Mr John

I’ve been going to this place for about a year now, and have been really happy with their work. I was looking for a new place after my guy in Port Authority Bus terminal retired, and this place made sense for me since live in Brooklyn off the q train and frequently pass through union square. It’s 20 bucks and that includes a neck shave (A good barber does this. I.e. you don’t get neck shaves at Supercuts). The guys are constantly bantering back and forth in Sicilian-​dialect Italian but have a good friendly vibe (kinda makes for an «only in New York» experience). Highly recommended!

This is the first and only review I’ve ever made on Unilocal.Best haircut in NYC bar-​none. $ 20, the guys who work here are quick, friendly and take appointments. I will only go here for haircuts for as long as I live in NYC.

Really nice haircut I’m usually afraid to try a new barber but this is the closest place to my office so I gave it a shot. They gave me a pretty solid haircut and were nice. $ 20 plus gave a few dollars for a tip.
I went in the winter and it was very cold outside so it was quiet and I didn’t have to wait. I imagine when the weather is better it can be busy but I was happy to be in right away.

These guys are great. I take the five train in from the Bronx. My first time here, the guy shaved me like i had never been shaved before. My second time, the same guy cut my hair and finally gave me the cut I’ve been looking for and it was only twenty dollars. All three of them seem to be excellent barbers. I’m impressed. I’ll be coming here for a long time.

John has been my barber in NYC ever since I moved here. I used to live in the neighborhood but have since moved uptown and he remains my barber. He is worth the trip. Gives a great haircut for a for price and even let me squat during a World Cup game that went to overtime.

Mr John is a great little barber shop hidden away on 4^th Ave and 12^th st. I have never had a complicated haircut — a #1 buzz-​cut all around — but they did it fantastically here.
Pros
* Used metal blades on the buzzer. Cheaper places like Supercuts and such use plastic ones and they can bend/​flex, giving you an inconsistent cut.
* Went over my head about a thousand times to ensure there was not one missed hair.
* Used the traditional hair apron to prevent hair from getting on my clothing, but also placed a towel around my neck that would be shaken out after each phase of the cut. This meant that I did not have tiny hairs all over my clothing, so I didn’t have to go straight home and change shirts afterwards.
* Used a straight razor around the back and the ears for clean lines.
* Friendly barber, speaks Italian
* Walk-​ins accepted
Cons
* Not inexpensive. $ 20 for a men’s haircut without anything else. I have seen cheaper cuts of the same quality, but also more expensive cuts.
* The barber did not touch up my temple area or sideburn lines with the straight razor
My usual barber is The Blind Barber over on E 10^th because it is a speakeasy and they give you a free drink :) Plus, for my basic cut, it is only $ 20 there too. But, when I can’t get an appointment there, or don’t feel like a drink, I will be coming back to Mr John for sure.

i got the worst haircut i have ever received here.
i asked them to clean up the back and sides. and emphasized trim.
i got a mullet.

I first went here in 1996 and I’ve been a regular for the last 17 years. Simply put, this is what every trendy/​hipster barber aspires to be only they’ve been doing it for decades.
This is definitely a traditional barber catering towards men. There are only 3 chairs occupied by the most awesome Sicilian barbers in all of NYC. There are Playboys and Penthouses lying around. They serve alcohol (actual hard liqour, not beer) at Christmas time. They USED to play the radio (CBS 101.1) but some years back installed a TV… that change qualified as «earth-​shattering». They aren’t here to be cool, won’t try to talk your ear off (actually, they talk mostly to each other)…there is no pretense. Don’t expect any.
Prices have raised over the years (back in the 90’s it was $ 12), but you can still get a quality cut for around $ 20. Some people have mentioned the «hot shave» as being (seemingly) extra. This is the way they have always done their cuts and I didn’t realize how unique it was until I was forced into using other barbers and salons. Every time I do I feel like I’m cheating on this place.
FYI, I get a pretty straight forward men’s cut. My hair is straight and I don’t wear a beard. If that’s not you, I can’t speak to your possible results. But I do know that the service here has garnered them an extremely loyal following, with guys still making the trip back from out-​of-​state to get their hair cut here.
The fact that this small barbershop has been able to remain open as every other business in the Union Square-​area changes (seemingly) yearly speaks to the consistent quality of Mr. John’s. Try it.

When I first moved into the city, I was scared to get a haircut for the fear of barbers messing up my hair. Fortunately, I found this barber shop. The three barbers are nice Italian guys who are very good at what they do. John, the barber that I normally get my haircut with is extremely friendly and clearly well trained. I do recommend this barbershop to anyone living near Union Square.

I initially came here out of convenience since my office was right across the street. Over the course of my patronage, I’ve gotten a trim from all 3, but Charlie’s definitely my guy. Give him at least a vague idea of what you want done, and he’ll go at it with the scissors to turn that mop into a well-​sculpted ‘do. Well, at least that’s what I’ve been doing and it seems to work out every time. I moved uptown and don’t spend much time downtown anymore, but I’ll continue coming here until I leave the city or die. I don’t foresee either of those happening any time soon.

I’ve been going to Mr. John’s to get my hair cut for 12 years now and I’ve never been unhappy with a haircut. The hot shave on the back of the neck and the $ 20 price tag (cash only) make it a no brainer. As long as I live in New York, I’ll never go anywhere else.

Good, old fashioned haircut. 3 Italian Barbers, skilled with the scissors just as well with the trimmer. Top it off with a hot shave and you’re set. Pass through on the holidays, and they’ll offer you a nice Johnnie Walker to keep you warmed up. Fantastic cut!

I went in this morning for a trim before a job interview. An older gentleman cut my hair. I have semi-​long curly hair and just wanted it trimmed. The first thing he did was hack off a large chunk from the top front of my hair. He arbitrarily combed and cut and left me with an uneven mess of a haircut. The top is shorter than the sides and uneven all over.
They may be good for short hair, but anything long, you should probably stay far away from this place.
He even had the gall to tell me to come back when I want it all cut off. I will never go back.

Fantastic cut by one of three upstanding gentlemen. Loved the hot shave, too — a rare pleasure for a $ 20 haircut.
Everyone else who came in while I was getting my cut seemed to be a close personal friend of one of the barbers, but then proceeded to sit down and get a haircut. This bodes well for their long-​term client relationships.
Give these guys a shot, for sure.

Best barbershop in NYC. It’s 3 guys from Sicily who really know what they’re doing. Friendly service, attention to detail, and a great old-​school vibe.

I walked into the place (with an appointment), and was warmly greeted by John himself. After a short wait, John went to work, basically cleaning up my whole head. If I decide to keep my hair, I’m definitely coming back.

UPDATE:
I keep going back to Mr. Johns and have come to really appreciate the haircuts I get there. Being in Real Estate, I like a clean cut and they seem to get that there. They will talk if you force the issue a bit and get into it, and they certainly talk a lot with the regulars and know all of their names. People will stop by just to say ‘hey’ as they walk by.
I’ve yet to leave unhappy about a haircut, and sometimes I leave being very, very pleased.

This place is the best, Been coming here for ten years. Charlie is my guy, but Paul and John do fine work as well.

This place is wonderfully old school — the barbers are Sicilian and speak to one another in this language. Carlo is my regular, and he is great! I always go for a haircut (alas, not much thatch on the head) and a beard-​trim. He always does a good job. Prices are reasonable, but make a appointment, this is a popular place.