John’s Hair Styling

John is a totally ridiculous, caricature of a person.
He has catch phrases. («rip it out»)
He goes on what seem to be totally senile tangents.
He is religious.
He preaches happiness.
His shop is totally unique, and totally absurd. He also gives a great haircut at a good price ($ 30)
He is meticulous and has very strong opinions about what your hair should look like. He uses mostly scissors and a straight edge razor.
Definitely worth it, if only for the experience.

John knows how to give a great cut, and do it consistently. I looked good every time I left there. Plus, he’s a great guy to talk to, his shop is full of interesting, beautiful woodwork, and he gives a great scalp and neck massage at the end.
These good old school shops are hard to find. He might be the only thing I miss about working in Boston.

Other reviewers must be friends of the barber, who are nice enough to post positive reviews yet smart enough to get a haircut elsewhere. In the dim light of the barber shop, my hair all slathered with witch hazel and other tonics, it looked okay. Once I washed my head and got a look at myself in bright bathroom lights, it was glaringly obvious that I got one of the worst haircuts of my life. Whole tufts of hair that are easily ½ inch longer on one side of the flat top than the other. Ridiculous. I hate a barber who claims to do a good flat top, but can’t deliver. I asked for a beard trim, too, unfortunately. Same horrible mess in the unforgiving lights of the bathroom. Long hairs mixed with short. My wife was horrified. $ 50 and I had to go home and fix it myself. Save your wallet and your pride grevious injury. Go have a beer instead.

First off let me say that the haircut was great. My only complaint is about price. John said he gave me a $ 50 haircut, but would only charge me $ 30. $ 30 for a haircut I could have gotten for $ 20 including tip. I was going to take another trip, but will never step foot in there again.

John sells one way small talk; cutting hair just keeps his hands busy. He disregarded my guidance, instead preferring to employ his ‘method’. He trashed the person who last cut my hair, calling it old fashioned – a strange irony, since John has fashioned his barbershop from faux 1900s knickknacks. He was very nice, but he was more talking at me than with me. He was also twenty minutes late. Charged $ 40.

Excellent barber. Unique experience.

Been to John 4 times now. Best haircut I’ve ever had and in a cool little shop. He’s a great guy and always likes a good conversation.
Old fashioned barber that wraps everything up with some warm shaving scream and a straight edge to clean up your neck.
This is the only place I can remember walking out with a haircut I like.

John is a consummate perfectionist, consistently providing the best haircuts in the Beacon Hill area. I have never been disappointed in over two years and have had the best cuts in my life here. John relies mostly on scissors cuts, painstakingly taking care to make everything straight. He offers styling as well as his «bone structure» cut where he literally studies and gets to know the shape of your head and produce a cut that emphasizes the right areas and resulting in a really nice shape.
Besides a great cut, expect to go on a visual and philosophical tour — from the huge, hand carved wooden barber’s station to the discussions of the latest books, John dispenses aesthetic and intellectual entertainment as well as great haircuts. Expect to pay a bit of a premium, but know that its well worth it.