Blade Barbershop

The BEST Haircut I’ve ever had!!! Stumbled upon it while I was in town a few months back. Consistently perfect!!! Come in from NJ once a month for a cut. It’s that great!!! BEST barbershop in Boston! Won’t give up my barber, but he’s aces!

Always great service, always friendly! Nick is the man!

Blade Barber shop! These guys have been around when the south end hood was a ghetto and the ghetto was gay. They don’t discriminate and ALL are welcome. Walk ins are welcome and these guys do an excellent job with my cut.

Always do a great job! Nick is the fade MASTER! I head in ever 10 – 14 days and can always count on looking sharp.

I was visiting from the west coast and walked in on a Wednesday and was in the chair within a minute or two. I don’t have a lot of experience with barbershops and Tim was very helpful with figuring out exactly what I wanted without pressuring me into his vision like I have experienced with people elsewhere. I got a simple cut and walked out paying $ 25 + tip. Not bad especially when considering the great service.

Been coming here for the last three years and have had the pleasure of having my hair cut by almost every barber there. I can honestly say I’ll probably always come here.
Once you find a place that’s down to earth, friendly, and reasonably priced, it’s easy to commit to it, and BLADE represents all those things to me, and more.
Thank you to Tim, Britta, and Nick for cutting my hair these last few years! You guys are awesome :)
Best,
Jimmy

I get my hair cut every week by the same guy, and rarely deviate because of all of the horrible experiences I’ve had. So needless to say, I was a bit nervous when I walked into Blade during a 2-​week business trip in Boston. Thankfully, my concerns were unwarranted.
First, they request that you make an appointment, but were very welcoming when I walked in without one.
I have a super short cut (high & tight) and I’m very particular about it being a very close shave. The barber listened carefully to my instructions, and executed well. I left feeling relieved.
4-​stars because the price for a men’s cut is slightly high for Boston, and you can’t leave a tip on your credit card.

I’ve been here a few times, but never again. My hair was maybe three inches long, and I just wanted a tiny little trim. But before I even got to say what I wanted, he started buzzing off the sides of my hair. Very disappointed– once he started with that, there’s no going back. I basically ended up leaving with a buzz cut. It looked pretty bad.

I LOVED my original girl, Rachel, who cut my hair for years (originally at Salon Red, as mentioned in a previous review). Unfortunately, she was all the way out in Melrose, and I recently tried adapting to a more «minimalist» lifestyle — which included getting rid of my car, since I use the T for pretty much everything. That made getting out to her very difficult, and as such I had to say goodbye. I had a really hard time finding a new place, until my friend Tony said he got his hair cut at Blade previously by a fellow named Stephen and swore by it, since he was just a walk-​in, and it wasn’t too expensive. Not too expensive? As a cheapskate, that was right up my alley.
Stephen was friendly and sat me down and gave me a wonderful haircut right to my exact specifications, but on top of this he broke out this hot shaving cream machine and put it on the back of my neck. It was like magic. It was like sex on a rocketship. I couldn’t believe I’d never tried a hot shave before, and with that I didn’t care if he shaved my whole freakin’ head. That shit made me melt.
So I’ve been seeing Stephen for a few months, and he’s been great! Always been available when I need him and always as friendly as possible. However, this week I have a wedding and I needed a rush job due to a bunch of scheduling conflicts, and my only open night was a night that Stephen didn’t work. I was taken in by Bridaa, and it was a good time to try someone else, because I wanted to do something new with my hair. I wasn’t sure how to go about it, but I pulled up a picture on my phone of exactly what I wanted. Bridaa talked me through everything he was going to do, and he nailed it to a T. Like, incredible. He later told me that bringing in a picture helps barbers immensely, because people could be saying one thing and mean something completely different. I get that — as a designer, clients will say one thing and mean something else, and it helps if they have an idea or gist of what they’re looking for in picture form. Anyway, he nailed it, lots of compliments at work, etc. Bridaa and Stephen, A+, total gentlemen.
I absolutely recommend Blade to any man looking for a good haircut and some great staff (I can’t speak to the ladies, but it seems to be a men’s barbershop anyway). If I have anything negative to say, it’s that their website is… not pretty. It’s Geocities NSync Fanpage bad. I’m willing to just make them a new one for free.

I am new in town and alas was on the search for a new barber. I searched on Unilocal and Blade came up. I gave it a shot. I made an appointment (not necessary) blindly and was placed with Nick. HE WAS AWESOME. Took his time, cut my hair the way I wanted, just perfect. He is a perfectionist.
Find new barber… CHECK!
fo to Nick guys you will not regret it!

I love this place. Have been going here for about a year now and have been consistently happy with the service here. Usually go to Steven, but if he is out I see Tim, the owner. The place is also dog friendly which is a huge plus for me.

NEVER AGAIN. First time in my life I walked out of a salon /​barbershop without tipping. Guy at the front desk never smiled or made eye contact with me while checking me in. Had an appointment with Brita and clearly described in detail what I wanted and even showed him photos. He went to town on my head with clippers and he was so abrasive that it hurt as it yanked my hair out. Next, he used the mini clippers on my neck with such speed than it left my skin blotchy and red. He then pulled the sheet off and said ‘all set’. I had to ask for him to use the blower on me to clean me off and to use some product. I paid with a credit card, and again, the man at the counter never made eye contact, smiled, or even offer me a receipt. Not worth $ 25, hell, I didn’t even get my hair washed, he just used a spray bottle on my head.

Bottom line: Nice looking shop, but fairly poor haircut, too little time spent paying attention to detail, and certainly not «cheap» leads me to say Adiós.
I was the first appointment of the day, 9am, so I figured it wouldn’t be too rushed. Came in right on time and he got to work. Unfortunately about 10 minutes later his next customer came in. Wait. what? Haircuts do not take 15 minutes unless they’re not good.
Yep. Sounds about right. He did talk to me about how I normally wear it. at the very beginning of the cut. That was kind of the end of the consultation and he just went for it. Usually that means they’re confident that they know what you like. I’m pretty sure he just wanted to get me out.
20 minutes later I walked out of blade with a semi-​ok haircut, but turns out it was just the product (poorly applied, granted) that was covering up a lot of uneven edges. My hair, 3 weeks later, has grown out so terribly that I have to get another haircut. And usually it’s 6 weeks. The price wasn’t even that good. Shame.
Thumbs down.

I got a spectacular haircut from a very nice man. I had no appointment, and 30 minutes to get back across the street to work.
He trimmed me up efficiently, short enough so I was happy, but without just rubbing a pair of trimmers over my head.
I can see how some of the barbers might be a bit temperamental, but Stephen has never let me down.
I am cheating on my hometown barbershop here, and will probably continue to do so until they give me a fauxhawk or something.

I was in Boston for 3 months on business during the holidays, 2011. Walked by this place and called the next day for an apt. I was able to go during the day so there was no waiting when I got there. First cut was by Stephen, and was great. Since I was new to the area, he was very willing to tell me where to go/​what to see. Had to go back for another cut before I left, also by Stephen. I learned a good amount of Boston neighborhood history from sitting there talking with him and the other barber and clients. On a third trip there, I had my beard trimmed by Bridaa. That was the first time I’ve had a professional do it beside my own trimming. Yet again, a wonderful experience. This is a barber shop, not a salon, so the spa pampering may not be there.
If I lived in Boston, this would be my regular place.

Solid cuts, even for straight folks.
Tried Blade on the advice of my former roommate’s ex-girlfriend’s gay friend after a three-​month holiday from haircuts. Tabula rasa for the shop, no? Showed up sans appointment at 11am on a Tuesday afternoon and ran into Stephen.
Despite leaving the comfort of X-​clusive Cuts in Providence, a rather urban barbershop known for fades, lightning bolts, and flat tops, I felt quite at home at Blade. Scissor time dominated that of clippers, which was a bit of a change for me. Haircut was initially a bit shorter than I’d described, but it seemed that Stephen knew what I wanted better than I did — the do was immaculate after stepping out of the shower at home.
Went back on another morning a couple months later — no Stephen, but Nick did another bang-​up job on the hair. $ 25, but pretty well spent.
However, no lightning bolts to be found. Alas.

In theory this could be a great place– local, walk in barber shop. They say they take appointments, but really all that means is that when you show up, you move to the top of the list of people waiting.
Made an appointment as it was a Saturday, waited forty five minutes. My hair is easy to cut, I wasn’t asking for anything special. In the six minute cut, I listened to a lecture on how difficult it is to make a living as a barber. And that clients drive him crazy with requests. Not fun.
I figured that I would give the place another, and as of this writing, a fourth chance. Again, appointments– why bother– just let us know that it wont be on time so we can walk in.
Wish they were a little more organized and professional

I have been getting my hair cut by stephen for a little over a year now. They doa great job for the price point, and the always seem to be able to accomodate me in the evening so long as I call up earlier in the day.

I’m with Dave B. on the ‘Meh’ review.
The place is okay, given the market in Boston. I live in the North End and was tired of the poodle shops there where they whack your hair for six minutes with electric clippers. Not cool.
So, Blade was a relief. But not great. I would like a busy, professional barber shop where I can walk in without an appointment, be treated courteously and quickly get a good haircut.
It’s hit or miss at Blade. My last, and now my LAST, visit there had one barber working on one patron in a chair and the other barber catching a break outside. When the second, available barber realized I was a customer there for a walk in haircut, he ran to the back room to hide and take his break. The receptionist futzed around a bit and then told me I would need to wait 20 minutes for a haircut.
End of story. I left. I’ll get my hair cut in New York when I am there for business. It’s quicker, easier and a better result.

Dudes! Blade Barber Shop at 603 Tremont St. in Boston has the singular distinction of having «Bridda» at one of it’s chairs! Bridda is the 2010 Boston Magazine’s Best of Boston «Best Barber». Bridda is a kind, straight Moroccan family man who cuts hair in a very gay friendly barber shop in a very decidedly gay neighborhood (South End) He is attentive, smooth and skilled. The guy charges the same as the other barbers in the shop $ 25.00 per cut! This is Boston’s BEST barber, guys! What an incredible deal. He could charge 100 – 150 per cut but prefers to stay close to his customer base. Call him for an appointment at (617)267−2200. He doesn’t work on Muslim holidays like Ramadan, etc.

It was hot out and I needed to cool the head down. I went in and didn’t have to wait very long at all, they had great guy magazines and a chill atmosphere & the price is right! I’ll be back!

Ever since the time of the ancient Romans, guys waiting for a hair cut have been sitting around and talking about politics, celebrities, the weather and their vacations with their barber. That great atmosphere is one of the things that makes Blade work — it’s like a relaxed bar where everything is no-​nonsense, including the haircut.
Face it, if you could, you would probably do the job with scissors in front of the mirror yourself. Personally, I find I can’t easily reverse my hand motions in the mirror, so sit in the chair and I let Sam do the work — it’s a real pleasure and he’s very good.
Blade is popular, fast, clean, not so expensive, convenient, friendly and very organized. Some reviewers balk at the $ 25 cut, but do you really want a $ 10 cut that looks like a $ 10 cut? Next thing you’ll be asking me if your cheap jeans with the butt sag are flattering.

Meh.
Walking in here on a weekend without an appointment wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but they agreed to see me. The barber was pissed about being told by the front-​desk queen to take me between appointments and was done in like five minutes of icy silence. Then I had to go home and finish the job with my own clippers.
I’ll give them another try and make an appointment, because they’re really close and the other reviews are good, but guys, srsly, if you are that damned busy then just tell me «no» rather than give me a crappy cut and atomic attitude, thanks.