Dallas hairstyles vary. Perhaps it’s the wild streak of the city or just the blend of ethnicities that finds expression in modern image co. Enter any location with a spinning pole and you are just as likely to meet a young artist sketching his next major painting as you are to discover an old-timer talking about the Cowboys. The scissors fly in Dallas—a little bit of everything, without any boundaries.
People in this place consider a haircut as a ritual. Not the kind you grumble about, but the kind that makes you feel lighter, nearly brand fresh. The sound of clippers, quiet jazz from someone’s phone, and a minute to simply, well, relax. One client could wish for a fading sharp enough to cut bread. Another arrives frantically trying to conceal the proof of a wild weekend. Anything goes, and the barber observes everything.
Tag prices? They have ranges. Downtown, a short line-up might be the same as dinner at a decent steakhouse backtracking. But on backstreets, out where the city gets a little quieter, you will find stores with vintage chairs and barbers who have known your grandfather’s beard just as well as yours. Two haircuts and a shave occasionally cost less than a brunch coffees round.
Trends move around town like tumbleweeds. This week includes difficult portions and pompadours. Everyone wants cropped astronaut curls next week as, why not? Dallas barbers go without raising questions. Rather, they start working, sometimes just listening or else cracking jokes. You spill your guts; they sweep it straight up with floor hair. Unless you specifically seek guidance on aftershaves or how to control your cowlick, barbers talk just enough—not too much.
For a few minutes every chair functions as a throne. The man seated before you was a lawyer; the next man is a tattoo artist; yet, for a few moment, you all have the same objective—walk out looking smart, chin up, ready to confront the fierce Texas heat.
Making reservations is simple. Most locations let you schedule ahead, but you never will be turned away for going in, hat hair and all. If your head is disorganized, relax. They have corrected less than perfect. A few minutes, a little conversation, a razor swipe—you suddenly are smiling at your mirror, wondering why you waited so long.
Children, fathers, college students, grans—everyone has a seat in the chair. Local rumors, dog-eared mags, and aftershave smells combine. Working side by side, the old school and the new breed each improve their own rendition of a good cut.
Dallas barbers understand that each head is a unique environment. Not needing any mystical charms, they each negotiate with a firm palm and a wink. Want to stand out at the next Mavericks game or at last ace that new job interview with a fresh look? Visit any store, set aside a chair, and let the clippers work their magic. You will leave the store feeling as though you could do anything—hair on point, confidence rebuilt, city lights glittering outside. The only true query is: How soon will you be seated back in that chair?