Carl’s Barber Shop

My love affair with Carl, Laura and Elizabeth began when I poked my head into the joint that is just two blocks from my house and asked «Are you okay cutting women’s hair?» I’ve been going ever since. All three of them have given me a great cut, so frankly I don’t care who I get when I go. Sweet and friendly people who have never once made me feel like a weirdo for being a woman who likes a man’s haircut! I never would have expected this in the CCC — San Francisco, yes, but Martinez?! Heck no! How nice to be proven wrong.

I tried this place today. It was easy to park and they cut my hair about 5 minutes after I got there. Usually there are 3 barbers working at a time. The price is lower than most too.
Check it out if you need a barber in Martinez.

Wonderful place to get your hair cut. They do a great job and are super friendly.
Remember it’s cash only :)

After a bad experience at another barber (not worth mentioning here) I made a random stop at Carl’s. Its a small shop with a max of three hot seats with, what I can tell, two normal barbers working.
Friendly welcoming hi on the outset which was good. Very clean which was a plus. Service was great and the time it took was just right considering they have a razor and sharp instruments. Nothing fancy, just a good clean cut and shave with two friendly, experienced folks.
Carl was the gent that cut my hair. He is a Giants fan but I didn’t hold that against him and he didn’t hold that fact that I’m an A’s fan against me.
if you have a low car be careful pulling into the parking lot.

I was looking for a new barber after my old one retired. I wanted a barber not a some super cuts salon. I found Carl’s on line and they’re great. They remembered me after just one or two visits. They are very nice and I always get a great haircut.

Unfortunately, I have to give Carl this bad review. As soon as I walked into the barber shop with my 3 year old son to get his haircut, Carl was rude. He looked at me and said, ‘if he’s gonna kick and cry I can’t have him in here. We don’t do kids unless they are at least 4′. I told him that my son would not, and if he didn’t need a cut so desperately I would have walked out. Luckily the woman in the shop got my son and was wonderful with him. My son was quiet the whole time. Carl never said a word or even a thank you for the business.

No ty, i did not like my hair cut. I also didnt like the fact that the male barber pushed me off on his female coworker. He finished a haircut and i was next. So he looks to some that was not even there for a hair cut and asks him to get in the chair let me trim your hair. The guy said well its not necessary but carl insisted. He finished that and asked another guy who was after me to get in his chair. Looks right at me and said she will take care of you. Hmm well needless to say i was a little pissed. So i said to myself how bad can it be. She asked me what number clipper and that was about it. She told me she cut hair for forty years. Well i did not like the hair cut, and hated the way i was treated. My hair is uneven looks bad…
I can say with confidence, if your not a regular you will be treated poorly.

This is a great barber shop. It’s always busy but that’s a by product of doing great work. Carl is great and so is the woman that cuts for him. She did the best hair cut I’ve ever had recently. They do a strait razor on the neck which is awesome. Recommended to me by my cousin and I won’t go anywhere else. 2 years of great experiences here!

CARL has been cutting my hair for @ least 35 yrs now… lol. I 1^st went to his Shop @ the Sheraton @ Fisherman’s Wharf, in SF… Then lost track etc.
Fortunately, ran in2 him some 15+ yrs ago. ALWAYS get the ‘perfect-​cut’, @ a Fair-​Price. + he looooves the GIANTS like I do…:)

I was a tad apprehensive about trying a new barbershop, but having no car and big plans to party in the city tonight, I had no choice but to find something within walking distance of my home. The odds were ever in my favor when I found this place on Unilocal!The reviews convinced me that this place was worth a shot.
When I got there, they were kind enough to let me park my tricked out scooter in the corner of the shop, and I was able to sit down in a chair right away. I had the vaguest idea of what I wanted, but I knew I had to style up my combover somehow. I described what was going on in my head and my barber went right to work cleaning me up. Bonus points for cleaning up the fuzz and sideburns with a real razor and cream treatment.
This shop had a real classic vibe.
Tip: Get a hair cut in the afternoon, so you can watch the sun set behind Alhambra High School.

Awesome… what else can I say… Carl and Laura are the best at what they do. No smoke and mirrors. Just a good old-​fashioned hair cut for a good price with friendly barbers /​hair stylists. What more can you ask for?

Awesome! After reading the Unilocal reviews I had to check this place out. Came here earlier this morning and caught Carl just as he was about to leave for somewhere (sorry!)
Showed him a picture of how I wanted my hair cut, then Carl proceeded to work his magic! About 15 minutes later I’m a happy camper with a clean cut! He even did a straight razor around my sideburns and nape of the neck. That was the first time I’ve ever had that, double awesome points.
Thanks Carl, I’ll definitely be coming back often!
ps I like the music selection he plays here, reminds me of stuff my dad would listen to.

I agree with all the previous reviews. Carl is fantastic — an old-​fashioned barber who gives a great no-​frills haircut at a very decent price, and a very nice guy too. Where else can you get a shave with an old timey straight razor? I went through 3 other barbers when I moved to Martinez, haven’t switched since I found Carl’s.

Just like the old days! A real barber that does a great flat top and cleans up with the straight razor. Not going anyplace else now.

Best barber! I have only gotten my hair cut here for about 5 years!

I tried this place and agree with the reviews! Great old fashioned haircut; nice people and close to home! I will be going here from now on.

No fru fru stuff here. Just a good old-​fashioned barber shop. Awesome!

Carl knows my «style» and makes it easy to have a haircut. Like the other reviewer said the quality is first rate and Carl is a great guy. He talks just enough but not too much. I’m glad I found him.

A great traditional barber shop.
Quality of the cut is first rate and prices are very low.
The folks here are friendly and the service can’t be beat.

I have been going to Carl’s for close to 10 years now, since before this current location when Carl was in in Pleasant Hill. Given dollar to benefit level 5 star.
Not sure what one looks for in a barber but here is what I want. Consistent, does a better job then $upperCutz, is less frilly then a salon, and willing do what I need.
Well that’s what you will get at Carl’s shop. He has handled everything from boring business cuts, a shaved head and full mohawk. And he ends the cut with a close straight razor shave on the neck. Freaky the first time but not cuts after probably many dozens of visits.
A couple of quick notes: Cash only (I always forget and have to run to the ATM), closed on Sun/​Mon, and best to get there mid morning.
And if there is more then one barber working, wait for Carl.