Barbo Beauty Salon

Phillip «Scissorhands» is the perfect name, he is amazing at Asian male hair (mine) and the price cannot be beat. Don’t tell anyone, but I would gladly pay double or more for his haircuts being as how he is as fast as he is good.
Wait, I would be willing to pay double what he charges for 10 minutes or less?! Because I want to look good and I don’t wanna wait. I’ve paid $ 45 or more for those salons with beer and wine, cookies and a smock. That’s all well and good if you want pampering with an average cut. But for the real deal, Phillip is THE MAN.

I’ve been coming to this place for a few years. Their price are decent. ($ 65 for female hair cut and coloring). I always make appointment with Hei to do my hair. He’s not as popular and fast as Philip, but he is good with layering and he is quiet (good for me since I don’t like to be bothered), and he doesn’t try to pitch you into doing any extra stuff like oil treatment, etc. (the hair salon I used to go always does). I didn’t give 5 stars because the salon is a bit dirty and it looks like it’s from the 60s.

$ 12 for a haircut. I am a happy customer :)

Okay me and my group of friends have been getting a haircut from phillip for over 3 years and it’s awesome how well informed he is with new hairstyles. He does multiples styles ranges from undercut to simple high fades but most of all he’s really funny and makes me feel very comfortable everytime I sit down. I’m not too sure about women haircuts but if you need it he will learn.
Best of all he always says I’m handsome and I’m over here like psh I already kno

If I am allowed to give some lower score than one star I would love to. Terrible experience ever! The barber Katie was so rude, she pulled my hair badly before she tried to wet it, got water into my ear when she washed, and let myself to dry my hair since she double booked accidentally with other clients. Unbelievable! How did she get her license! Will never come back!!!

Thanks to Unilocal I found a reasonably priced salon that can cut Asian male hair near Irvine. Goodbye Supercuts. I walked in and was taken care of promptly on a Saturday morning by a Vietnamese Edward Scissorhands named Phillip. In less than 15 minutes, he gave me the best haircut I’ve had since moving to the OC couple years ago. Price was $ 12. It finally feels good to find a go to place for my hair cut. Also, this is the only place so far that wifey has complimented me after a haircut. Check it out! It would have gotten 5 stars if it was less than $ 10 like Procuts in Alhambra.
Correction: Phillip speaks multiple languages so I don’t know what ethnicity he is. Scissorhands description stands.

I’m 22 and I’ve been getting my hair cut from Phillip since I can remember. The best $ 12 haircut ever (he might have moved the price up to $ 15?) If he did increase the price, it is still the best $ 15 haircut ever.
Not saying it’s great (he cuts hair extremely fast, but he is skilled), but for $ 15, it’s the best there is.

Great cuts, wait is long, but that means they have more people. Their cuts are great and they do a good job. While waiting you can grab a magazine or read catalogs too.

**DISCLAIMER**: This review is written by an Asian teenage male who only rocks the buzzcut. I cannot speak for females/​any other haircut (which probably renders this review practically useless).
I have been coming here for pretty much all my life, and all my Taiwanese guy friends go here for haircuts. That says something. Yes, this place isn’t exactly your cleanest barbershop: hair can be found all over the place, which is pretty gross, but for a $ 12 value, who the hell cares? You’re guaranteed a good haircut four out of five times. Once again, for a $ 12 value, that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Also, everyone raves about Philip, but the «lao ban,» otherwise known as Hei Dat, is my main squeeze. This dude has been cutting my hair ever since I was five, and he has probably said five words to me ever since (despite being fluent in like three hundred languages). Once again, who the hell cares? I didn’t come to Barbo for emotional psychiatric therapy, I came for a haircut. He gets the job done, and for a $ 12 value. Let me emphasize that again. TWELVE DOLLARS. You really can’t beat that, so save yourself a trip to an overpriced American barbershop and go to Barbo.

I am writing this review on behalf my boyfriend. He has been getting his haircut from Phillip for the last 3 years and he has gone from buzz to fauxhawk to comb over. And he has liked his haircut every time and so do I.
So do rest of my guy friends from Irvine go here a lot. Affordable and he’s funny! Phillip that is.

I went to Barbo on a Sunday last month, and only 2 customers there. Philip recommended himself to help me cut my hair. He asked what I want and also gave me some advice that sounds «professional»; however, what he did had nothing to do with his advice. He wanted to give me a young and lively hairstyle, BUT I was like given a heavy and clumsy wig finally. He was not that patient and nice like what other people described in the review, coz he made water splashed on my face, he pulled my head heavily, and my skin was almost burned when he used the hairdryer. Honestly I almost cried and did not want to see anyone until my hair get longer and normal. Maybe he was good at men’s haircut, MAYBE! But girls, be careful~ I am not picky and this is the first time I write a review, just because the experience was really painful. Guys, god bless you!

Go with Philip and no one else.

I started coming to this barber shop after hearing about it from a friend. I moved down to Irvine for college so instead of going all the way home to get hair cuts (cheap though, only $ 5 and I usually give $ 2 tip), I came here. That was well over 2 years ago. Fast forward to today and I am still going back to Phillip for his hair cuts. The price is a little higher than I used to pay ($ 12 and I tip $ 3 = $ 15 total) but it is totally worth it. I’ve gotten to know Phillip very well and with his fast handiwork, I hardly have to wait. I have never even needed to make an appointment! He’s well-​sought out though so sometimes there will be a lot of people waiting specifically for him to cut their hair. He is great with men and women’s hair (or so I’ve heard). He is very meticulous when it comes to cutting my hair and makes sure every strand of hair is cut perfectly and to my specification. In addition to being a great hair stylist, he also multi-​lingual! Cantonese, Vietnamese, Mandarin, English, you name it!
All of the above lead to a great hair cut, a happy smile every time I walk out of the shop (which has become once a month now), and always anticipating coming back month after month. Note: He does not work on Mondays.

I tried other barbers around here, and no one can seem to cut my hair. Can’t say I blame them tough; it’s thick and grows outwards in all directions so it’s kind of hard to style. But the lady here that cuts my hair does a good job. Rosie always has a decent idea of what kind of cut I want, and is pleasantly patient and receptive to my instructions and comments. I can’t ever find that kind of personable service at this price point elsewhere.
I’ve had the other two cut my hair before as well. Phillip did an acceptable job; it was quick but turned out a little sloppy. The older fellow didn’t quite do a good job as the other two.
I usually come in around 5−6p on the weekdays and it’s not all that busy.

I didn’t like the haircut I received from Phillip, who I had found via Unilocal.I’m sorry. My hair cut was crooked/​asymmetric. I noticed how crooked it was up to two months later. I never returned back here. I’m happy to see other people liked their experiences here.

I know that others have had good experiences with this salon, and I’m sure that Phillip is awesome, but I decided to drop in for a trim at Barbo (seriously, a TRIM) and I had a terrible experience.
What happened: I told the stylist (a woman, probably in her 40s or so) that I just wanted the haircut I had (which I loved and had gotten mad compliments on for about a month) trimmed up. I told her it had only been growing for about a month and that I wanted much less than an inch off. She nodded, but then she proceeded to not only hack at LEAST an inch off (I was covered in hair by the end of the cut, and my hair was only chin length when I walked in the door), but much worse, she actually changed the style of my haircut. I guess she decided she didn’t like it? She thinned it, did something with a razor, cut some new super short sections for no apparent reason… it was awful. The haircut that she gave me isn’t bad, but it is NOT at all the haircut that I wanted. I was incredibly disappointed. If I don’t wear makeup and really style my hair now, I look like a boy.
On top of this, the place is cash or check only, and it was uncomfortably dirty. There was other people’s hair all over my chair, all over the floor, all over the electrical outlets and wall, there was gunk on the hair sprays and other products on the shelves, the scissors weren’t very sharp, so a few time my stylist pulled my hair with them… it was really gross.
The place is cheap and they can cut hair decently. Maybe their other stylists are really great. I just know I’m never going back.

I have been coming to Barbo for over 7 years now, mixing it up with other places from time to time. Everyone always raves about Philip, but I’ve always come to see Hei who is definitely less fun but quite efficient (Philip is also solid).
The key here is that a haircut with Hei is $ 12. Sure, that doesn’t include any shampoo or much conversation, but for $ 12 you get a good haircut as requested. The trouble with the price is that each time I personally start wondering if my $ 36 haircut elsewhere is 3x as good as Hei’s (its not).
Hei is also good with kids. I’ve taken my nephews here several times and been happy with the result.
It should be noted that those who are looking for a very clean salon/​barber shop will be sorely disappointed — it doesn’t bother me as much (only a little), but there’s hair everywhere in this place which grossed me out a bit more this last time than in my previous visits.
Pro tip — call ahead and Hei will generally tell you what time to come in so that here’s no wait.

Have only seen Phillip and will only see him. Quick if you get into the chair fast. Sometimes there can be a wait. If you go during off times, you can usually walk right in.
Now he is cutting my daughter’s hair too!

I’ve been coming here for a good 9 years or so now, and like the other reviewers, Philip is my hairstylist. The pricing like the other reviews have stated, are very reasonable, and a really good bang for your buck.
Back to Philip the hairstylist… Philip is fast, cheap, and like they said, speak a plethora of languages. But I believe his primary is Vietnamese. Armed with snake skin boots, shoes, and guy-​liner, Philip is one guy who aims to please and knows all the latest hair styles!
He’s quick and precise with his hair stylist tools, like a desperado in the wild wild west. Once completed, he always makes sure you are happy with your ‘do, otherwise, he will work on it until you are happy. Philip also comments on the hairstyle that you select, and will always give you information on the latest trends and ‘do’s if you ask.
Like most women (and some men) my hair, is my life line, and to trust someone with my hair… well you get the picture. I trust Philip wholeheartedly, and have recommended numerous friends to call and make an appointment with Philip, and each one, has always been very satisfied with his work.
I suggest YOU do too. Philip is awesome. He is… a hair god.

It’s true, Phillip can speak many languages, and wears snakeskin boots. He’s too cool. Phillip rocks on! Getting my hair highlighted and colored there was pricier, about $ 60. But hair cuts for women are bout $ 20, not including tip, and cheaper for guys.
Also, I used to get my hair done there for prom/​winter formal and it was cheap as hell. It was $ 25 for a solid, amazing updo. Phillip does beautiful and trendy updos. And when I say solid, I mean solid. My hair would withstand a whole night of dancing, and rollercoaster rides. Phillip also works fast, so it was also done in about 20 minutes. I had friends who were at the hair salon for hours, paid $ 80-​$ 100, and I essentially got the same thing in far less time, and 25% the price.