Elegant Barber Shop

Apr 2025

It was mad easy to make the appointment- you can pre pay or pay after service which I appreciate. My barber was Nick. I walked in 5 minutes early "I have 3:30 appointme-" "Will? " "yes." " you're with Nick, he'll be done in 5 minutes please have a seat." 5 minutes passed like 20. I was chopping off my brown locks of which so many previous barbers and Salonistas have objectified "your grandfather blessed you huh," complimenting me with confounding wide eyes. I needed like Jesus to resurrect. Hairs a good place to start I had thought, probably influenced subconsciously by those characters on TV or films who chop off their all comfortable mane as to do shock therapy in the mirror or maybe I just wanted attention. Then I was in the chair at 3:30. I sheepishly showed him a picture of the cut that would be my dice toss. "High and tight" I was going all in like they do in Poker or those other Casino games ( which I actually have never played and don't intend to because gambling seems insidious and addiction runs in the family. ) His eyes jolted, catching him stunned then helplessly letting out a little smile like "this little white boy is really going to go for it, fuck it might look good on him" Then back to business, absolutely making positive with me that I wanted exactly the cut this 8 Mile looking kid with the wife beater in the picture had. I nodded becoming a bobble head giving an affirmative green light, consenting to be whacked and mowed. "Top too" "What?" "Top shaven too" "Oh yes. Exactly like the picture!." Still bobble heading before I ran out of that little barber shop like the back door of your neighborhood dive when you see the catfish your lazy tech fueled dating attempts brought in, as he, like a gourmet chef squinting at a fascistic and novel food swap request, made absolutely explicit the terms of my request. Business is business. Then he gently wrapped paper around my neck and then draped the classic robe, needlessly protecting a no effort Sunday dress , as Nick got right to work without those phony pleasantries and small talk of which I've never felt spurred to engage in but ,polite as I am, nonetheless entertain because, like a work of art or a meal, all that goes in to the work will show, and if a barber should feel ignored or made invisible, then this feeling would reflect in my hair. Thank god then the next half hour was silent as he sculpted with blade and razor, as if Sweeney Todd was on Lexapro, his only concern was on applying his tried craft to the customer patronizing his workplace, occasionally stepping back like a sculptor to take in the progress of his recent markings or very gently turning my stoic cheek left or right as needed to access the angle of attack. This was a man whose put in his 10,000 hours on the job because for him this high and tight fade was executed with a swift , calm but unflinching focus, like a routine ground ball to first base, take your eye off the ball and you may make an amateurs error, Nick doesn't take his eye off the ball and it seemed like the other barbers in there worked with just as much commitment and talent, providing excellent and tailored service to whoever should be their trustees . "Okay.. good?" Nick asked me after cleaning with a brush the loose little hairs around my scalp And then I just couldn't believe the mirror. I was Dorian Gray realizing the picture was of him. And I felt something unusual.. a latent puberty perhaps? For in that moment all the depictions of brutal masculinity we get assaulted with in the media suddenly made sense, not in the mind, but lower....in the soul I think. I left Elegant all the 30$ poorer (save for an undisclosed generous cash tip) , with a limitless swagger, feeling the all too late eastern winters 11'O Clock wind bitterly brush through my newly unclad scalp, gently teasing of what's to be a marvelous spring bloom. No, AI did not write this. No, I am no poet or a

Jan 2025

They worked wonders with my terrified toddler, were very patient and accommodating and his hair looked adorable. Also it's affordable which I need for my kids since the cut won't last long.

Jul 2024

Nathan was hands down the best barber I’ve had in a while. I’ve been to many barbers looking for the right cut, which is simple, but no one ever got it right. Nathan got it right the first time and I couldn’t be happier. This shop is a short walk from work too so I will definitely be back!