re like me and just happened to be the area, give it go for a haircut. You’ll probably be happy. But AVOID this place if your beard needs any maintenance.

This is everything I want in a barber shop. I go to Tri who cuts my hair like I ask for it in pretty much no time and is always super friendly. For whatever reason even though I get what I think is a perfectly normal guys haircut, I always seem to have trouble getting people to do it right. This wasn’t a problem here. Tri listened for about 20 seconds and then started cutting and everything came out great. I’ve gone back again now with the same result. I’ve found my DC barber.
There’s an inexpensive public parking garage catty corner to the place, so it’s easy to park. Usually they’re so fast at cutting my hair that I end up in and out in the «free» time in the garage. The fact that they only take cash is made up for by the fact that they have an ATM inside the shop, so it’s not a problem at all.

Great prices and facilities were clean, but I was not content with the treatment I was given. Lee, the stylist, appeared quite aggressive and did not listen carefully to my instructions on how I wanted my hair. Overall, the place is mediocre. Probably not coming back !

Michael is my barber at this shop. His barber chair is the middle one on the left side after you walk through the front door. To describe him, he’s a middle-​aged Southeast Asian man with blonde highlight at the top of his hair. He’s one of those socially flexible barbers. You know there’s some of those barbers that would talk your ears off and then there are others that can’t talk because they’re too focused on your shapeup. Michael breaks the ice with basic questions because he wants to build a long-​term relationship with you as his barber. Since you care about how you look, he cares about how you look.
After the first two visits, Michael remembers how you want your hair done. For me personally I get a fade on the side with a 2 and get the top trimmed/​layered. Before he makes any new improvements in the hair, he asks so you’re not caught off guard if your hair end up too short or too long than you expect. At the end he usually stylize it with some wax so you can see the finished product as it suppose to be shown. He also edges the sideburns with a razor blade and shaving cream.
Barber and patron relationship is all about listening and understanding. Michael is good at listening to my specs and maybe add his own ideas to improve on it. I went through the phase of wanting a hard part in my hair so we went through that whole process. Also the whole combover to the side flow look. You ask for it; he can most definitely deliver.
From stepping into the door to leaving; it takes an average of 20 – 30 minutes. It cost $ 18 per haircut plus tip.

I’ve been coming to these fine folks for over 18 years. They offer quality service at a very reasonable price. While Ken is tops in my book, they do have several other barbers who are excellent. Although they are always busy, I never have to wait more than a few minutes and sometimes not at all.
Highly recommend!

High time I posted something about this place on Unilocal.My father and I have been going to Tri Le’s establishment for about 14 years. Prices have always been modest, the service gives a «home-​y» feeling, and the actual cut is as good as you’ll find anywhere else. It’s conveniently located in Bethesda and once you go a couple of times, Tri and the other barbers won’t forget your name or your cut preference.
Oh and free parking in the lot underground during the weekends. First 30 minutes free during the weekdays. Call ahead to make an appointment, even though walk ins accepted as well.

I’ve been going here for decades and I haven’t had a bad haircut in all of that time. I really like businesses that last. Longevity is the best review of a company.
Also Tri is great!

I agree with most of the reviews on here. All of the barbers do a decent job. If you don’t care who cuts your hair, there’s usually little or no wait time. If you’re like me and prefer to stick to one barber, I’m sure you can find someone that you like. Each barber carries an iPad or computer if you want to Google Image something.
For me, Ken is the man. He knows exactly what I want and consistently delivers every time. He takes his time and gives a quality and thorough haircut. The hot lather shave at the end is a much appreciated bonus.
A basic haircut for men is now $ 18. Still affordable and worth it!

I grew up going to chain hair places. That what was available in my part of the US and suburban environment I was in. For a while after college I still went to chain places. Eventually I started going to local barbers, but generally jumped around.
After moving to Bethesda I started coming to Metro Hair as it is a close walk for me. I have not jumped around since. My favorite part is that it is well staffed so if you are like me and do not care who cuts your hair ⁸⁄₁₀ times there is someone ready to see me. I always get a careful haircut, though different employees methods. I have never come home shrugging my shoulders while looking in the mirror saying I will look fine in a month. I trust this place.
I now just go here automatically when I start getting shaggy. No more jumping around, not more chains.

We have been coming here for years and they have always done a good job. Everyone is very friendly and they remember you, even though this is a busy place. Good, basic barber shop.

After reading a positive review here involving shaving, I decided to give this place a try when my beard reached Jean Valjean-​at-​the-​beginning-​of-​Les Mis territory. Big mistake — after about 15 minutes of 2 different electric razors, used pretty roughly, and 25 more minutes of straight razors, my neck looked the guy may as well have used a cheese grater. All of this might have been slightly salvageable if the guy had actually given me a close shave, but no. Practically half my moustache remained, and my face was more stubble than clean.
I’m sure this place is great for haircuts, but stay away if you want a barbershop shave.

Only place I can take all 3 kids and they willingly go! Awesome and not outrageous prices.

I bring all of my sons here, each with his own ideas of what a «good» haircut is. Don’t let little boys fool you; even when they are 10 years old, they care about their haircut and if they look cool. So, when you have a host of stylists who understand what it takes to cut a cool haircut (Justin Bieber long or short; a George Clooney, the Barney Stinson), the boys walk out feeling like a million bucks.
Tri is the personable owner. He puts them all at ease. His wife is our personal favorite stylist, although we are very happy with Tri or Jimmy as well.
I love that the stylist will google images and look at various pictures to get a true idea of what my sons want. Boys aren’t the best at expressing themselves sometimes, especially if they are put on the spot. Do you know how hard it is to get an 8 year old to talk about his hair? But guess what, pictures work… and who knew an 8 year old has an opinion about a haircut?
Sure, my boys were also happy at the local barber getting shorn like a sheep; but now that they’ve experienced a place that talks and listens to them, they like this much better.
And the cuts are so much more skillfully done. Good job Tri and staff!

Tri has been my barber for 22 years. I won’t go to anyone else when I’m in Maryland. I live in Baltimore and get my haircut a couple times a month — I make the drive to Bethesda every time. Check em out.

When I moved down here five years ago, I needed to find a new barber. My co-​worker recommended this place, and since it was a block away, I decided to try it. I’ve been coming here ever since, and only gotten a bad haircut twice in five years– not a bad average. I used to always go to Tran till he apparently left, since then I just go to whoever is open at the time. They only do guys hair, and the price is reasonable at $ 17 for a simple haircut, and includes a straight razor cut for sideburns and neck. I’ve been to a lot of barbers– when I find one who can do a decent job, I tend to go back, and have kept coming back even though I no longer work in Bethesda.

Office move made old barber no longer geographically desirable. Just tried Bethesda Metro Hair and was really impressed. Ken cut my hair exactly as I asked. He was very pleasant as well. $ 17 for a basic cut including the all-​important hot lather and straight razor on neck and sideburns. My new barber. Plus free parking in the adjacent county garage on weekends.

I just visited Bethesda Metro Hair today based on the Unilocal review by Adam, and I couldn’t agree with him more. I am very iffy with new Barber shops because they usually just fly through the job an leave it half as, but this place was great! Great price at $ 17 and the service is awesome. I walked right in an was seated by Ken who started right away. Ken was the man, easy to talk to and cut my hair just as I asked (which usually never happens with other places iv been). He took his time and made sure I was happy with it. If your looking for a place that offers great hair cuts and service this is your place!

I came here a few months ago because they’re open later than most barber shops in the area, and I haven’t stopped coming back since. Not only do they have great prices (like $ 17 for a basic haircut) their quality and attention to detail is excellent. Unlike other shops that try and get people in and out of the chair as fast as possible, Bethesda Metro Hair takes the time to do the job right. And the hot lather machine and shave is an excellent bonus. I go to Nicolas and I can tell you from experience that he a man who takes pride in his work. Very highly recommended for price, convenience and quality!