The Calico Beard & Mercantile

I wouldn’t trust my hair with anyone but Emily… excellent cuts and color. Great product selection. Friendly staff and fun environment. Love it!

Not long ago I came to the conclusion that my facial hair was beyond my control. I was in need of a qualified professional. Unfortunately, I am still waiting for my Hipster ID Card (and all its privileges) to be processed by the department of Skinny Jeans and Ironic T-​Shirts. I think they know I live in the suburbs. Actually worse than the suburbs, I live in the hillbilly town that neighbors on the suburbs.
But maybe… MAYBE…I live there ironically. Wouldn’t it be hilarious to move 33-​minutes outside the city and raise a family in an affordable house with excellent schools? What a hoot.
At any rate, with no secret hipster information, I was forced to somehow find my way to the information without so much as an information super highway to get me there. I won’t bore you with how I found the information super highway (it involves a Styrofoam cup, a half sheet of notebook paper and an albino squirrel), but a quick search using something called «google» revealed a quaint little salon in the city called The Calico Beard & Mercantile.
I booked an appointment online in minutes (easy, painless, quick) for the following Saturday. This suburban dad planned his trip to the big city with excitement and anticipation.
I got there just a minute or two before my appointment was scheduled and got into a chair a few minutes after that. Meanwhile, my son sipped on a free Coke while he waited. It was time for my first beard trim. Madalyn walked me through the process as she worked and took care of everything like the pro she is. The beard was tamed and trimmed in a few minutes and I was now ready to face the world without being an embarrassment to my wife and kids.
While I’m still waiting for my hipster card, I’m certain I have more street cred and beard maintenance knowledge than the average concert-​going-​thick-​rimmed-​glasses-​wearing hipster, which I obviously secretly want to be since I’m walking around with this professionally maintained beard.

As a balding 30-​something, it’s been a while since I’ve had to seek out the services of a quality barber/​hair stylist. Then came No-​Shave November, which quickly turned into a competition among some of my guy friends as to who could grow the «best beard» by New Years. If I can brag for a minute, I grew a pretty kick-​ass beard during that time, and I started to grow attached. My wife, on the other hand, not so much. Eventually, she gave me an ultimatum — shave it off or go get it manicured. Of course, I chose the latter option. After doing some research, I found The Calico Beard & Mercantile and figured I’d give it a shot. I booked an appointment with Dane for the following Saturday. The online reservation process here is very simple, and it allows you to select your stylist, the services requested, and the preferred time slot based on their availability. The space itself has so much character! Exposed brick walls, a garage door that they open up when the weather’s nice out, bright colors throughout, and trendy furnishings. In addition to the services they provide, they also have a little boutique shop inside that has clothing and the obvious beauty products for men and women both. The waiting area is a few comfy chairs and a couch, and they offer free coffee, tea, and sodas while you’re waiting. I love the hilarious little books that they have available to read while you’re sitting there! Now for the people. Everyone working here is so friendly and welcoming. Most specifically I can speak to my experience working with Dane. He’s an amazing guy who takes a lot of pride in the quality of his work. He’s extremely personable, and I’ve always enjoyed our conversations while I’m getting my beard trimmed. Working with him has helped me better understand the relationship that many women describe having with their hair stylist. He’s like another friend that I get to see once a month or so and catch up! I couldn’t recommend this place any more highly!!!

Absolutely exceptional cuts from both Tara and Maddie, I wouldn’t trust anyone else with my fragile follicles. Plus the friendly crew and cool space always bring a really great vibe. An all around Westside gem for sure.

While my stylist was sweet and let me know what she was doing to my hair every step of the way, I have to admit that I think this is one of the worst haircuts that I’ve gotten. I have very thick, coarse hair and it came out looking like a bowl cut that sits right at my ears. It doesn’t want to lay right no matter which way I push it and lacks any kind of definition. Fortunately it fits into the teeniest little ponytail that I can wear it in while it grows out, but I may need to go to another stylist to have it fixed.

Friendly people who know what they are doing!
Dane always goes the extra mile to provide a truly remarkable service — so easy to talk to, and knows current styles very well.
Fun atmosphere with an eclectic music mix — love the open garage-​door style architecture when it’s warm out.

This is the best place for any person to get their hair cut/​styled. Tara is great!!! I won’t go anywhere but here!!!

When I first moved to KC, Tara was the first stylist I visited. That was more than two years and three locations ago and I wouldn’t choose anyone else. She’s truly fantastic, both at her job and as a person. I highly recommend visiting Tara at Calico Beard & Mercantile.

I cannot say enough good stuff about Tara and her amazing Calico Beard & Mercantile! The atmosphere is beyond cool, designed with a vintage feel, The Beard also has a great collection of vintage clothing, jewelry & accessories to shop from.
My husband has never liked his hair until going to see Tara. She knows how to cut a guys hair so he can actually style it for work and for play! I love how honest Tara is with me on my hair. She lets me know if I could use a trim and what coloring will look best. The 15 minute dry trims are amazing! It is so much easier to maintain my hair knowing I can pop in and so quickly!
And I can’t go without mentioning First Fridays at The Beard! Tara highlights musicians, artists, and local food each month. It’s a great place to meet other art loving folk. As an artist myself & new to KC, I am so thankful to The Beard for this opportunity and for all the connections Tara facilitates for me! Any time I need a new source for printing, carpentry, etc., Tara is happy to send me in the right direction of a local business or artist. It is so awesome to see her love for local support and to develop business practices of my own that are similar!
Tara and The Beard are the greatest!

My great uncle (on my Mother’s side), Harold, was a ball turret gunner in the Pacific theater during WWII so I know a thing or two about top quality haircuts at affordable prices. I also, as a total coinky dink, have a calico beard. In fact, I was mercilessly teased as a high school senior at Our Lady of the Seeping Wound because I already had a full, multi-​colored beard which was the proverbial cherry on my sundae of eccentricities.
Well, let me tell you, Tara Shaw has taken this ugly duckling and turned him into what my frequent dining partner Maurice calls «the stud muffin with extra nuts.» Now, I know what you’re thinking– «That’s just great but how does this relate to me?!» Well, first of all, you can lose the tone. Secondly, what it means to you is that, if you want to take your look to the next level, Tara is your gal. Go ahead and try to book an appointment for next Tuesday. Oh wait, she’s booked up for the next month? Yeah, that’s because she’s fucking awesome. Oh my god. I just let a curse word slip. Sorry Mom. Anyways, she’s the best and the other two gals ain’t nothing to shake a stick at. Of course, I’m not sure why you would shake a stick at anything ever. I mean, who goes around shaking a stick at things they disapprove of?
Oh, and as for the «mercantile» part of the name– they sell stuff. Not just your run of the mill $ 987.50 bottle of shampoo with coriander nibs and narwhal placenta either. They sell vintage clothes, art, jewelry and more. I mean, this chick has it going on (finger snap in the air). Every first Friday they have live music and refreshments and debut a new artist, jeweler and designer or some such talent.
Actually, now that I think of it, the place is probably a little too cool for you after all. Maybe you should keep going to Shear Madness or A Kut Above or Great Clips or some other «salon» with a terrible pun for a name. Whoa, I got a little attitude there. Sorry, must be the complimentary beer I had with my style.
Bullet points:
1) Tara is a sassy, classy broad with tons of chops in the clips department
2) they sell cool stuff
3) they will make your dumb hair look not dumb
4) I’m always right (see my other reviews)
Peace & Hairgrease!

Before Tara, I use to cut my own hair because I just didn’t like what stylists were doing. I’m lucky I found her. She does great cuts and then explains how to maintain it in a way that’s easy to follow and customized to my preferences.
Then add in the awesome shop she’s started in the Westside with her amazing collection of vintage and quirky finds. It’s the place to be on First Fridays with the rotating local artists and live music.