Barber Dan’s

I’m not sure if I am giving Dan a five because he is such a good barber or because going to him is such a strange Portland event. Do you remember the Bad Santa? Well, this is the Bad Barber. The first time I went there he looked at my hair and said, «Why is your hair so wavy and fucked up?» He then berated me for sleeping on it before coming to see him, comparing it to sleeping in a suit before going out to dinner. I then told him how i wanted my hair cut and he proceeded to ignore everything I said and gave me the best damn haircut I have had in years. It’s no «hair between the fingers, snip, snip» event. It was «extend it with a comb and cut it with the end of an electric clipper.» If you had told me what he was going to do I would not have set foot in the door. Yet, he gave me an amazing haircut. Same thing the next two times. Then we got into a swearing match because I had driven 15 miles to get my hair cut and he said he was closed even though it was during his open hours. I am neither contentious nor difficult. He’s just a strange dude, one of a kind, and an old school barber like you won’t find anywhere else. Caveat Emptor.

Old barber went out of business. I had been looking for a couple of weeks. After reading lots of reviews I decided to try Dan out. By far one of the best cuts I have had in yeas.
Thank Dan

Dan is an asshole. I waited an hour for two old dudes to get their hair cut. When it was my turn he asked me what he could help me with and when I said a hair cut he looked surprised.
After pulling out his special «ladies» cape, I explained what I wanted. He quickly proclaimed that would look like shit.
So I got up and left.

I had a great experience.
Walked in on a Friday evening without an appointment. Dan did a great job and I had no wait time for the regular haircut which cost 17 $
I would recommend calling ahead just in case.

All Dan does is cut hair really well. He doesn’t rush you through, and he doesn’t miss anything. Great cut, highly recommend it.

We are new to PDX and both my husband and son needed their Peaky Blinders inspired haircuts cleaned up. Dan was the man for the job! No BS hipster beard bar blah blah for $ 50. My son and husband both received an awesome old school cut for $ 30 and Dan even sent my son (6) to the convenience store next door with $ 4 to grab a soda for him and whatever else my son wanted. Just a great guy, doing great work.

I read the reviews looking for an old fashioned barber who cut with a straight razor to clean up a gaggle of boys traumatized by supercuts. Sadly this was far more traumatic. I appreciate the reviewer who mentioned the cigarette. cigar smell. Very correct and pungent, but not an issue since I knew.
After knocking loudly on the interior door at the back to wake him up, he came out after shouting back a few minutes later. We all joked about the jobs to be done. One was in the chair and suited up and a few minutes later he noticed my service animal, who was in perfect form and unnoticed as a result. I don’t think about my helper much and he was directly in front of Dan the whole time… Dan froze and said that he could be fined $ 500 for a dog in the shop and that I had to leave. I explained that he was a service animal, not a pet and that he was at no risk because able to talk to anyone who might confront him legally. I explained the serve dog law and protections afforded him, but was interrupted over and over. He said everyone needed to get out and he would not serve anyone with me. I tried to ask how I could reassure him. He got in my face and said I needed to show papers or get out. The dog was clearly marked and I did my job answering questions as a disabled person.
If you are not educated on the federal law and service animals, I am going to tell you that MOST of the people who present papers are fake. You can get that stuff on line. It will NOT protect a business. Some people with service animals carry papers because of misinformation, but I do not. NO business will be shut down on suspicion of a pet in the building. There is no fine unless you knowingly allow a PET in a state restricted business or suspect and don’t ask if it’s a service animal. A service animal is considered like a cane or any other medical device in the eyes of the law. NEVER a pet, while on duty.
Out of his mouth, after me explaining more than I am legally required to share about my medical history to assure him: «I don’t serve your kind you need to find someone who will serve disabled people like you. I will not or anyone like you.»
Kids heard this and could not shake if off or stop asking questions about this guy… it was disgusting, embarrassing, and degrading… I was on the couch in tears for the afternoon.
If you have been improperly threatened by a health inspector locally and are a barber or food service person, please read the ADA federal laws. I am not sure if this was the case with Dan or not. He is a strange one… and a lot of what he was saying seemed made up and based on fear and hearsay. He clearly didn’t consider the ramifications of refusing service to disabled people… which comes at a far greater cost monetarily… more importantly how it fractures community and people who have a hard enough time struggling to be in it too.

The best barber I have ever encountered. Highly recommend for anybody that wants a professional cut by a professional barber!

First time in last week. If he’s open but not in the shop, just holler for him and start looking at all the cool shit on the walls. Dan is the real deal. Right as I walked in, I saw Clubman Pinaud products, excellent! Old school. Great cut. Warm shaving cream and straight razor neck shave.
Interesting gentleman to chat with. Easy going, friendly and plays great music on cassette. The place has all kinds of cool trinkets, clutter etc scattered about the establishment.
He is one of the few, he is a true BARBER!
This is not Bishops, this is not Rudys, this is not Supercuts. No whiskey and pbr here, no need to mask a lack of skill with a free beer. No sexy tattooed girls who are actually beauticians posing as barbers. No need to pay $ 30.00 for a substandard cookie cutter douchebag haircut. No need to shave your head in shame after you get home from the butchering.
THIS IS A REAL BARBERSHOP!!! Reasonable prices and a great job. $ 17.00 for a men’s cut!!! Beard trims etc are also offered. I could tell immediately that he understood my requests. Once again, Dan is the real deal. I’ll be going here as long as he’s still barbering. Highly recommended if you want a traditional, high quality haircut. No bullshit, no fancy atmosphere, just a great guy who’s experience is easily appreciated. Head over and you’ll be glad you did.

Friendly service and immaculate attention to detail. Barber Dan kept the conversation interesting and really focused on my cut, more so than any other barber I’ve been to I will definitely be going back here

I will be honest. I did not get a haircut, I couldn’t…my lungs are too important to me. I walked in and sat on the couch waiting my turn but the overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke was making me sick so I walked out. I am sure he does a great job as everyone says, but good haircut vs. my health… I’ll take my health.

We were just passing through Portland and stopped by barber dans. Fun little shop. Dan is an interesting character. My boyfriend was happy with his cut. Men’s hair is $ 17

I’m sure the cut would have been great; I just moved to the neighborhood and was looking for a local barber. I was excited to meet Dan and make this my go-​to joint. I showed up at 230 on a Friday. There is a sign that says to knock on another door or holler for service. I did both, and no one came out of the room or acknowledged my presence. Was he in the bathroom taking a dump? Maybe. Or was he out for a moment? Who knows. I’ll never know how good Barber Dan is b/​c I’ll never be back. I like the concept of living where you work, but if you can’t make an appearance on a Friday afternoon, well, then, I can go somewhere else.

I visit Portland every couple of months from the Bay Area. I Wanted an old school treatment and Dan is the real deal. Just a great little old school shop without pretense or turning it into a Disney theme park style nod to the old days.
Much lower prices than the other revival style places, authentic and Dan is a great guy with a cool attitude and a blast to talk to. You will love the results of his work. No mustache wax needed, but I’m sure it’ll be ok if that’s your thing.
Go see Dan!

Dan is the man that is for sure. He loves to talk and although he’s still working on remembering my name it doesn’t even matter cause his work is the real deal. I can’t believe I used to spend more money at a shop that gave me some random stylist before finding dan. My $ 18 is well worth it to get a craftsman like Dan. In fact I’d probably pay more.

Dan gets 5 stars for the quality of cut as well as 5 stars for quality of conversation while cutting.
Full disclosure: Dan might be a little bit crazy. He’s the perfect Portland barber. Be sure to ask him about his career in music. The man is still receiving royalty checks from the song he wrote for Mellencamp.
I was impressed with the men’s short cut and beard trip that I got. All came in under $ 20, which seemed reasonable.
Overall, I have nothing to complain about. If you would like to be left alone and have your hair cut in silence, look elsewhere. Otherwise, Dan’s your man.

Full Disclosure: I’ve never had my hair cut by Barber Dan. However, I live with someone who does and I’m the one that has to look at the haircut every single day.
Dan is the boyfriend’s go-​to barber. Sometimes he strays and visits other folks if Dan isn’t available and he comes home grumbling about how it’s all wrong. But 90% of the time, when the boyfriend comes home after a visit to see Barber Dan, he’s very satisfied and so am I because 1) I don’t have to listen to him whine and 2) my boyfriend has a good haircut and is pleasant to look at.
Good ol’ fashion barber without all the bells and whistles, just a straight forward haircut for your noggin.

Disappointed. I’ve been coming to Dan’s for 6 months. I get my fade every two weeks. It was nice and pleasant the first 4 months a half. After that, Dan has gotten angry and bitter. Always complaining every time a customer would walk in saying how he can’t have time to himself. The past 3 times he was cutting my hair, he would rush and not cut cleanly because new people kept walking in. Greatly disappointed in him. I will be finding a new barber.

Dan is something of an old school male barber. I had forgotten what I was missing after having gone to a woman haircutter for several years now. Dan’s shop is like a comfortable shoe that fits as soon as you put it on. A nice couch to sit on, stacks of car and men’s magazines to peruse while you wait, a good conversation about a lot of stuff (if you want it; silence if you don’t), some Emmylou Harris playing in the background, and a long, nicely detailed cut.
I guess my days of a $ 10 simple haircut are gone, but I’m pleased with my $ 14 simple cut. The time in the shop and chair was well worth it.

Barber Dan is a guy who obviously enjoys having his work and home not too far from each other — meaning, when I went to his shop, I actually woke him up as he was sleeping in front of the TV. Admittedly, he said it had been a busy morning, and I was there pretty late — so I’m not holding that one against him, it was just funny.
Also, I could have sworn he was watching «Do the Right Thing» with subtitles. I’m not sure what to make of that. But again, kinda funny.
As to his skills? Dan free-​styles with comb and clippers (meaning no guard on those clippers like you get at Supercuts or whatever), and I swear my hair has never looked so neat and even — even back when I was in DC, paying 30 bucks to have a very fancy stylist use scissors.
This impresses me greatly.
Add to that the relatively low prices ($ 20 for haircut and beard trim), and the really nice touch of straight-​razoring the back of my neck — something I’ve never seen done before, but boy does it leave your neck feeling nice and clean.
He’s got a real honest-​to-​god genuine personality — so just don’t give him a bad day, and I think you’ll be pleased.

Dan’s shop is a great place to visit. A comfy old sofa with a big stack of magazines to leaf through if you have to wait, always interesting music or a movie playing, and fun conversation, even if you tend to be the quiet type, like I am. Oh, and a great haircut, too. Dan knows what he’s doing, and is never in too much of a rush to get it done right. Check his website for hours — the last I knew, he was open into the evening a couple of nights a week, which definitely works well with my schedule.