Jose’s Barber Shop

Good haircut, nice experience overall. More expensive than I expected ($ 25) and so probably will look somewhere else for a new regular barber.

I’ve had a number of good haircuts at Jose’s Barber Shop. Compared to many other places in the immediate vicinity, Jose’s is cheaper, better, and ultimately nicer.
My only real complaint is the location — because it is within an office building, the doors tend to lock quickly and Jose’s tends to close after normal business hours, meaning it’s a hair inconvenient for office workers.

I read the 4 and 5 star reviews and decided Jose’s was going to be my go-​to barber shop after arriving in DC. I went a couple weeks back for my first cut and was pleased with the level of professionalism.
The haircut itself was average or slightly better than average.
Jose’s brother knew it was my first time there and spent the majority of the time telling me about his customers and the frequency of their visits. The message was gentle but clear: «you should get your hair cut every two to three weeks…».
He asked if I wanted my neck shaved with a buzzer or straight razor and I happily replied straight razor, as this is the mark of an authentic barber, in my opinion. We chatted about that and he held similar views.
Great job on the shave.
So, good haircut, great shave, decent conversation… why only three stars?
Having read the Unilocal posts before going, I knew haircuts cost $ 20. In fact, the person leaving as I walked in also paid $ 20. When I said «what do I owe you,» he replied «$ 25 even.»
That $ 5 bothered me. I planned to spend $ 25 but figured $ 5 would be for a good tip.
Knowing I had to tip something (he did do, as I said earlier, a good job, and I planned to return), I handed him the other $ 5 in my pocket and wasn’t surprised that he quickly said thanks (barely audible) and turned around without offering change.
Yes, I could have insisted on a few dollars back but the damage was already done. Maybe he knew I was new or thought I wasn’t local and figured he could get free lunch out of the deal or maybe he decided I was too much work for $ 20, though I asked for, and received, a very basic trim.
Either way, I went in with high expectations and left disappointed.
Maybe that’s my fault but I’ve received better service in slightly smaller cities and, for $ 20 including tip, had a barber for life!
My experience was 2 stars but I admit that, if not for my expectations, it would have been 3 stars, hence the rating.

This is a great place for a men’s haircut. Unless you want to pay a ton of money, most other places will just take out the clippers and just slice up and butcher your hair. But for a solid price (usually ~ $ 20) you get a great haircut. The people there are extremely friendly and have been in DC since the 1960s. I was lucky enough to visit them my first month working in DC and I have been coming back ever since even though I work out in Arlington.

Good haircut for a decent price. They charged me $ 25 for a men’s cut, which is cheap for downtown DC. My barber was efficient and thorough.

My face got raped with a straight razor.
I was in Siberia for a month and when I returned I wanted to treat myself to a really nice shave off of the beard. I read that Jose’s did a pretty good job, so I went in and asked for a shave. Jose waved me off to one of his assistants who — was a very nice person — but proceeded to rape my face with a straight razor. No moist towel to begin with, barely used any shaving cream, and the razor was dull. I left 40 dollars poorer, bleeding from 4 spots, and with plenty of patches of hair still on my face.
Worst experience I’ve ever had at a barber shop.

A great place for an authentic shave. While growing out the winter scruff it was brought to my attention that I need to trim back my added layer of warmth and having tried all the new places I decided to go old school if you will. Jose did a fantastic job on cleaning me up, straight razor, hot towel and conversation. These are three things that every shave needs, everything else is just fluff. Don’t waste your time and money paying three times as much someplace else, go see Jose and be sharp and savvy within 20 minutes and leave with cash in pocket.

This is the best men’s haircut you’ll find, period. Jose’s been cutting hair since the 1960’s and knows how to make you look good. He still uses sissors, a straight razor and a head massager. You leave looking and feeling like you can take on whatever K Street has to offer. I went to Jose for years and even though I’m across the country now, I arrange my schedule to visit his shop when I’m in DC.