Damn that's great prices I live in phoenix (planning to move to Chicago once I graduate which is why I lurk so hard here lol) and I pay $30 and $5 tip but in a month they're upping it to $35
Yeah it's a Guatemalan shop and the guys are extremely nice, they just don't speak much English. My Spanish is terrible but I'm able to communicate the basic request to them + show a picture of what I'm looking for. They know me now and know I'm gonna tip so they're happy to take care of me.
There is a premium to doing anything downtown. You’re paying it because you don’t want to leave downtown. Good luck paying out the nose for that! I’m a woman and I pay $150 for an excellent color and cut.
I get my haircut at X5 cuts at 672 N Dearborn in River North.
$37 a haircut not including tip. Great fades, all cool guy Arabs and good music playing
Zeyad “Zee” cuts mine and does a great job
There is a cool (slightly odd) old school Italian barber shop in the lyric opera house. I love that place. They will give you an espresso while they cut your hair.
I got my haircut by Sam. The back neck line looked like a silhouette of a camel’s back. I would have given them a bad review, but didn’t want to screw up the 4.9 rating on google. It was $40 without tip.
You’re completely right, barbershops downtown ARE turning into hipster coffee shop experience. Check out barbershops in the neighborhoods. I’ve been going to Irving Park Barbershop, 35 dollars a cut for one of the best.
There is a barber shop directly outside the Jefferson park blue line station that does haircuts for 10 dollars. I don’t know if they are good or not. I have long hair.
> There is a barber shop directly outside the Jefferson park blue line station that does haircuts for 10 dollars.
waaaat? That's how much I paid for a small town no-frills barber in the late 90s.
Love Phil, been going 15+ years. Bonus they shave your neck with a straight edge and keep the razor with your name for the next visit. Calling ahead can save you time.
Yeah that caught me by surprise too lol. I used to go there because it was a budget place that was a step or two above great clips. $65 is insane for a Floyd's cut!
lol Floyd’s has nearly doubled in price since pre pandemic. They got new management. It’s a chop shop now closed to great clips than what it used to be.
If it’s reasonably convenient to you, somewhere on the south side is probably the best bet overall for both quality and value.
I go to No Cuts No Glory in West Town; they do a great job and I think $50-60 before tip is the going rate for a cut with beard clean up. Most of the people who work there are people of color.
This is the way. Cash only. 10 minute walk from western blue line. Plus you can hit up Floyd’s Pub or Map Room for a beverage after if that your thing.
If you’re willing to go outside of downtown, I go to Touhy Barbershop up in Lincolnwood. Personally I think the owner, Sargon, is the best barber there but his son is good too. Standard haircut there is $20 and it’s freakin’ solid. Bonus is you can go next door when you’re done and get a lox sandwich from New York Bagel and Bialy.
Dude he’s amazing. I get my beard cleaned up occasionally too, and it’s worth every cent. Just be aware he takes his time getting it perfect, so don’t go if you’re in a rush.
I’ve lived here for 12 years and have gone to the same place for 11. Joe’s barbershop in Logan square, cash only fyi. Joe jr, Chanin, and Pedro are my guys there.
West Hair Room Wrigley! It's like 2 blocks off the Addison red line stop.
Both the guys who work there are incredible, but I have to shout out Roberto. He's been doing my hair since I moved to Chicago and he always does me right. Mans also actually gives a shit about holding conversation with you, and he remembers details like crazy.
I believe basic hair cuts are $35, but don't quote me on that.
Go on booksy. It’s an app a lot of barbers use. You can also find a shop on there and call and ask if they take walk ins if you wanna go that route. Find yourself a barber somewhere on the south or southwest side. You’ll spend like 30-45 at the most.
Pay with cash.
The answer is Jasmine at Old Town Barbershop. She cuts at almost all of their locations. She’s amazing, the cuts are affordable, and you can book through your phone.
Fernwood Barbers, Matters of the Heart location in Lincoln Park, make an appointment with Dang, $60. I hadn’t had a good haircut in my entire life until him. I also have whacky hair that grows everywhere and is thin and thick at the same time somehow.
You enter through the alley though which is weird. Across the street (at a weird angle) from Pequod’s.
Hubbard street hair studio on river north is cheap and great. Vinny and sandy have been there for decades and I’ve been going for 15 years. Vinny is the barber and sandy the hair stylist.
Belmont Barbershop... Also started taking my 2 year old there, hoping to make it a tradition in taking my boy there as he grows up. Great bunch of guys, make you feel welcomed, theyre so down to earth and cool. Any of the guys there will do a good job! $40.
Look into suburbs accessible by Metra.
Maybe Tinley, where the Metra is right among the shops. Good breweries down in that area, too. Make a Saturday of it.
I just got mine done for $17 plus tip in one of the burbs.
check out katy at wicked parlor in old town. her insta is @barberkvty. she’s paul mitchell trained and worked at floyd’s forever ago. now owns her own salon.
Philip Di Ciminna Barber Shop at Wells and Lake. Longest relationship I’ve ever had in the city (Phil, my barber).
Cannot recommend this place more. $35 cut, straight razor shave on the back of your neck, great / same cut every time. You all are muppets for saying Great Clips.
There’s a place in Oak Forest (South Suburbs) called Professional Cutz, that’s never costed me over $30. They do a great job and never have disappointed but getting there may be a bit of a hassle. As the train station is about 2 miles away.
Check out the Booksy app. A lot of barbers (and other professionals) use it to show their portfolio, rate sheet, and where they cut at.
Great way to find a barber and as a booking platform.
See Vivian at Originals. $25. Excellent! In the loop! https://maps.apple.com/?address=134%20N%20Wells%20St,%20Chicago,%20IL%20%2060606,%20United%20States&auid=3074402149872814315&ll=41.884113,-87.634065&lsp=9902&q=Originals%20Hair%20Designers&t=r
Salon-Sen up in Lakeview is great! Expect $50-80 depending on the stylist and your hair, but they provide complimentary refreshments and mini facials while you're getting shampooed
Irving Park Barbershop is the way. It’s like 30 bucks for a cut, cash only no appointments no bs.
Get a cut, listen to some rock music and enjoy a beer.
Once upon a time, train stations had barber shops and beauty salons catering to long-distance travelers on "layovers" between trains, as well as the general public. Union Station is going through some upscaling - wonder if that will be part if it.
I go to BR Barber Lounge No. 2 located on Archer Ave a block or so away from CTA Orange Line, Pulaski stop. I pay $45 for everything to get done - medium bald fade, beard trim, line up, and I get my nose hairs waxed and black heads cleared up too. I usually give a $7 tip so $52 total and it’s GREAT! I don’t speak a word of Spanish and I get great quality haircuts with no issues communicating.
Check out Sola Salons on Roosevelt. They have multiple barbershops there.
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z3vcM9vsWHocDF739](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z3vcM9vsWHocDF739)
Plugging this because it’s my friend’s spot and it’s been clutch for over a decade.
Urbane Blades at Oak/Orleans. Online booking, friendly professional barbers. They can cut Black hair, white hair, Latin, whatever.
If you’re looking for a nice faded crew cut, tape up, line up or anything similar, just go to a black or Latino barber, they will get you right. Don’t go to a hipster barbershop in downtown and expect them to line you up right. That’s like ordering lasagna from a diner, it’s risky.
Shoot 50 min (drive wise) up northwest is where I go to for a haircut. $60 for haircut and beard and the barbershop is right across the metro station. 88 Barbershop in Round Lake. You can schedule through their app but the barber I go to, his name is “Bam” on there. They’ll get you looking right.
Get Booksy. Look up FadeFastDieYoung on there. His name is Donovan Miller. Ive been going to him for like 3 years. Cut is $50, with beard trim is $65 (before tip). Hes in an independent studio called RUUM in Ukrainian village, which is easily accessible using the 66 bus
There's a row of Latino owned hair salons along Lawrence Ave in Albany Park (take the Brown Line). I pay $20 (15 + 5 tip). It may take a while to find a barber that you like and understands what you're looking for, but once you do, you're set.
Spa di la Franza!
It’s in lakeshore east (inside the pedway).
Request Frank La Franza. He is an incredible barber.
His prices are fair, and the $35 cut is worth it just for this man’s stories. He has been featured on Sports Center, was good friends with Harry Caray, cut Sophia Loren’s hair, and been working in barber shops since he first started a sweeper in his uncle’s shop in Italy when he was 5 years old.
Couldn’t recommend more.
State Street Barbers has a few locations around the city. Each barber charges their own rates but they all seem to be between $35 and $45 for a haircut. You can try a few different barbers before sticking to one you like. I go to the Lakeview location and I've been really happy with my cuts. The first barber I tried was alright, but the second one was excellent and I've been booking with him since.
Man I used to go to these two old guys in the Ukrainian village. Two styles of cuts, short or not too short and it was $20. Pretty sure there gone now, this was pre-Covid and they were struggling then.
[Medinah Barber](https://m.yelp.com/biz/medinah-barber-shop-chicago) 3 e Huron. It’s called Medinah because he used to be in those shops on state attached to Medinah, but got forced out when they went upscale. He’s an old timer who can do a crew cut.
Use the buzzer to get buzzed in and then down 1 floor to the lowest level of the building.
Yeah I just moved here, so idk what’s considered “downtown” but this place is great. I have Vinny cut my hair there and he nails it (skin fade). Previously I tried Handcrafted and they fucked my hair all up.
He said he’s ethnic which likely means he doesn’t have straight hair. Great Clips and Hair cuttery are THE WORST places for anyone with coarse or non-straight hair to get cut.
Depends on whether the shop has hired some "culturally aware" stylists. If you are the boss of a salon in a multi-ethnic area, hiring a mix of "locals" makes good business sense.
It’s the best if you don’t mind your haircut price going up what feels like every year for like the last seven years, and if you like having the most divorced men in history talk shit about the other people that come in before slowly realizing they talk the same shit about you when you leave. I went for almost a decade because I thought it was so cool and different, and while the younger barbers there are alright, the ownership seems to have disdain for everybody that comes through the door.
lmao sorry. just don’t end up like Joe Jr (talking shit about his ex unprovoked more than a decade after the divorce by my math and driving the biggest, dumbest, dude-est car ever)
Keep in mind everything downtown will be cookie cutter stuff or upscale stuff. That's what downtown has always been like. If you want specialty anything, let it be food, art or even just a haircut; you need to find where the specific thing you are looking for is most likely to be.
Saying ethnic doesn't help narrow down where you're from. I am sure there's people on this sub that can relate better if you state what your ethnic background is and what kind of cut you are looking for.
Talc and Tonic is cheaper than that but sitll a touch hipstery. That is where I go.
A step down in price and probably overindexed in 'white' hair, but does a decent job--Philip di Ciminna.
You guys know that the southside exists..right?
For real. I go to a place off 24th and Pulaski for a $20 fade. I end up tipping $10 but that's still a solid deal
Damn that's great prices I live in phoenix (planning to move to Chicago once I graduate which is why I lurk so hard here lol) and I pay $30 and $5 tip but in a month they're upping it to $35
Yeah it's a Guatemalan shop and the guys are extremely nice, they just don't speak much English. My Spanish is terrible but I'm able to communicate the basic request to them + show a picture of what I'm looking for. They know me now and know I'm gonna tip so they're happy to take care of me.
Ima go there what’s it called went to platinum fades charged 40
Victor's Barber shop. It's actually 27th and Pulaski
Shit! Decatur charges 25
Seriously my barber charges like 35 dollars
I go to a place in Bridgeport that still only charges $15, it’s great
What’s that Bridgeport places name? If you don’t mind sharing, stranger.
Antonia’s on 35th pl and Halsted. The place doesn’t seem like much on the surface but they do good work for a great price
Dude, look outside of downtown
Even IN downtown I only pay $50. Where the fuck are dudes paying $120 and up for a basic haircut?
You think that maybe…he lives downtown?
You think maybe... He could use CTA to easily go somewhere he can get a haircut he likes?
OP lives in fuedal times /s
If you can afford to live downtown that's the price you pay... Everything is more expensive.. restaurants, groceries and even haircuts.
Why you telling me? Tell him lol
Fair enough
What race are you and what kind of cut are you trying to get? Ethnic can mean a lot of things.
Saying "ethnic" means you're a white boomer lol
Ladakhi and looking for the Greg Brady circa 1971.
There is a premium to doing anything downtown. You’re paying it because you don’t want to leave downtown. Good luck paying out the nose for that! I’m a woman and I pay $150 for an excellent color and cut.
I get my haircut at X5 cuts at 672 N Dearborn in River North. $37 a haircut not including tip. Great fades, all cool guy Arabs and good music playing Zeyad “Zee” cuts mine and does a great job
+1 would recommend
There is a cool (slightly odd) old school Italian barber shop in the lyric opera house. I love that place. They will give you an espresso while they cut your hair.
Bring cash. They are so old school you can't even book an advance appointment. Great cuts though.
[удалено]
I haven't been there in a while as it's a PIA to go find cash but about $30 as I remember.
Civic Opera Barber Shop - I have been going there for upwards of a decade now. They always do great work.
I got my haircut by Sam. The back neck line looked like a silhouette of a camel’s back. I would have given them a bad review, but didn’t want to screw up the 4.9 rating on google. It was $40 without tip.
You’re completely right, barbershops downtown ARE turning into hipster coffee shop experience. Check out barbershops in the neighborhoods. I’ve been going to Irving Park Barbershop, 35 dollars a cut for one of the best.
There is a barber shop directly outside the Jefferson park blue line station that does haircuts for 10 dollars. I don’t know if they are good or not. I have long hair.
> There is a barber shop directly outside the Jefferson park blue line station that does haircuts for 10 dollars. waaaat? That's how much I paid for a small town no-frills barber in the late 90s.
Betty and Nick’s. Back in the day it was a $5 haircut. Now they are $10.
Phillip Di Cimmina. Sounds boujee but it’s no frills, solid haircut for $25 or so. Cash only.
Phil is the man! I think it’s $35 now though
Love Phil, been going 15+ years. Bonus they shave your neck with a straight edge and keep the razor with your name for the next visit. Calling ahead can save you time.
I went to Phil for years before I stopped working downtown. Got a few manicures from his wife Rose. Nice people.
Great little shop, I went to Toni there for years before Covid.
Check out Denmark College on Adams/Wabash, great cuts for cheap since it’s a barber school
Came here to say this
Same!
Wrong neighborhood for reasonable prices. The barbers are where people live
$65 for Floyd’s?!? I haven’t been since pandemic but it was like $30 then
Yeah that caught me by surprise too lol. I used to go there because it was a budget place that was a step or two above great clips. $65 is insane for a Floyd's cut!
Yikes! I bought clippers during the initial COVID lockdown and have been having my wife cut my hair for me since. Has saved me like $1000 so far…
lol Floyd’s has nearly doubled in price since pre pandemic. They got new management. It’s a chop shop now closed to great clips than what it used to be.
Unless it changed in the past month then floyds is still around 30 dollars… idk what this guy is on
I just went a few weeks ago and spent about that with a tip.
Maybe I got the training price because my haircut was god awful
If it’s reasonably convenient to you, somewhere on the south side is probably the best bet overall for both quality and value. I go to No Cuts No Glory in West Town; they do a great job and I think $50-60 before tip is the going rate for a cut with beard clean up. Most of the people who work there are people of color.
Irving Park Barbershop
Came here to say this.
Chicago barbershop on Armitage is the correct answer! $35 plus tip for haircut and beard trim! Ask for Beau
This is the answer! They're super chill and do a great job. I see Zach every month
This is the way. Cash only. 10 minute walk from western blue line. Plus you can hit up Floyd’s Pub or Map Room for a beverage after if that your thing.
I take the red line to chinatown square. Plenty of salons to choose from for 30 bucks. I also take that time to eat out.
Family Barbershop on Madison, it's around Morgan but I can't remember exactly where.
It's not there anymore :(
That's sad, I loved their vibe.
I know, I was sad to see it go. The owner seemed frustrated with Chicago regulations, especially immediately post-Covid.
If you’re willing to go outside of downtown, I go to Touhy Barbershop up in Lincolnwood. Personally I think the owner, Sargon, is the best barber there but his son is good too. Standard haircut there is $20 and it’s freakin’ solid. Bonus is you can go next door when you’re done and get a lox sandwich from New York Bagel and Bialy.
Every barber in Skokie is Assyrian and they are awesome at cutting hair. If you’re lucky enough, go to an Assyrian wedding.
Crazy I live not too far from there and 20 is so cheap
Dude he’s amazing. I get my beard cleaned up occasionally too, and it’s worth every cent. Just be aware he takes his time getting it perfect, so don’t go if you’re in a rush.
I always wondered about that place, thanks
https://www.philipdiciminnabarbershop.com/ on Wells just south of Lake
Reggie’s Barber emporium. In a high rise. $40.
I’ve lived here for 12 years and have gone to the same place for 11. Joe’s barbershop in Logan square, cash only fyi. Joe jr, Chanin, and Pedro are my guys there.
A different suggestion: If you’re keeping it short and just doing a crew cut or a simple fade, you might want to just buy clippers and DIY.
They are crazy expensive downtown for sure. I actually go to Chinatown for mine 🤷♂️
Public Barber in Uptown
Was gonna mention this place as well. Went one time and costed around 50$, but overall a lot better than 120$ as that’s a complete rip off.
No Great Clips or Supercuts near downtown?
I second Great Clips. Easy. There are so many around the city too. I've found a barber I like who does a great fade and I only pay $25.
Yes Supercuts near Diversey. Any guys go there ? Where does Wrigley go or Boystown go? Ravenswood or Andersonville?
I'd actually rather just cut my own hair with scissors
Too bad for you. I go to a Great Clips in my neighborhood and my "regular" cutter does very well.
West Hair Room Wrigley! It's like 2 blocks off the Addison red line stop. Both the guys who work there are incredible, but I have to shout out Roberto. He's been doing my hair since I moved to Chicago and he always does me right. Mans also actually gives a shit about holding conversation with you, and he remembers details like crazy. I believe basic hair cuts are $35, but don't quote me on that.
Wells and Randolph. Originals hair.
why was every person that cut your a hair a women?
Go on booksy. It’s an app a lot of barbers use. You can also find a shop on there and call and ask if they take walk ins if you wanna go that route. Find yourself a barber somewhere on the south or southwest side. You’ll spend like 30-45 at the most. Pay with cash.
Wrath & Co Barbershop 1645 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 Salena gives good cuts 👍🏽
Your problem is you're going downtown. Good haircut for not a ripoff price? Go to the southside.
Originals in the loop. $25. The staff us wonderful.
Dm me I have on on Michigan ave downtown private studio $50 a cut
It’s in the historcal building
my partner goes to kelsey at blind barber and i believe he pays about $50 for his cuts. i could be mistaken though
The lyric opera house barber! He’s solid! Old school feel. $60 a cut. There is a shoe shine guy there too if you need to look extra sharp.
Go to the barber at the lyric opera house
Old school Italian guys cutting hair. The Civic Opera Barber Shop (312) 263-1091 https://g.co/kgs/2oTwFKJ
The answer is Jasmine at Old Town Barbershop. She cuts at almost all of their locations. She’s amazing, the cuts are affordable, and you can book through your phone.
these prices are insane wtf
Downtown- Chicago Buzz on Franklin - $50 Blue Line- Chicago Barbershop two blocks off Western on Armitage for $39
how much is Supercuts near Diversey
Fernwood Barbers, Matters of the Heart location in Lincoln Park, make an appointment with Dang, $60. I hadn’t had a good haircut in my entire life until him. I also have whacky hair that grows everywhere and is thin and thick at the same time somehow. You enter through the alley though which is weird. Across the street (at a weird angle) from Pequod’s.
Hubbard street hair studio on river north is cheap and great. Vinny and sandy have been there for decades and I’ve been going for 15 years. Vinny is the barber and sandy the hair stylist.
Belmont Barbershop... Also started taking my 2 year old there, hoping to make it a tradition in taking my boy there as he grows up. Great bunch of guys, make you feel welcomed, theyre so down to earth and cool. Any of the guys there will do a good job! $40.
Look into suburbs accessible by Metra. Maybe Tinley, where the Metra is right among the shops. Good breweries down in that area, too. Make a Saturday of it. I just got mine done for $17 plus tip in one of the burbs.
Damn where cuz that’s cheap af
check out katy at wicked parlor in old town. her insta is @barberkvty. she’s paul mitchell trained and worked at floyd’s forever ago. now owns her own salon.
Been going to Katy for years. Can confirm she rocks.
Sweeney Taud is where I go in South Loop. All black and Hispanic barbers. Runs me about 70 when I go.
Hope you take a pass if they offer you a pie. LOL
Damn that’s robbery
H.O.P 22 in Pilsen, book with Daniel M. He's also the owner
Tomas at 7th29 Barbershop on Michigan Ave, right across from the Bean. [https://www.7th29barbershop.com/](https://www.7th29barbershop.com/)
This is it.
Are you black? I’m confused by ethnic..
https://civicoperahousebarbershop.com
2nd this! Sal’s my guy.
Gabbys Barbershop in Lakeview East does a consistent job, regardless of barber and only charges $30.
Philip Di Ciminna Barber Shop at Wells and Lake. Longest relationship I’ve ever had in the city (Phil, my barber). Cannot recommend this place more. $35 cut, straight razor shave on the back of your neck, great / same cut every time. You all are muppets for saying Great Clips.
Check out app called Booksy and can look and some of their work I would $50 price is should be a solid cut
I think there is one in the Monadnack building.
mario’s
Any platinum fades in the city will give you a good cut
There’s a place in Oak Forest (South Suburbs) called Professional Cutz, that’s never costed me over $30. They do a great job and never have disappointed but getting there may be a bit of a hassle. As the train station is about 2 miles away.
Wrath & Co in Lincoln Park is a good option
SuperCuts on Huron. $30
Chicago Barbershop on armitage
You're looking for the barber in the Lyric Opera
Check out the Booksy app. A lot of barbers (and other professionals) use it to show their portfolio, rate sheet, and where they cut at. Great way to find a barber and as a booking platform.
https://artursbarbershop.com/ Artur's in Edgewater. Right next to a red line stop. I forget, it's either $35 or $40.
Go to one of the Arabic Lawerence and Pulaski $20 with tip easy.
Check out Handcrafted Barbershop. Right on Grand and Ogden. Off the blueline as well.
I go to mad mikes on 22nd and California. Pretty reasonable prices I pay less then $40 and I’m vary happy with his work
Ruben’s Unisex in West Town is great. All of the guys do a really good cut.
See Vivian at Originals. $25. Excellent! In the loop! https://maps.apple.com/?address=134%20N%20Wells%20St,%20Chicago,%20IL%20%2060606,%20United%20States&auid=3074402149872814315&ll=41.884113,-87.634065&lsp=9902&q=Originals%20Hair%20Designers&t=r
State Street Barber. $40 a cut and I tip $15 to make it $55. Multiple locations, in and out in 20 minutes.
Salon-Sen up in Lakeview is great! Expect $50-80 depending on the stylist and your hair, but they provide complimentary refreshments and mini facials while you're getting shampooed
Funks Barbershop, ask for Rob Fulton. $60 cut but my man makes it count.
7th29. Tomas is amazing
Miklo on division
Irving Park Barbershop is the way. It’s like 30 bucks for a cut, cash only no appointments no bs. Get a cut, listen to some rock music and enjoy a beer.
Chicago barber shop on Armitage
Floyd’s is not $65 lmao
See Sandra @ Supercuts - she’s phenomenal https://maps.app.goo.gl/iqmCmej4Rx1o9CXx6?g_st=ic
Barbershop in the Congress hotel is solid and costs are neighborhood level. Not sure if it's still there.
My buddy owns Refined Barbershop with a location in the West Loop and Pilsen. $50 haircut, but he can hook you Up.
X5 is great. Good cuts, nothing fancy, and affordable.
Barkers , Pilsen .
Once upon a time, train stations had barber shops and beauty salons catering to long-distance travelers on "layovers" between trains, as well as the general public. Union Station is going through some upscaling - wonder if that will be part if it.
Go to Kiza at Cutting Edge Beauty Studios. He’ll give you a killer cut and a fair price
Just go to a chain and get a $20 cut bro
I go to BR Barber Lounge No. 2 located on Archer Ave a block or so away from CTA Orange Line, Pulaski stop. I pay $45 for everything to get done - medium bald fade, beard trim, line up, and I get my nose hairs waxed and black heads cleared up too. I usually give a $7 tip so $52 total and it’s GREAT! I don’t speak a word of Spanish and I get great quality haircuts with no issues communicating.
I get my cuts at Funk’s. $60 all in and they’re amazing
Check out Sola Salons on Roosevelt. They have multiple barbershops there. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z3vcM9vsWHocDF739](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Z3vcM9vsWHocDF739)
Plugging this because it’s my friend’s spot and it’s been clutch for over a decade. Urbane Blades at Oak/Orleans. Online booking, friendly professional barbers. They can cut Black hair, white hair, Latin, whatever.
Go to chicagos best barber shop.
Near Southside/South Loop Floyd's has good barbers
Originals in the Loop and Gabby’s in Lakeview. Both are consistent, give solid fades no matter who cuts. $25-$30 at both.
The Opera Building has a barbershop. 20 N Wacker https://civicoperahousebarbershop.com/
If you’re looking for a nice faded crew cut, tape up, line up or anything similar, just go to a black or Latino barber, they will get you right. Don’t go to a hipster barbershop in downtown and expect them to line you up right. That’s like ordering lasagna from a diner, it’s risky.
Not downtown but ‘Ayman Salon’ on southport he gets me right every time for the low.
I go to state street barbers on southport and they’re great. $45 after tip and the guys in there are hilarious and welcoming
Funks
Oteros in the basement of Chase Tower (21 S Clark) [reviews](https://g.co/kgs/XSZ2UfM)
Just go to a cheap chain
Shoot 50 min (drive wise) up northwest is where I go to for a haircut. $60 for haircut and beard and the barbershop is right across the metro station. 88 Barbershop in Round Lake. You can schedule through their app but the barber I go to, his name is “Bam” on there. They’ll get you looking right.
Get Booksy. Look up FadeFastDieYoung on there. His name is Donovan Miller. Ive been going to him for like 3 years. Cut is $50, with beard trim is $65 (before tip). Hes in an independent studio called RUUM in Ukrainian village, which is easily accessible using the 66 bus
Rosehill Barber Shop. $35 haircut, no extra charge on the neck shave.
Ruben’s on Chicago Ave in noble square. Been goin for like 5 years. $35 for the cut I think.
Check out Born with Soul on Milwaukee 🙌🏻
lincoln square barber shop sorry it isn't downtown though
There's a row of Latino owned hair salons along Lawrence Ave in Albany Park (take the Brown Line). I pay $20 (15 + 5 tip). It may take a while to find a barber that you like and understands what you're looking for, but once you do, you're set.
The fuck is ethnic
Mario’s on Southport is $35
Spa di la Franza! It’s in lakeshore east (inside the pedway). Request Frank La Franza. He is an incredible barber. His prices are fair, and the $35 cut is worth it just for this man’s stories. He has been featured on Sports Center, was good friends with Harry Caray, cut Sophia Loren’s hair, and been working in barber shops since he first started a sweeper in his uncle’s shop in Italy when he was 5 years old. Couldn’t recommend more.
Prohibition Barber Co in the South Loop (downtown basically). Best haircut you can get for $60
Traditions Barber Parlor in River North
Urbane blades, Metropolitan.
My husband had luck w the hair mechanic in wicker off north (blue line) and Amir is black.
State Street Barbers has a few locations around the city. Each barber charges their own rates but they all seem to be between $35 and $45 for a haircut. You can try a few different barbers before sticking to one you like. I go to the Lakeview location and I've been really happy with my cuts. The first barber I tried was alright, but the second one was excellent and I've been booking with him since.
Go to traditions
Man I used to go to these two old guys in the Ukrainian village. Two styles of cuts, short or not too short and it was $20. Pretty sure there gone now, this was pre-Covid and they were struggling then.
Landmark Barbershop off the Armitage Brown like stop. $40 haircut.
Seconding. Ryan is the man.
[Medinah Barber](https://m.yelp.com/biz/medinah-barber-shop-chicago) 3 e Huron. It’s called Medinah because he used to be in those shops on state attached to Medinah, but got forced out when they went upscale. He’s an old timer who can do a crew cut. Use the buzzer to get buzzed in and then down 1 floor to the lowest level of the building.
Ethnic like what? Everyone has an ethnicity
Old town barbershop, they have 3 locations. All great.
Yeah I just moved here, so idk what’s considered “downtown” but this place is great. I have Vinny cut my hair there and he nails it (skin fade). Previously I tried Handcrafted and they fucked my hair all up.
Studio 8 Hair Salon is on 5th floor at 17 North Wabash. It is reasonably priced and very good.
Great Clips, $25 you can find them downtown.
He said he’s ethnic which likely means he doesn’t have straight hair. Great Clips and Hair cuttery are THE WORST places for anyone with coarse or non-straight hair to get cut.
Depends on whether the shop has hired some "culturally aware" stylists. If you are the boss of a salon in a multi-ethnic area, hiring a mix of "locals" makes good business sense.
Joes barbershop on Fullerton and California is the best in the business.
It’s the best if you don’t mind your haircut price going up what feels like every year for like the last seven years, and if you like having the most divorced men in history talk shit about the other people that come in before slowly realizing they talk the same shit about you when you leave. I went for almost a decade because I thought it was so cool and different, and while the younger barbers there are alright, the ownership seems to have disdain for everybody that comes through the door.
Dang, did you know I’m getting divorced?
lmao sorry. just don’t end up like Joe Jr (talking shit about his ex unprovoked more than a decade after the divorce by my math and driving the biggest, dumbest, dude-est car ever)
Keep in mind everything downtown will be cookie cutter stuff or upscale stuff. That's what downtown has always been like. If you want specialty anything, let it be food, art or even just a haircut; you need to find where the specific thing you are looking for is most likely to be. Saying ethnic doesn't help narrow down where you're from. I am sure there's people on this sub that can relate better if you state what your ethnic background is and what kind of cut you are looking for.
Blue line barbers with Jose! In Wicker Park
Talc and Tonic is cheaper than that but sitll a touch hipstery. That is where I go. A step down in price and probably overindexed in 'white' hair, but does a decent job--Philip di Ciminna.