OK, I take barbers seriously. I'm not a clothes hound or fashion guru but a decent haircut is something I'd like to have if I can get it. I guess it's a matter of having someone in my personal space pruning and preening and prepping me for a socially acceptable look.
My last barber was great and had him for almost 20 years but he up and flew off to OH never to return so I went on a hunting trip. A great friend used a nice guy down in north/central Phoenix so I went there a couple of times. I never saw the guy but always got his wife who hadn't seen a pair of thinning shears in her life. So I looked like Foster Brooks on a Saturday night, or a drunken baboon with a "do" until I returned the next time for my repeat attempted treatment. I'm not picky but I was never really happy.
So I came to ol reliable Yelp and started my search for someone "in the neighborhood" with good reviews and lots of loving patrons extolling the virtues of their quality coiffing. I think I found it at Gio's.
First, I was looking for a place that could make guys over 40 look good. Lots of barbers show haircuts with spikes and spires, slices and dices that look like you're ready for social club on a back street in Moscow or Prague after a street fight. I guess I'm just not that hip. I just want clean, professional look that's acceptable to a majority of reasonable thinking humanity. Gio's was it.
Second, walk-in service is great if you get stuck and need it last minute but I like making an appointment AND... I especially like when your time comes around and they're ready for you - no excessive waiting reading last year's "Gun Sporting for Real Men" mags. My appt was at 11:00... and Olesya was ready for me calling my name at 11.
And, she was terrific. Attentive, took time to know exactly how I liked my locks (hey, seeing my current state of coiffed confusion wasn't easy) and she was personable without being chatty. Don't you hate people who talk without anything to say just for the sake of filling the aural atmosphere? My old barber talked so much he turned a 20 minute experience into a 60 minute ordeal.
Anyhow... She took a quick 30 minutes to get me back in the socially acceptable mode of presentable persona and made me look like the photo I showed her of me taken a couple years ago. She's been performing her profession for quite a while and has a following that makes the trip from Sun City to Scottsdale for their 30 minutes of artful attention.
I also pass along my thanks to John G. here at the "Y" for his personal recommendation and he was right. I gave them a try and was happy. And i'll certainly be back.
I'm not a weekly or even monthly haircut guy but when I want to / NEED TO look decent for business happenings, or a catch up on personal primping, I want a comfortable place to visit and Gio's is it.
Really... if you're looking in that north Scottsdale, north Phoenix Bell Road area... you'll be happy with their service, pricing and attention to you the person. AND.... there's a Rainbow Donuts, sports bar and breakfast place all in the same building. How can you go wrong?