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| - Wanted to save review #900 for somewhere special, and no one deserves it more than Brian and the team at The Nite Owl Barber Shop. I've moved around and tried barbers all over the 416 and the 905 and this is the first and only place that does the old school vibe the right way.
First, there's the shop: This barber shop has a long standing history in the Long Branch community (south Etobicoke near the border of Toronto and Mississauga). There has been a barber shop in this exact location since the late 1940's early 1950's. The original team of barbers retired and the shop was vacant and in pristine condition for over 10 years until shop owner Brian took it over just under a year ago. It's had very few modifications over the years and much of the contents (vintage waiting chairs, barber chairs, and stations) are original - as their website states, it's a veritable 1950's time warp. Truly remarkable. Best of all, there's always cold drinks (served from a vintage refrigerator) or a freshly brewed pot of coffee available for free for clients.
Second, there's the barbers: The fellas here are really the heart and soul of this place. The banter, movie quotes, and traditions here will keep you smiling and laughing at every visit. This eclectic group of bearded boys may look intimidating but you honestly couldn't find 3 of the nicest guys in Dave, Simon and Brian. Don't be shocked if the three will occasionally ring a bell or shout FIRST DIP when a brand new container of Palmade is used for the first time. They even have a young apprentice barber Vincent, who for $5 will shine your shoes in the traditional manner, a time honored tradition which he learned from his grandfather. He's so good at shoe shining that he was being featured in an upcoming Canadian documentary film based on this lost art form!
Finally, the community: I've been to a ton of cool looking barber shops and hair salons, I've had a good guy (or gal) cut my hair, but I've never have the two come together to create a true Barber culture. At The Nite Owl, the combination of history and aesthetics of the building, merged with the skill and good nature of the staff has created a local community hub for local guys in the know. It's not uncommon to have local regulars stop in for a shoeshine, coffee and a chinwag and you're always welcome to pop by (however you might not always be able to get a cut - they're pretty booked up). I think the sense of community and male camaraderie is heightened by little touches such as the position of the chairs while you get your hair cut. Most times hair salons will have their clients face their respective mirrors making the interaction about you and your stylist. At The Nite Owl, the chairs are turned away from the mirrors so that all the clients and barbers are facing each other which leads to lots of chatter, jokes and laughs.
I've been coming to see Brian now for 3-4 months already and I'm sold. The man knows his shit cold. He's the first barber I've been to who has understood how my multiple cowlicks worked (or worked against each other) and was able to sculpt a traditional hairstyle that was functional, trendy, and didn't grow out in 4 days like a patch of weeds. And last month I decided to shed my beard and had Brian do the honors of shaving me down. No nicks, no shave burn, no bumps when it grew back in, nothing. An absolute perfect shave beginning to end with tons of attention to detail done on the preparation and execution of the shave.
I could go on, but I don't want to sell you on this place to the point where it's impossible for me to get a haircut anymore. Best you just know that when you need a cut or shave, the community at The Nite Owl will be ready and waiting with open arms, readied scissors and a few good laughs.
Thanks boys - see you in a few weeks!
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