Balonze Barber Shop

Haircuts are fantastic. Tito is one of the best barbers around, but the whole staff does a really nice job. However the wait time is excruciating. I went in at 8:29 on a Friday morning and was the first person in the chair. By 8:34 there were five more people in the place and only one barber. Two other customers strolled in shortly after and when they realized there was an hour wait declined getting haircuts. Service gets 5 stars, but I have to take a star away for the long wait time. Kudos to Balonze on having such a great following. The business plans works for them, but not for me. I can’t spend 3 hours on a haircut.

Jay was wonderful with both of my children. While ship was friendly. Best part NO wait they fit me right in and the wait is the worst part of a barber shop. Lol. Love this place think I found my regular shop. Clean, precise and sooooo inexpensive considering the precision work done. Very happy.

Had an awful experience there with my two year old son. Cuts are hit or miss, so I asked for a specific barber who had done a good job with my son before. To my total disappointment and shock, he was very unprofessional and even rough to my son. He didn’t talk at all to him and disregarded when my toddler extended his lower lip and turned to me. He just snapped a couple of «I need him to be sitting up here» and started holding my son’s head in spite of him getting more and more upset, to the point of screaming. Exactly the opposite of what we had with him the first time, when he was chatty and seemed to be good with kids.
My son has never fussed to have a haircut — but this time he felt a little scared. The guy didn’t do anything to help. Mid cut, with my very easy toddler screaming, I told the barber «I think he needs a minute». His answer was «I don’t have a minute». He said he had to be somewhere at 5pm, when the barbershop closes, and that he had to give another man (who got there AFTER us) a haircut. I would have been fine with him telling me, before we started, that he couldn’t give my kid a haircut today (even though there was like 40 min. before the shop closed). But being short with a customer, specially a little kid, is beyond unprofessional.
Now I have a kid whose hair is all chopped up. And, worst, who’s not willing at all to have a haircut. He kept saying «man cut hair Juju… no» afterwards. Thanks Balonze for the crappy, possibly traumatic, experience.
I should have listened to my husband when he said the vibe there wasn’t good (sour barbers bad mouthing customer in front of other customers). Or to my 5yo who had asked a few minutes before her brother sat for a haircut «why are all those man so serious?».
I’ve posted my experience in our local facebook pages and was surprised to learn that several other people have had bad experiences with kids’ haircuts there — at least two other moms reported leaving mid cut, like me.
The vintage chairs can be cool, but we expect skilled, professional and cordial people for such a personal service. Neither my husband or sons will be going there again. I definitely don’t recommend this place.

The young lady that works in the shop (her name escapes me) is phenomenal. Her chair is all the way at the back end.
I watched her cut two men before me and she was so good that I actually let her cut and style my hair the way she wanted to from an idea she had.
Needless to say, it was perfect and it was my first time there. I went back recently for my second cut from her and she was equally flawless. In fact, she remembered me and what we had done the first time.
Don’t shy away from a woman with clippers. This woman is as good as any barber out there, if not better. She pays attention to detail, works fast, and makes no mistakes.
Two people had cut my hair over the past 10 years, so you can imagine my fear. Not to mention, I am extremely picky and demanding when getting a hair cut. Well, I wish I had gone to her long ago.

Got my haircut here about a week ago and I’m STILL impressed by it. I was in town getting breakfast with a friend and my hair has been bugging me all week. My boyfriend suggested Balonze because that’s where he gets his and I decided to see what’s up with it.
The barbers there are very nice and friendly. I didn’t catch the name of the guy who cut my hair, but he knew exactly what I wanted. I love my new haircut even to this day. And they also do a nice straight-​razor finish on the back of your neck to make sure it stays smooth and nice. I was kinda nervous because I’ve seen Sweeney Todd a bunch of times but it added a nice touch to my hair.
Granted the wait time was little much, but it was around lunch time for them so I’m not gonna chastise them for that because the haircut was phenomenal.

Bring my 3 boys here — all different hair types and preferences in style. Always look great!

my son and husband get their hair cut with Tito he is AMAZING great cut all the time.

I’m new to the area and tried Balonze off of a recommendation. The hours are great. They are opened on the weekends including Sundays which is great for anyone working longer hours during the week. John gave a great cut and was very friendly. Would go back.

I’ve lived in Montclair for 2 years and I’ll never complain about waiting here. The hair cut is worth it and everyone is friendly.

Stopped by yesterday for a cut. It was about 9:30 am, the wait was four deep and only 1 barber was there. He said the other barber wasn’t coming in until the afternoon. Ummmm, NEXT! I’m not waiting an hour for a freaking haircut. I jumped in my car and hit another barbershop where more than one person works. Can you give negative stars?

I moved to Montclair a couple of months ago and have been shopping around haircutters and this is my favorite. More sophisticated than old school barber but not too much. Just my style.

Got a haircut and a shave. Had a great experience. I didn’t wait long and the cut didn’t take long, but the result was a really sharp and polished look. I would definitely go back!

Clean facility, professional service, excellent haircuts, convenient hours
Dennis, Tito and staff make you feel welcome. Enjoy the magazine selection and flat screen TV as well!
Why go anywhere else?
I highly recommend Balonze Barber Shop.

I have been going to Balonze Barber shop for some time now. The haircuts are consistently good, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, the area is great, and parking is never a problem. There is metered street parking, as well as a large metered parking lot behind the barber shop.
I get a traditional haircut (short on the sides, and parted up top) accompanied by a straight razor shave. Never had a problem with either.

Great service, nice staff, reasonable prices, clean barber shop and my boys haircuts are always just the way they like them. I recommend this barber shop. Great cuts by Dennis, Sean and Tito…

I’ve been getting my haircut here for 2 or 3 years now, and I’ve gotten a consistently good haircut. I tend to stick with one of their barbers, but I’ve gotten a haircut from them all and it’s always good. They take their time to make sure you get a good cut, and they’ll shave your neck with warm shaving cream and a straight-​edge razor. It does get busy on the weekend, so go in early. During the week I’ve been in and out within 15 minutes. I highly recommend this place. Standard cut is $ 18, cash only.

If you’d like your kid to end up with a mullet or a cut so horrid that friends ask if he got ahold of some scissors, by all means, go to Balonze. Otherwise, steer clear.
I took my 3-​year-​old there and told the stylist I wanted a trim. She promptly chopped off most of the hair on the top of his head in one chop. But there’s more! When another customer walked into the store mid-​cut, she took my son off the chair and said, «can he wait?» We then had to wait with my 3-year-old’s hair half cut for someone else to finish up. In the end, he looked like a freak of nature. And it cost $ 18. He could have cut his own hair better than these people.

I got a great haircut here. I liked the guy who cut my hair. He was nice. He was fast. He was good. I think they only take credit cards. They are open 7 days a week. M-​F, they open at 8. If you are looking for a barber, I would highly recommend this place.