Five of the best barber shops in Adelaide’s CBD
OLD-school barber shops continue to hold their own in the heart of Adelaide. But a new breed of manscaping caves are emerging as well.
THE city is home to some glorious old-school barbers that have been around for decades.
But more manscaping caves seem to be popping up all the time. Meet the new generation of barbers in the CBD.
Top 5
House of Fade Barber Shop
102a Morphett St
THIS four-week-old barber shop is in a somewhat secluded spot, but that didn’t stop American R & B group Pretty Ricky from coming in for some last-minute grooming before their Adelaide gig last month.
The owner here spent 13 years as a hairdresser before going on to train as a barber.
The decor is still developing — some 160-year-old traditional barber chairs are still on their way from LA — and the tabletops are scattered with almost every grooming tool imaginable.
There’s even a bowl of Chupa Chup lollipops — for the kids, of course.
Open daily except Friday, 10am-6pm
Boys Club Barbershop
Shop 141, Level 1, Adelaide Arcade
IT’S in the name. This is a guys-only spot that spruiks itself as being like “a mate’s place”. Crack open a beer, watch sport and movies on TV, and get a new do while you’re at it. Again, this barber shop doesn't take bookings but in a place like this, waiting around can’t be too bad.
info@boysclubbarbershop.com, open Tuesday, 10am-5pm, Wednesday and Thursday, 10am-6pm, Friday, 10am-9pm, Saturday, 10am-4pm
Hutt Street Barber Shop
Shop 2, 216 Hutt St
MEN are often surprised to discover the barber here is a woman. Diahann Logan says she’s used to the reaction, particularly from old-school Italian men who prefer the traditional blokey banter with their beard trim. But with a bit of convincing she usually wins them over, and once that happens, they’re loyal for life. Her shop is only three weeks old but Logan has spent decades in the industry, having previously worked at McLaren Vale Barber Shop and Highgate Barber Shop.
Open weekdays (except Wednesday), 9am-6pm, Saturday, 9am-1pm
Barber Boys
City Cross 7/32 Grenfell St
THIS is barber shop number six for owner Don De Sanctis, and his first city store. New barbers are constantly being trained here (Joe from the longstanding Alec’s Hairdresser recently came in to teach “young ‘uns” the cutthroat shaving technique) and there are now seven male and female apprentices. Join the queue at the bench and wait your turn because “real barbers don’t take appointments”.
Open weekdays 9am-5.30pm (Friday until 9pm), Saturday 9am-5pm
Babylon Barber
108 Gawler Place, Adelaide
IRAQI-born Sam Ahmad brings the traditional Middle Eastern hair removal technique “threading” to the bearded blokes of the city. Ahmad and his team of male and female barbers skilfully twist and roll a fine cotton thread over facial fuzz to pull the hairs from the follicles, which helps avoid the painful ingrown hair thing. The team really knows how to work a razor and can shave some pretty spiffy hair patterns — search Babylon Barber on Facebook for the photographic evidence.
Open weekdays, 8.30am-6pm, Saturday, 9am-5pm