Barber – Q

Worst haircut I've ever received.

I have gone to Rudy’s and Bishop’s for years, but their prices are now to the point where it’s difficult to justify paying for what is essentially a ten-​minute experience. Found BarberQ via a tip from my brother, and I’ve now been three times in six months.
It’s an odd little place, but they do a nice job for an unbeatable price. For guys, at least, I recommend highly.

I started coming here for haircuts a few years ago after getting tired of being offered beers and subjected to loud metal at Bishops. All the women who work here are very professional and have always done a good job with my cuts, and are also genuinely friendly. This place has very good prices (I pay $ 13 for a basic cut) and usually the wait time is short to nil. Highly recommended.

Great place. Fast and no frills.

Moved to Portland a few months ago and have tried a couple other barbers who were in the $ 25 – 30 range for men’s cuts that were mediocre. Barber Q will set you back $ 13 for an awesome cut. I went to Hanna and would highly recommend me. She got me in and out in 20 min and really paid close attention to what I wanted. Highly skilled barbers at a great place. Will be coming back every 3 weeks for a fresh cut.

I guess you get what you pay for, at $ 12 I should have known better. I asked for short on the sides and long on the top, a classic men’s cut that I had given friends throughout college. She used a 4 on top and a 2 on the sides and I might as well used my electric beard trimmer.
She kept asking if I wanted it even shorted and I thought she was kidding. Next time I’ll fork over the extra $ 10 and go somewhere better.

Pleasant stylist who failed to introduce herself and offered minimal conversation. I brought in pictures to ensure that I got the exact cut that I wanted. Stylist then did what she wanted. I had to remind her twice where I part my hair, and she only outlined the right ear with her electric razor. She then used the blow dryer to clear the clippings away. DO NOT USE A BLOW DRYER. USE A BRUSH. My face is now awash in hair clippings. Thanks. The cut was slightly lopsided, and she attempted twice to rebalance without shortening the cut. No candy. No drinks. $ 15. Overall, slightly disappointing.

I have one word for you: Elaine. Every single cut at this $ 13 place is a CATEGORY better than any $ 30, $ 50, or even $ 100 «styling» I’ve ever head (cf. Mitch L.‘s review – troof homie, troof). And Elaine is your girl: awesome personality, and doesn’t talk your ear off with stupid small talk (unless you want to), but instead focuses on being extremely detail oriented. Will make sure it is precisely to your preferences, no matter how long it takes.
Oh, and they have a fridge full of sodas, juices, and bottled water, GRATIS (i.e. free)!

13 dollar mens haircut, a decent value
Downsides
— no appts taken, walk in only
— they weren’t as accurate as I hoped for — I left with a few stray hairs that stuck out. a careful stylist should have caught these so that I didn’t have with the bathroom mirror.
Upsides
— on my Saturday visit, there was no wait at all, was I just lucky?
— the stylist did have a intuition for the length that would be called «short» but not too short. sorry I suck at describing how I want it cut. I do depend on the common sense and experience for cutting my hair to a reasonably clean short for coarse Asian hair
— no frills atmosphere, free soda, but no free beer and whiskey (I don’t drink and so it brings no value to me)
— friendly and clean business

I go see Elaine and am never disappointed! Good haircut and a great price.

Came across this place because of its convenient location for us. After stepping in the door, my boyfriend was seated before he could even speak. They were so quick and efficient. Throughout the haircut, the stylist made sure each cut was so precise and she did it the exact way my boyfriend wanted it.
Another addition is the lounge accommodation consisting of free beverages (pepsi products, water bottles, caprisun) and even a bowl of free candy.
Such an enjoyable experience because of the wonderful people that run that place. Definitely coming back here!

Very good, very fast, very affordable — I never know how to explain what I am looking for in a haircut but they were very patient and accommodating. I’ll be back!

Not attempting this place again. Called to make sure I could come in and they said I could. They didn’t say there was any time limit. I immediately drove across town in rush hour to get there and was five minutes later than I planned and they refused me.

Great experience. I normally take my 17 y/​o son to a place on SE Powell, but she was not open today so I searched around for another cheap place (since I’m paying). Found this place with nice reviews. When we got there, my son perused the hairstyle magazines there and showed me pictures of stylish haircuts that he liked (that were on older men with perfect faces). I declined to try to talk him out of it this time but cautioned him that his might not end up looking quite like the picture. He got in the seat; I left to walk the dog. When I came back expecting a very cautious trim, she was just finishing up on him (much longer than our other place) and I was shocked to see that it actually looked pretty nice and did indeed look like the picture my son had selected. He loves it and so do I. I think this will become our new regular place.

Barber-​Q is a worthwhile barber for a plain run-​of-​the-​mill haircut.
They have lots of magazines while you wait and they keep a refrigerator with lots of soda. Each of their chairs are instantaneously comfortable. This consideration for customers, especially while they wait, is almost like a local trademark. Most of Barber-Q’s haircuts are priced at around $ 15.
When I went to the Barber-​Q on Hawthorne, I got my haircut right after entering. It only took about ten minutes to get simple buzzcut, which was $ 12. Upon requesting a haircut, you are asked what number you want for a hairline, with 1 being the shortest and 5 being the most.
2 should work for most men and hair always has a way of growing back quickly. 1 seems pathetically bent on being bald and 5 sounds almost as if I didn’t get a haircut.
Indeed, I enjoy the actual haircut. They know what they are doing and it shows. I soley rely on them to have good hair by going over to them once every two months. Hawthorne has lots of shopping and they have locations next to Pioneer Square and in the Alberta Arts District.
Ultimately, Barber-​Q is that reliable, good-​old barber shop.

I just adore Elaine. I see her every two months, and she does a great job. Be sure to tip these ladies well, since they’re just on hourly. Thanks Elaine

I have been going here for the last several months, and it is a convenient, relaxed, and an affordable place to get a haircut. I used to enjoy (yes, I am slightly embarrassed to admit) the posh places, but at the end of the day, it is just my hair people. :-)

The lady is friendly and effective, however she only gets paid by the hour and worked from 9 – 6 today with no lunch break. So make sure to tip her!

Quick, close to home, did a great job. The best part was I didn’t have to have the same lame conversation about what I do and all the normal BS that inevitably happens during a hair cut. I think we had a mutual understanding. $ 13 for a cut $ 12 for a buzz. If I was the owner I might invest on a strong AC unit, just sayin.

The woman who cut my hair was not the owner but has worked there for two years. She didn’t talk much and seemed awkward at first. What I learned is that for twelve dollars I got an amazing haircut with no BS. She asked me what I wanted and I told her. She checked in several times through the cut to make sure she wasn’t cutting too much or too little. Small talk was just that — small. I think we shared three sentences.
That said, there was no one wearing a vest and holding a whiskey here. This is a regular, normal, neighborhood place where regular, normal, people go to get normal haircuts. You can get three here for the price of one at some uppity «gentleman’s» place and I’ll bet you couldn’t tell the difference between the cuts if you tried.
Also, free soda and candy. And, they accept credit. I paid cash and tipped heartily because Bullwinkle likes what Bullwinkle likes and I liked this lady and my haircut which, as though it needs saying, looks freaking great.

I’ve got good news and bad news.
The bad news is that contrary to other reviews, the cost for a men’s haircut is now TWELVE dollars.
The good news is that it’s still one of the cheapest in town, the cuts are great, staff is quick and friendly, and there’s not a waxed mustache to be found.