John Allan’s

Pretty mediocre. I’ve been a JA member at the TriBeCa location and had cuts at Wall St and this location near GCT and this is my least preferred of the 3. People working the phones act like they are doing you a favor taking your call. Greeters don’t offer you a drink and forget who you’re seeing. Making conversation with the 2 stylists I tried was like pulling teeth. I knew about their kids, their vacations, etc and would try to make conversation and was usually lucky to get a 1 syllable response. I don’t think either stylist I went to asked me 1 question. I’m not looking for a girlfriend here but I’d at least like to chat a little while I’m sitting there. The last time I was there the stylist interrupted my cut to count her tips. She always makes me wait for her too-​not because she’s with someone else. God knows what she’s doing in the back room. And, overall cuts are mediocre. Not paying $ 65+ for this nonsense any more. They advertise a premium experience but fall far short. Just had a great cut in the same neighborhood for $ 25 including tip. Never going back to JA.

Horrendous, disgusting place for service. My haircut was botched and both my ears were nicked by an untrained black female barber with two left hands. Even the shoe shine serviceman was chuckling about my haircut behind my back as I left. I had asked for a classic mad men part but left with a punkesque side shave. Looks like I made a detour from Burning Man. Couldn’t believe I wasn’t having a nightmare. I’ll just say one thing to all the «human beings» there. Karma.

Had a great experience here! I received the full service which consisted of 30 min of: beer, hot towel, hair wash/​massage, hair cut, manicure and shoe shine. I didn’t receive the shoe shine because I don’t wear polished shoes, no big deal. Hair wash was relaxing, haircut looks great, Manicure was pain free. I would recommend this place to any guy looking to spruce themselves up a little bit.

Very bad experience here — haircut was one of the worst ones I have gotten in NY. The whole place feels cheesy and there are a lot of forced interactions with people who are just looking for tips.

Mixed feelings. I had a full service haircut + shave.
Let’s start with the latter. That’s a 2 star. The girl who did the job simply doesn’t know how to use a razor. She fumbled around with it for a few minutes and then resorted to a normal Gillette Mach 3 razor to finish the shave. Embarrassing.
Clearly, management needs to be blamed for cutting corners in recruiting, selecting and training the RIGHT staff. If anyone @ John Allan’s cared to learn how men’s shavings should be done, try either one of these:
— Ted’s Grooming Room in London (
)
— The Mandarin Barber @ The Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong (
)
Both places offer world-​class service in world-​class cities and cost less than JA in New York. And, yes, I think shaves are a men’s job, so please keep those black booted female ‘stylists’ away from razors. They just don’t belong there.
On to the haircut. This one was actually well done. The stylist wouldn’t probably qualify for the 2015 kindness awards, but she did manage to style my hair nicely. Well done on this one.
A last comment on the facilities. In a word, what a waste, of space that is! This place could turn so much more profit if it focused on getting the basics right (see above) and avoided the expensive distractions of a pool table, a bar and chairs the size of a Turkish divan. The result? An average and unnecessarily overpriced experience.

I had an amazing hot shave with Jesus at John Allan’s. I felt like I was in an episode of «The Sopranos». Its got that old school NYC barber shop feel to it, with more high end touches.
Making an appointment was a little stressful, though. The place is crazy busy and the reception is a bit chaotic. However, once you arrive the staff is very helpful. They have a coat check and the assistants will help you hang your jacket.
They have a nice bar with complimentary Sam Adam’s beer or coffee. You can also play pool (nice pool table) before or after your service.
I just had the hot shave and Jesus did a stellar job. I can tell right away if they know what the hell they are doing or not. I had my face and neck butchered by guys who don’t know how to handle a blade. Not Jesus — he moved quickly and gently giving the perfect close shave. The layers of hot towels felt amazing. This was also done in a walled off glass room that helped cut down on the busy noise from the main area.
I want to come back fore a hair cut next time. Overall I really liked this place and will return. I tried calling and leaving a message for my next appointment but no one ever called me back. If they had some kind of online booking system that would help (hint hint).

bought a gift card at the Chicago location which has since closed. They have not refunded my money or given any recourse after I have attempted to contact them multiple times.

Great service, great prices, great location.
I really was impressed by this place.
Had my hair done here few days ago.
WIll be back.

I need a hair cut and I had to it the best way. I’ve admire Jesus technique he is an amazing hairstylist. He has been my personal stylist for years. Where he goes I follow. The place is a little bit expensive but wroth every penny for an amazing haircut. I would recommend you for Jesus, he is professional hairstylist and will give you a good haircut, I always tip him around 20 $ because he is wroth it. Especially if you are a very picky person like I am he will get the job exactly the way u ask the haircut for.

Very nice experience — all very professional attendants offering full service: hot water shampoo /​condition before and after my cut, hot towel on the face and the a large comfy leather club seat for the cut.
If you are a first timer like I was (it’s 850 for an annual membership which includes unlimited hair cuts, manicures and shoe shines) as for Jesus he’s new and a great guy. Attentive, reserved and talented. I spent 60 for the cut and tipped him 10 which felt right– met I’ve ever paid for a cut but the results were very impressive and the experience was top notch.
Attractive women will be your handlers btwn chairs, classic rock playing softly in the background, old school men’s club fee, with a lot of Wall Street types mulling about. They serve beers if u want them or cappuccino
I’d go back for sure — too cheap to spring for the annual membership tho

Went here 2 years ago so not sure if it’s changed much. Tried a bunch of barbers but couldn’t find a decent one so thought I would spend extra and try a more expensive place. You basically pay for the décor and experience — shoe shine, scotch, etc. My haircut was no better than a Russian barber shop where I paid $ 15. Paid $ 60 for a haircut that was no where worth it. Part of the problem might be that there are a lot women barbers which typically aren’t very good at cutting men’s hair. If you really care about your haircut or are picky at all I would avoid paying $ 60. If you have a real simple haircut and like the experience then it’s for you.

full service cut and manicure was actually really good
But on a sanitation note… here is what happened…
was drinking a beer with a co-​worke by the 2 chairs at the opposite end of the bar, I was down to my last gulp, without paying attention, i finished it off and suddenly felt something in my mouth… i spit it out into the cup and realized it was a f*cking ROACH!!!
enough said.

Bad Hair Day
In the past I went to John Allan’s so hot Eastern European woman could massage my shampooed hair in a sensual way which feels like footsie for my scalp under the suds. Then, I get to take a hot towel to the face as I lounge back in a barber chair and feel my dirty pores become expunged. But the main reason, I go to John Allan’s is to have a heavily make-​upped, Italian looking stylist hand me a chilled mug of Samuel Adams who doesn’t butcher me when I ask her to cut one inch off my chosen curls. Sometimes, they mess up the one inch request yet if I get offered a chilled mug of Samuel Adams, I’m as happy as Jessica Alba’s personal trainer.
I’m not going to name names, because I’m an awful human being that doesn’t make the effort to ask for them in the first place. In past, I’d make an appointment with a stylist that laughed at my jokes which made this hair salon another open mike that I had to pay to perform in. I’d make an appointment with that stylist without knowing her name yet they kept records of whom you see; which is another bailout that midtown bankers can appreciate. Now for my last appointment, I said any stylist would do. Once I show up, I’m told that I’d be seeing the Male «Master Barber», which was an unexpected reveal like in end of The Crying Game but unlike that main character I got totally stiff.
I wanted to flea but was frozen with fear. It’s not that I haven’t been to a barber before but this guy was a good looking Greek guy, borderline Guido type but with higher morals and IQ as opposed to the silver haired, Italian Barber type that bathes in Brut cologne which sooths me like pictures of Al Pacino in any New York pizzeria. In LA, I used to see a gay, Latin stylist that I loved. He embraced my outrageous nature and there was something about that fluttering lisp that soothed my ears and put my hair at ease. But you don’t assign someone a male barber at a female dominated salon without asking if that’s ok first. When you get a massage, they ask you if you prefer male or female and that shouldn’t be any different here because spas and hair salons are the only accepted places where married men can get touched by other woman, guilt free.
Once he finished, I asked him if he thought I looked like a banker because the cut was shorter than I liked. Then, he combs my frizzy, gelled hair over to the side and says: Now, you do. Thanks for the pick me up Abdulla the Butcher. Finally, he flashes the mirror behind the back of my head and I nod in approval like I’m supposed to get excited over the part of my hair that I never get to see until my next hair cut.
Despite the shoe shine stand, pool table, manicurists, whiskey bar for members and robe tying service, John Allan’s is still a midtown banker’s club where one inch is all they have to cut so don’t go there expecting anything more advanced than that.

As others have stated on here, I too received a full service cut as a gift. It was a great experience… leather chairs, pool table, MANicure, hot towel (or cold in summer heat), shoe shine, and beer! It took me a few visits before I was sold. Some people have certain takes on how to cut hair. and even though all turned out good, I did not get the WOW. But then I received a cut from Amory… and now I am a member. Best haircut in years! Not sure why someone stated she was not that friendly in a review. I never got a bad vibe from her. Plus if I finish my drink, she has one brought over immediately! I feel like a king!
Pros:
— Fast Service — U book 6:30, you are in the seat at most 10 minutes.
— The guys who work there (shoe shine/​server/​etc) are jack-​of –all trades! Always up for a good conversation and get you your drink of choice (beer, coffee, etc).
— MANicure… no nail polish here. And done by a cute girl!
— Appointments — If you are a member you can set-​up standing appointments. Go every 2 weeks or 3 weeks.
Con:
— Tipping: It sometimes gets confusing remembering names. They recommend placing your stylist’s name and time and the service and they will get it to them, but I generally like to hand deliver.
Overall it is a great atmosphere. If you want to go for that «Babe Ruth» treatment (shoe shine, haircut, manicure… and I hear shave may be coming soon too) this is a place to try! And when you factor the price of a membership into how many times you will go, it is not a bad deal!

I am unfortunately no stranger to the world of expensive haircuts. For years, I’ve been rather loyal to a great place in the east village where paying higher prices earns you someone who takes their time to give you an awesome haircut every time. Cleary, the same rules do not apply at this midtown mishap.
As a birthday present last year, I received a gift certificate to John Allan’s and decided I would check it out – it has pretty good reviews and is closer to my neighborhood. Unfortunately, my little experiment went down in FLAMES.
Enter Amory: My cigarette-​stinking, pissed-​off, nervously-​hurried and mute hair stylist.
I have been on some terrible dates in my life that seemed to pale in comparison to the uncomfortable 10 minutes I had to sit in this woman’s chair. I was the last customer on a Friday night at 7, and it couldn’t have been more obvious that this lady just wanted to get the hell out of there, and worst of all for me, it showed clearly in her work.
With the kind of arrogant indifference usually encountered by people working the door of a popular club, this woman seemed to suggest that I was somehow inconveniencing her by showing up for a $ 60 haircut PLUS tip that would cost her 10 minutes of her time. My feeble attempts at polite small talk were met with overstated cold stares, silence and a furiously swinging pair of shears and comb that hit my face and ears way to many times for this woman to ever consider herself a professional, or at the very least, worth the inflated prices they charge at John Allan’s.
Once she was done speeding through my hair, it was clear that this lady had successfully given me the shittiest cut I’ve had in years, depositing half the hair that came off my head down my t-​shirt and leaving long uneven hairs over my ears that I had to fix myself when I got home.
If you want a crap-​result for big money, be sure to ask for Amory at the midtown branch of John Allan’s. Otherwise, find someone who has the slightest amount of pride in what they do for a living and move on to a better place… which in this town, is never further than the next block.

Been a member for 3 years. The décor is awesome with the industrial feel and modern art. The membership package called the full service entails nail cutting, hair cut, shampoo, beard trim, a beer and a shoe shine. The fact that it is unlimited you can go as much as you want or need. Highly recommended for any dude in this crazy city.

I never thought I would go and get a manicure, but when Thanksgiving rolled around, and I figured that I needed a new haircut anyways, might as well try it out.
From the moment I stepped into the small, unassuming space, I felt comfortable here, and was given a beer and a smoking jacket.
After relaxing and drinking some beer, I got a shampoo, scalp massage, and a facial hot towel.
Then on to the haircut.
Wonderful work, the stylists know what they are doing. during the cut, I received a manicure too. Never did that before, and it was really relaxing and my nails look awesome.
Beer was replenished whenever it was low. The whole multi-​tasking of it was great. Beer, haircut and manicure all at the same time.
To finish it off, I got a great shoeshine, and then took to the streets, feeling great.
Highly recommended for any dude.

Did you ever see The Pope of Greenwich Village? Do you remember the scene where Mickey Rourke is going to see «Bed Bug» Eddie and he get his Mack Daddy on? He gets a Hot Shave, Haircut, shoeshine and a Mani before the sit down. I always thought that was a cool move. Well, you can get the same groove on at any one of John Allans stores in NYC.
I chose the Full Service — a Shampoo with a deep scalp massage, Hot Towel, Manicure and haircut along with a shoe shine.
The Shampoo was amazing. They added some type of mint leaf to the mix, my hair is still tingling. The massage felt so good, it was really cool.
Next, I’m escorted to a barber chair that leans waaaay back. Then, I’m covered in a hot towel. Now, I have a head cold and with the towel over my face and the chair facing the ceiling, I feel like I’m getting water boarded. The person comes back and then gives me a cold towel. Nice…
I meet the incredible «Linda» who not only brought the knowledge of her craft, she gave me a decent haircut. Then, Gina comes by and gives me a great manicure, I’m really loving it here.
Everything was solid until they offered me a coffee. They put it down and of course there was hair all over the cup. Yuck man.
Linda is finished and I’m now escorted to a shoe shine dude. (Coffee would be good now but, oh well)
After all the treatments, I’m looking all bad ass! I have to tip everyone who got me looking all fresh. I didn’t see the shampoo girl but I hooked up everyone else who gave me great service.
They try to sell me the yearly plan for $ 850. If I lived in the city, I would jump on the deal. There is too much for me to experience in my NYC so I have to pass.
(The next time I’m in the area, I’ll ask for Linda again :)

This is one of the more «challenging» reviews I’ve written thus far — for a few reasons. First, I used a «Groupon» (if you don’t know it, check it out — amazing deals). Second, the day I had my appointment was an insane, nonstop day — so my mind was a complete jumble.
I got the full service. Normally $ 65. Groupon price: $ 35. Included a shampoo, condition, hot towel for face, two beers (Sam Adams), manicure, cut and style. For $ 35 an incredible deal. I’m not sure it’s worth $ 65. Some additional thoughts:
1. A great gift option for a man in your life
2. The place makes you feel like you’ve gone back 20 years to an elite men’s only club — you decide if this is a good thing
3. Unbeatable service from the time you walk in the door. They take your bag. They get you a drink. And they start ON TIME.
4. Bridal parties get to go and get «done up» the morning of a wedding — why not the groom’s party? This would be a pretty great experience for a group of guys the morning of a wedding.
5. Average haircut. Not bad, but not spectacular.
6. You have to tip several people: the lady who washes your hair, the lady who trims your nail, the person who takes your bags, and the person cutting your hair.
If you want to splurge, go here (or if you don’t mind dropping $ 65 plus tips) on a cut.

I’ve been a member here since 2007. I really love this place. I pay an annual membership fee ($ 750 I think) and I go as often as I want for a great scalp massage and shampoo, haircut, manicure (a first for me when i first started going) and a shoe shine (not to mention a drink handed to me when i sit down). I don’t have to pay for anything extra other than gratuities for the people who take care of me.
Im one of those kinds of guys that used to get his hair cut every 7 weeks because it was a pain in the ass, and costly. Male grooming was never my obsession and it still isn’t. Now I go every two weeks and my hair is kept looking good, and my wife complains my fingernails look better than hers. Its the one thing I do to pamper myself every few weeks.
The staff is so nice and friendly.
Leah does my shampoo and scalp massage. She is so sweet. She probably spends more time on me than she is supposed to but I don’t complain. I always ask for her when i walk in.
Kim cuts my hair. She does a great job and she is one of the nicest people I know. I love talking to her as she works.
Sandy now does my manicures. She gives me an amazing hand and lower arm massage as part of the treatment. It feels so incredible. I ask for her now every time I make my appointments.
I have NEVER had a bad experience with anyone since I’ve been going here.
They also do pedicures and massages for an extra charge. I’ve gotten a massage here once. It was really really great. Very professional
I STRONGLY recommend a membership at John Allan’s for a guy that wants to be pampered for 30 – 40 minutes every few weeks. Its a nice way to take some of the daily stress out of your life.