Richie The Barber

Richie’s fades are second to none. Bordering on Beverly Hills, his cuts are every bit as good (if not better) than a lot of the barbers in the 90 210. I’ve been going to Richie for my cuts for more than 3 years, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s lightning fast with the shears and dead accurate. He can shape a beard like it’s nobody’s business. Always in a good mood, always up to some entertaining shenanigans outside of the barber shop. Never a dull moment with this guy. He has multiple comically oversized bowties. Can’t go wrong with that.

Terribly unprofessional, and won’t actually listen to a word you say. He’s a great barber, to be sure, but it’s not worth the trouble. Overpriced, overrated.

The guy rushes through your hair
Gave me an apt time that wasn’t legitimate
Charges WAY TOO MUCH
Said I needed two appointments one for my hair and one to line it up, which made completely no sense.
I’ve been going to barbers my whole life
Mainly in New York where barbers are in crazy competition there, haven’t seen anything like this my whole life!
Deff not going back

Used to love these guys but they just screwed me over. Next time don’t tell me to come back in an hour if your going to close up your shop up in 45 minutes! Just tell me I can’t get a haircut! Don’t make me drive around and waste my time, just be rude like your supposed to be. Don’t act like some superficial LA chick who pretends like she’s interested but is just leading you on. You just lost my business Bolt!

I was terrified as I was guided into his hair cutting room in the back for the first time. Probably the best haircut I have ever had. The clown stuff is cool and all but if you are not into it you should know that theres decades of family generated barber experience in this man.

Richie the barber, great guy, great Barber! I’d give him 10 stars if I could.
Always in a good mood, happy and you can clearly see he loves cutting hair. Try him out you won’t be disappointed.

Great barber, great guy. Friendly, funny and a terrific conversationalist. My new go to barber in L.A.

I needed a haircut b/​c I looked like a hung-​over Fraggle after the holidays. I went to google maps to find a haircut near me and this is one of the places that was a couple blocks away. (The other was Chroma = $ 65+, no thanks. I’m sure they are great too, I just don’t care that much to drop $ 80 on a haircut). I read a handful of reviews and they were generally positive save for a couple haters and folks irritated about Richie misplacing bookings (not cool, but whatever, I’m a walk-​in), so I called Bolt Barbers Monkey House. Guy on the phone said there were two barbers working at the wait would be around 15 – 20. Fine.
I walked over and the guy at the front took my name and I took a seat in a school stool and watched ESPN. They have an old-​school video game and some other games in the next room back. I wish I knew about the beer on tap beforehand. I waited 15 – 20′ as promised and Richie came out from the back for the next customer — me.
I walked back with him and grabbed a ½pt of PBR on the way. He has a decorated room in the back, with personal pictures. It’s cool. He’s obviously a character, with the flare and props and all, which was fun, but I was there for a haircut.
Main point: the guy is a damn good barber. full stop.
Everything else just made experience more fun. I can normally never tell if a barber wants to chat or not. I have the some confusion with cabbie. However, Richie had great energy, was easy to talk with and a nice guy. He also gave me some good tips of spots to check out in LA that I hadn’t heard of… which was a plus. (I don’t get out much these days).
5 stars = as good as it gets.
I’ll be back.
Total cost: $ 30 haircut and a $ 20 tip. Money well spent. Best haircut I’ve had in LA.

I finally had my first hair cut with #richiethebarber. Helluva great guy with great energy. I will for sure be going back to him. Thank you buddy. Like I was telling you mama was happy happy happy. And a big thank you to my boy blue for the referral.

Took my BF in for a shave. Richie only gets 3 stars because he lost/didn’t have our appointment scheduled. I personally called yet when we arrived it was no where to be found. We waited around ¹⁵⁄₂₀ mins. for him to show up and when he finally strolled in he took us in as a walk in.
But to brighten up our experience he gave my BF & I a shot whiskey. Richie was very friendly and gave him a good clean shave.

Richie is great.
He really knows how to cut a guy’s hair.
I’d planned on going to this guy to cut my hair for the rest of my days, but I was saddened today when I called in to make an appointment, and literally overnight, his rate jumped from $ 25 to $ 45 for a cut.
This is almost literally a 100% increase overnight.
I could have lived with a jump up to $ 30, and maybe even $ 35, but this was kind of a shocker, and a genuine bummer.
I sadly had to go back to my own place because of this.
:/​

My first thoughts were wow this should be fun. An hour later, I had a clean shaven face and an amazing hair cut.
Richie was very polite. He introduced me to the other patron (who also happened to be his friend). He quickly went to work making me feel at ease and just chatting like we were old high school buddies that had been out of touch.
He took a small break to juggle swords while his friend performed magic tricks for me.
His shop is very unique it is filled with trinkets that remind you of a different, yet simpler time. The old timey music playing fills the room with a relaxing atmosphere. If you’re over 21 a shot of whiskey.
In today’s age of technology and rushed deadlines, Richie the Barber takes his time to make you relaxed then he makes you feel and look your very best. After the haircut and a shave he pulled out some hand worn head messager and rubbed my neck and head.
I have never been to a barber that stood out and made me say wow. This certainly won’t be my last visit to his shop no matter how far I would have to drive!

I recently got my haircut again by Richie at his new location (Bolt Barbers on Melrose). Although right now he doesn’t have any special (mustache, beard, etc) and the price has gone up for him (now $ 35 vs old $ 25) it was totally worth it.
Having Richie cut your hair isn’t just a cut, it’s an experiec3n. First off Richie is a cool guy (as you will read in other reviews), but also you get the works: Free PBR on tap, Free shots a Whiskey, a hot straight razor cut for the back of your neck, a hot towel, and even a quick shoulder massage at the end. All of that is included with the normal cut, so it’s totally worth the price. Tell me where else you can get all of that in town for that price!
He’s got his own room in the back in which he can play his old school ragtime music and drink away as he cuts your hair. It’s always a great time and my cut looks awesome.
And my appt was at 2pm, and I was in there with him at 1:55pm, so I never had a problem where he didn’t show up.
Richie is great. I hope he has his fun special back again soon, but either way, he is worth the price.

I got my boyfriend a gift certificate to get a straight razor shave. Bryan is very particular about his mustache, so I was careful who I chose to service him. No way in hell I’m going to be responsible for choosing a hackjob barber, ha.
Bryan made an appointment online, using the system on Richie’s website. We’re 15 minutes early to the appointment; It turns out that Bryan’s appointment can’t be found in the system. I don’t know what happened, but none of his information was to be found. Another client showed up who also had made an appointment. After continued investigation with no results, all parties agree that the other appointed client should be taken first. Luckily, our day was pretty open so it wasn’t an issue.
An hour later we returned and Richie politely apologized for the inconvenience and begins setting up. He serves us a generous shot of whiskey each. These flowed, one after another, I might add. Wonderful host.
One could see that Richie is very experienced in his art and skilled in his trade. Bryan looked so comfortable and relaxed (I’m sure the drinks helped with that), my being a bystander, I just felt like I was hanging out with a couple of old friends, taking them back and having a laugh. Richie made the entire experience so much fun and really comfortable.
I loved the customer service we received and the results of Bryan’s shave. My man left elated and enebriated and I know for a fact that he’ll be coming back to Richie for his barbering needs.
* Just a tip: CALL to confirm your appointment if using the online system. Just in case! ;)

Richie the Barber is my personal hero and a real American. Little known fact: Richie the Barber killed Osama Bin Laden.
He also serves free whiskey and cuts the best hair this side of the Mississippi.
I’ve gotten my hair cut with him a ton of times and he always does it well.

I posted before with a 5 star rating but after the poor customer service, I really had to change my rating.
I made an early AM appointment. The salon was not even opened yet. I thought I could get a quick cut, go home, shower and make it in to work in time. Well, he ran about 30 to 45 min late and blamed it on bike problems. No biggy at the time. Fast forward to my next appointment. I was driving back from an appointment on the West-​side and called him that I was a few minutes late. I get there about 10 min after the appointment and find him hanging out on his computer by himself. Nobody was to arrive for about 20 minutes or so. He said he can’t take me because I was late, even though I called, gave him the heads up etc. I been to his shop about 5+ times already. Remember, he didn’t have a customer in his chair. It usually takes a barber 15 minutes to cut my hair since my hair is short.
I am done with him and would NOT recommend ANYONE to him. I went down the street and got a pretty good cut. I

Everything was going so well with my new barber and I until he bumped my appointment today while I was siting waiting for my haircut and tried to blame it on me in front of other clients. Richie the Barber has a good fade and free whiskey, but today was the end of the honeymoon phase.
I’ve had to wait at least 10 – 15 minutes before every appointment I’ve had with him. So when I was 5 minutes late to my 12:30 appointment today, I didn’t think it was a big deal. I walked in and his 12:00 customer was in the chair, I figured he was late as usual. The 12:00 customer in the chair had a friend with him who took the 1:00 slot after me. After some debate about their appointment times Richie told me that I had to wait until after the 1:00 guy because I was 5 minutes late, even though the 12:00 guy was still in the chair at 12:45 (15 minutes after my appointment, 10 minutes after my arrival).
It was now 12:50 and the 1:00 guy was stepping into the chair. 15 minutes pass by and in walks another customer. Richie looks up and immediately informs me that I, after waiting for 30 minutes, have to come back another day. Richie was running behind and used my 5 minute tardiness as an excuse to cut me to keep the rest of his day on track.
I come from a family of barbers. My grandfather and his brother, along with my father and my uncles. My father passed away 6 months ago. It took me a little bit of time to find a barber that I liked. I found that in Richie until today’s events.
Richie the Barber sure is a character. He’ll give you a good fade, a shot of whiskey and something interesting to look at, but don’t expect proper customer service. None of my family of skilled barbers would have ever treated a regular customer like I was treated today.
The search for a good reliable barber is sadly back on.

went to see Richie The Barber again because of my last experience was so awesome I had to just go in and say «hello». Richie was really really busy and I didn’t want to stay too long but he remembered me and gave me a big wave «wat up» with a big smile! Nice guy :)
Thanks Richie for making my day :)

What can I say? Simply the best old school barber with the most character ever.
Beers — Check
Hot or Cold Whiskey — Check
Cigars — Check
Hot Towel — Check
Hot Shaving Cream — Check
He now has two locations, one in a new tattoo shop, and his spot on Vine for the more conservative
My recommendation? … Do it

Like another reviewer, I created a Unilocal account just to say how pleased beyond anything I was with my first haircut with Richie when he was still on Melrose. I was a walk-​in and was more than happy to wait. After 6
shots of whiskey, the best haircut ever, shave & massager I felt like new man!
I can say I’m a regular now, but walk-​ins are probably almost impossible now. Make sure you book an appt online big time for Richie!