The Modern Male

Found this place by using Unilocal… he takes haircuts seriously and my wife and I are quite pleased. Strong recommend.

I don’t understand the rating here. First of all it’s super overpriced for a barber shop — $ 30! Second, and more importantly, my haircut was botched. Granted I have curly hair, but that’s no excuse for a barber. I had to fix my cut when I got home because he left long curly bangs in the front, while cutting the top really short; something I didn’t notice in the shop because he had overbooked and was hurrying me out the door. I went in to fix it up, and he fixed the top, but the sides are now longer than the top. It’s just ridiculous. My fiancée does a better job cutting my hair and gets it way more even. Anyway, he’s a nice guy, and talks a lot, which is cool, but I do NOT recommend letting him cut your hair.

Excellent hair cute, excellent price. Barber has a TON of experience. I learned a few things about how hair works — ie., my hair always sticks up after some cuts because those barbers over cut my hair.
Don’t expect a salon — this is straight forward, little frills, barber shop.
Good job –exactly what a barber shop is

He is a good barber and I’ve went here multiple times, but I had some issues with what he talked about while cutting my hair during my last visit. I don’t want to go into details, but i left feelings very uncomfortable with some of his comments.

Best hair cut I have ever had. Had the same barber in the South End for 8 years, he retired and if only he would have retired sooner.

Johnny is the man! The guy is exactly what you look for in a barber. He knows what he is doing and keeps up a good conversation. A real solid guy. I was bummed when I moved from the back bay and had to leave Anfa Barber Shop. Since Modern Male I haven’t looked back! A tip, the guy is good so that also means he is busy. Call ahead to make an appointment to avoid waiting a very long time. There is some street parking but Brookline Village T stop is just a few blocks away. Cash or check. No credit cards. I dunno, Johnny might take gold bars too.

Got a great cut on the fly. Good old school barbershop with a twist of fun personalities. This owner understands a great customer service experience for the dude.

Fortunately, I found Johnny about a year after moving up here in 1980, and he’s been cutting my son’s hair for over 20 years as well. He’s a true hair artist, you cannot do any better. He won’t stop until every last hair is properly taken care of, don’t know what I’ll do when he hangs up the sheers.

I visited Johnny’s The Modern Male today for the first time, and I am sorry I waited so long to get my hair cut here. Johnny is extremely knowledgable about men’s hair and truly knows what he is doing. According to Johnny, he’s been cutting hair now for over 40 years, which is incredible in and of itself. If you need a good haircut, and you are near Brookline, Johnny’s seems to be the best place to go.

Johnny has been cutting my hair since 1999. He is the best I’ve seen to-​date. He is also a very humble guy who rarely talks about how good he is, so I am surprised one of the prior comments berate Johnny’s constant self promotion. It is also a fact that a lot of people who come to Johnny have had their hair butchered elsewhere and Johnny has had to fix those problems. Johnny has more business than any single barber can hope for. He has such a loyal customer base that he doesn’t need any new customers. That being said, I’ve never known him to turn away a customer. It is also unfair to comment on issues outside of Johnny’s control — e.g., parking problems. Johnny also works on an appointment-​only basis. So don’t complain if you attempt a walk-​in.
Bottom line is that I stopped telling Johnny how to cut my hair over a decade ago. He knows exactly how to cut my hair and what I am looking for. I slip into the chair, close my eyes and enjoy a fine haircut and good conversation. Johnny is a well-​versed guy and you can have just about any conversation you like with him — golf, weather, local history, politics, women, etc…
Tony the Guy from Italy.

The best barber in Boston is in Brookline. Johnny’s got the skills only achievable with old school training & 40+ years of experience. What better peace of mind do you need than knowing your getting a great cut every single time. Oh yeah, it’s cheap too.

I can’t add much more to what’s already been written — Johnny takes his time and does a great job — you can even pencil your name into the schedule for your next haircut… not ideal if you life to just walk-in…he’s pretty busy during the weekends…

Johnny is awesome. Well, at least he thinks he is.
I hate to be a spoil-​sport — but this just wasn’t that amazing. I’ve only been here once, but I don’t intend on going back. No parking available (on street only), so I parked in the Dunkin Donuts parking lot nearby (I’m a rebel like that). Waited my turn, and got my hair cut. For the extent of my hair cut, Johnny just kept on talking about how great he was. I mean — he just wouldn’t let up about it. He regaled me with countless exciting (*cough*) stories about how people would come in to see him after getting their hair butchered. How people’s significant others would call to thank him. Blah blah blah. Get over yourself dude.
I got a perfectly fine haircut (not mind blowingly good — but definitely solid), but I’d rather a worse haircut and a barber with a smaller ego.
4 stars because he is one of three barbers in the greater Boston area (and believe you me — I’ve tried a lot of barbers here!) that I’ve found so far that I’d actually trust with my hair. But I’d rather either of the other two.

Johnny is one of the best barbers around. He takes his time, cuts your hair right, always remembers how you cut it last time, is very afforable and a great guy.
I’ve been getting my hair cut here for 10 years. Do yourself a favor and try it out. Don’t be in a rush, relax take your time and enjoy.

First haircut in Boston, no need to look anywhere else. This guy is the best, he’s seen it all.

Best haircut in town. Completely reasonable prices ($ 25 for mens haircut), and well worth it for the attention to detail that you will receive. There is nothing flashy about this place and there doesn’t need to be. You will be a satisfied customer. The only thing is he is usually pretty busy, so although I believe he accepts walk in’s try to make an appointment with him a few days in advance if possible to ensure that he doesn’t get booked. Also it is currently cash/​check only.

This place reminds me of my childhood barbershop for the simple reason that the barber is never there (i.e out fishing, on vacation, etc.). I read the reviews on-​line and it sounded great, but after two weeks of calling, I have never gotten anyone on the phone. The hours of operation are not posted on Unilocal or anywhere else, there’s no website for the barber shop, and there’s no answering machine or voicemail option when you call the store. And you can’t just drop by because it’s by appointment only. This barber might be amazing once you track him down, but in the meantime, he needs to join the 21^st century and post his hours on the internet, get an answering machine, and set up a real schedule like every other working man.

this is a man’s joint, for a man’s haircut, with man talk and a man shave. oh yeah kids get cuts here too! Johnny the barber is the quintessential barber. old school. old stories. straight talk. he gives a damn fine haircut with a straight edge razor in back to finish you off. hes got some tricks up his sleeves with the sheer scissors and various other long lost barber tools. so dont mistake him for the run of the mill supercuts job. he knows his classic mens styles and is a pro at executing them.
need one of those old school black plastic combs? check. some english talc power? check it. johnny loves bobby orr, golf, and talking about how there are no more old school barbers around — an endangered species no doubt. he’ll tell you how he fixes bad cuts from other «salons» and then he’ll tell you again, and again and again. and then one more time for good measure. again.
johnny is also amazing with the kids. he does kids cuts and has all the tricks and toys for mesmerizing them during the cutting process. my son was meandering around the shop during my last visit and he was so enamored by johnny and his bucket of lollipops that when my son walked by the other Monday when johnny was closed, my son took a fit at the door and threw his glass baby bottle against the stoop in the most unexpected baby meltdown i’ve seen in a while. it took me 15 minutes to clean up all the glass from the stairs and the haircut is still worth it!
i have gone to the high end salons on newbury st. and nothing compares to the quality of Johnny’s cuts. not to mention his low price — $ 22! come on you cant beat that.
you’ll listen to his old stories, time and time again while you stare at his old circa 1975 uhf/​vhf floor stand tv. the man is solid and this joint is a gem. you’d be an idiot for not getting your top done the right way here.

The absolute best haircut you will get! My family has been going to Johnny for over 10 years now; he is the absolute best.
I’ve tried other places (if he was on vacation or w/​e) and have ended up coming back to Johnny for him to fix the butcher job they have done on my hair.
People drive in from out of state to get their hair cut here — that says something! …and the pricing is amazingly low

There is no better haircut in the Boston area. This is the Old School Barber that everyone is always looking for. If you are wondering how this compares to other barbers, go there and Johnny will tell you himself: «I got a guy who tried gettin’ his heyacut out in Meffid. They butcha’d him! Guy tells me ‘Johnny, I’m neva goin’ nowheres else!’»
Although Johnny’s antics are reason enough to frequent this place, the quality is really superb. He’ll do your neck hair and sideburns with a straight razor, and put talc on it to boot. Then he’ll tell you how hot Marilyn Monroe used to be, and that he harbors no grudge against Bobby Kennedy.