Grooming

Favorite Men’s Hairdressers and Barbers by City

A great hairdresser or groomer can be a game changer, and the right one can elevate your entire appearance, however finding the one is no small feat and who wants to play trial and error with their mane? As a men’s fashion stylist, I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by not only some of the best men’s groomers around, but also some of the best coiffed men in the world. We hounded them to spill the beans on their go-to hairstylists by city, from under-the-radar barbers to celebrated, high-end salons. 

Editor’s Note: This list will be updated and added to on a regular basis, with more and more cities, so keep it in your back pocket any time you’re globe trotting for a work meeting, wedding, or just looking for your new go-to.

LOS ANGELES

JASON SCHNEIDMAN, THE MEN’S GROOMER SHOP

Jason Schneidman is one of Hollywood’s go-to’s, having worked with everyone from Hugh Jackman, Jonah Hill, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson and James Corden as well as editorials for GQ and L’Uomo Vogue, yet the vibe at his Venice shop couldn’t be more laid back. The barbershop-meets-surf & skate-shop spot also sells Schneidman’s line of grooming products, with part of the proceeds going to Schneidman’s foundation to help get homeless people and recovering addicts off the street one haircut at a time.

Photo Courtesy of Inside Hook

2518 Lincoln Blvd / Venice / 310.241.3664

BENJAMIN NELSON, BENJAMIN NELSON HAIR

At his namesake salon, colorist and hairstylist Benjamin Nelson specializes in edgier cuts that lean more Peaky Blinders, and can be found on YouTube giving tutorials on how to do the perfect samurai bun.

Photo Courtesy of Benjamin Nelson

8535 Santa Monica Blvd / Los Angeles / [email protected]

BAXTER FINLEY BARBER & SHOP

Dudes looking for an elevated take on an old school cut-and-shave (administered the retro way with hot towels and straight razors) need look no further than this gorgeous throwback barber shop in West Hollywood. Sources tell us you’re in good hands with any of their barbers. Along with shave brushes, razors and after-shave balms, the shop’s ever-popular brand Baxter of California also encompasses skincare, hair products, body washes, candles and soaps, making it easy to stock your bathroom in one visit.

Photo Courtesy of Baxter Finley Barber & Shop

515 N La Cienega Blvd / West Hollywood / 310.657.4726

CJ ROMERO

One of the best haircuts we’ve seen in a long time came straight from the hands of CJ Romero. After working at Rudy’s Barbershop, Romero gained a steady clientele for his cutting, coloring, grooming, and hairstylist skills as well as working on films, print, and red carpets. Romero now cuts and styles out The Studio by Adam Lee Kenney in Silverlake.

Photo Courtesy of The Studio by Adam Lee Kenney

4312 Sunset Blvd / Los Angeles / 323.543.3159 / [email protected]

IAN SCOTT DOREY

Ian Scott Dorey’s male clients go to him for undone, perfectly messy, borderline-punk haircuts that grow out perfectly, requiring little styling and maintenance. Working out of his private studio in Downtown LA’s Arts District (just a few blocks from Soho Warehouse), the space is in a factory building built in 1921, decked out with antique gothic furniture. New clients book him directly through his Instagram page at @ianscottdorey.

Arts District in DTLA

CRAIG GANGI, INDUSTRIE HAIR

Craingi is a renowned celebrity hairstylist whose cuts and color are just the glow-up you didn’t know you needed until see yourself after his handiwork. Working out of Industrie Salon, he’s a frequent go-to for several A-list guys with really great hair.

Photo Courtesy of Industrie Salon

8616 Sunset Blvd / Los Angeles / 310.854.1373

TONY, SUPERCUTS IN SILVERLAKE

You may have noticed wild, curly coifs are a thing right now, meaning, if you have curly hair, let it loose. But to give it that untamed yet tamed effortless look, you gotta get it in the hands of someone who knows how to manage curls. Tony is your girl. By the way, f you have straight or wavy hair, she’s still your girl. And what a bit of scandal—you got your hair cut at Supercuts.

Photo Courtesy of Supercuts

4470 Sunset Blvd / Los Angeles / 323.662.8135

NEW YORK CITY

KRISTAN SERAFINO, SISLEY PARIS

When you are the go-to hairstylist and groomer for half the men in Hollywood—including Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Jake Gyllenhaal, that automatically puts you in the sweet spot of setting the tone for men’s hair trends. Kristan Serafino does just that. When she’s not on press tour with clients she works out of the Sisley Paris salon on Bleecker. Or giving us great grooming tips from What to Pack in Your Dopp Kit to How to Nail a Mustache and even how to Manscape South of the Border and Beyond.

343 Bleecker Street / New York, NY / 212.645.1013

WELL CONNECTED BARBER

Well Connected Barbershop is a Lower East Side institution founded and owned by Master Barber Willis Orengo.  Opened in 2009, WC has become one of the premiere New York barbershops offering a great cut for an affordable price.    

Photo Courtesy of Well Connected Barber

66 Rivington St / New York, NY / 212.780.5780

FELLOW BARBER

One very meticulous A-lister told us you can walk into any Fellow Barber in any city and always expect a great cut and shave. Before Fellow Barber opened, the idea of “contemporary barber culture” as we know it today didn’t exist. In the early aughts in NY, there were two options for haircuts: to make an appointment at a salon and pay $100 and up or pay a visit to the closest barbershop charging an average of $12 for questionable quality. Fellow Barber provides an elevated and relevant take on barbering service with a convenient, walk-in wait list and a $40 price point and have spawned a new barbering subculture along the way.

Photo Courtesy of INGALLSPHOTO

Multiple Locations

TUFT

Another spot where pretty much any barber you get is bound to nail it—however, if you can get Brett, do. He comes highly recommended from people in-the-know.

Photo Courtesy of Tuft

243 Mulberry St / New York, NY / 212.519.7189

MARTIAL VIVOT SALON POUR HOMMES

Owner Martial Vivot is a world-renowned gentlemen’s grooming guru and arguably the city’s preeminent men’s stylist. Ask for Losi for the best haircut, not to mention a great shampoo and conditioner.

Photo Courtesy of Martial Vivot

39 W 54th St / New York, NY / 212.956.2990

APRIL BARTON, SUITE 303

A go-to since the mid nineties, Barton is heralded for a distinct haircutting style she refers to as “interior shaping.” Having worked with everyone from Ethan Hawke (and honestly, who doesn’t want his hair?) to Bono, her cuts are known to last for months and grow in beautifully.

Photo Courtesy of Suite 303

7 Bond St / New York, NY / 212.633.1011

AUSTIN

AVENUE BARBERSHOP

Originally built as a barber shop in 1933 by Mr. D.C. Woodland, Avenue Barber Shop on Austin’s trendy South Congress is a locally-owned Austin go-to for locals and musicians. Classic, exceptional barber services offered in a relaxed, neighborhood atmosphere. Appointments are recommended and they’re cash only.

Photo Courtesy of Avenue Barbershop

1710 S Congress Ave / Austin, TX / 512.441.2467

JAX HAIR

If you need something more specific than a barber haircut, check out Jackie, aka Jax, for both cut and color. Jackie studied under haircut masters Anh Co Tran, Pope the Barber, Buddy Porter, and Joel Torres.

Photo Courtesy of Jax Hair

6203 N. Capital of Texas Hwy. / Suite C100 / Austin, TX / 512.505.8525

NASHVILLE

HOLIDAY SALON AND BATH HOUSE

Many Nashville artists swear by this bright, airy spot as the only place they would go to in town. The salon also prides itself on using eco and natural products from all around the world.

Photo Courtesy of Holiday Salon and Bath House

747 Douglas Ave Suite 106 / Nashville, TN / 615.645.9192

ERIC MARSHALL SALON

Opening just last year, Eric Marshall Salon is an intimate, product-focused salon in Nashville’s West Meade neighborhood who uses the Davines hair color and products exclusively. Eric Marshall himself came highly recommended by some of Nashville’s biggest superstars, who refer to him as an unsung hero of men’s hairstyling. Marshall says he doesn’t specialize in one particular thing, however grey coverage and removing weight from dense hair “take up a lot of his time.”

Photo Courtesy of Eric Marshall Salon

4311 Harding Pike / Nashville, TN / 615.801.3802

RYAN ADAMS, BLACK HEART BARBER

Many call Black Heart Barber the best in Nashville for men’s haircuts. It’s your typical old school barbershop, yet filled with hipsters. They have the classic hairdos mastered: pompadours, fades and slick-backs.

Photo Courtesy of Black Heart Barber

9 S 9th St Suite 1 / Nashville, TN / 615.939.5157

CELINA VITO, LOCAL HONEY

Celina Vito is often recommended specifically for men’s haircuts. Note that Local Honey has three locations in Nashville, so call ahead to find what location Celina will be working.

Photo Courtesy of Local Honey

Multiple Locations

BOSTON

LA FLAMME

Everyone from the Afflecks to JFK, Barack Obama, Yo-Yo Ma, former Massachusetts governors Mike Dukakis and William Weld, and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has gotten a cut at La Flamme at one point or another. Harvard Square’s old historic barber shop, owned by George Papalimberis, has become a meeting ground over the years. Open since 1898, it’s the kind of place where Harvard alumni will come back 40 years later for a friendly hello.

Photo Courtesy of La Flamme

21 Dunster St / Cambridge, MA / 617.354.8377

LONDON

CARMELLO GUASTELLA

Besides the fact that some of London’s A-list with truly great hair have used him for years, the Financial Times once said this of Guastella, “His haircuts grow out of the man like Michelangelo releasing David from Marble. Some call his haircuts works of art.” And how could anyone argue with that?

[email protected]

FORBICI

All we’re gonna say, without naming names, is that the barber of one of England’s most iconic heads of hair recommended Forbici, which offers several services including beard trims, wash and style, and of course haircuts.

Photo Courtesy of Forbici

Multiple Locations

GEO. F. TRUMPERS

If you want something traditional, Trumpers is the cool old school spot. They offer shave, beard and moustache trim and shape, mani-pedis, haircuts, hair grooming, and even facial cleanse and massage. A proper gentleman’s spot.

Photo Courtesy of Geo. F. Trumpers

Multiple Locations

GENTLEMEN’S TONIC

For a high-end offering, Gentlemen’s Tonic has haircuts and finishes, traditional wet shaves, beard trims, clipper cuts, father and son’s haircuts, and even razor head shaves on the menu and comes well recommended. They also have a menu of different offerings for coloring hair, like “Camo color” and “Grey away”.

Photo Courtesy of Gentlemen’s Tonic

31a Bruton Pl / London W1J 6NN / United Kingdom / 44.20.7297.4343

TED BAKER LONDON, TED’S GROOMING ROOM

With several locations all over London, you can pick any one and expect a full service experience. You’ll be offered Turkish coffee, a hot towel, and all the little things that make you look forward to getting your haircut. And it comes highly recommended from Londoners with great heads of hair.

Photo Courtesy of Ted’s Grooming Room, Covent Garden

Multiple Locations

PARIS

ALAIN MAITRE BARBIER

A grooming institution since it first opened in 1936, Alain Barbier—who has been referred to as “the Godfather” of barbers and is generally considered to be one of the best old school barbershops in Paris—is known as having opened the door to the entire profession.

Photo Courtesy of Alain Maître Barbier Coiffeur

8 Rue Saint-Claude / 75003 Paris / 01 42 77 55 80

RODOLPHE LOMBARD

Lombard has been a go-to for cool guys with iconic manes for decades and has worked with the likes of Vincent Cassel, Guillaume Canet and Lenny Kravitz. He also does silver fox like no one else.

Photo Courtesy of Rodolphe Lombard

9 Avenue de l’Opéra / 75001 Paris / 09.70.90.83.81

JOHATHAN SENTEX, BOBBY PINS PARIS

There’s no arguing that the French do cool French hair in a way no one else can even come close. Bobby Pins is the place for it. More effortlessly hip than hipster, it’s the ultimate low key, modern salon.

@bobbypinsparis

Photo Courtesy of Bobby Pins Paris

Multiple Locations

MILAN

GIANLUIGI GARGARO, ALDO COPPOLA

Gianluigi caters to some of Milan’s coolest fashion set and the salon aesthetic alone is worth the visit. You can also check out Gianluigi’s work here.

Photo Courtesy of Aldo Coppola

Multiple Locations

DAVIDE DIODOVICH

After an extensive period in Great Britain as art director at the Vidal Sassoon Academy, Davide Diodovich started working in film and TV, and eventually (given that Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world) his talent took him behind the catwalks and coolest fashion shoots in Milan, Paris and New York—as well as working with the biggest international photographers for fashion magazines across the world and collaborating with the some of the world’s most prestigious fashion brands.

Photo Courtesy of DD The Studio

Via Aurelio Saffi, 25 / 20123 Milano MI, Italy / 39.02.8928.3420

SERGIO CARLUCCI, TONI&GUY

Toni&Guy may not be the first place that springs to mind when you think cool, Milan spots but some of the city’s most stylish look to Sergio Carlucci, Co-founder and Creative Director at Toni&Guy Italia, for their do’s.

Photo Courtesy of Toni&Guy

Multiple Locations

Editor’s Note: Some of the activities, hotels, and restaurants listed on our website may be currently closed due to Covid health restrictions. We urge you to check before visiting and to exercise caution and follow CDC guidelines if traveling or visiting any of our recommendations.

[class^="wpforms-"]
[class^="wpforms-"]