Signature Barber Shop Now Open on U Street

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by Prince Of Petworth August 14, 2016 at 10:22 pm 14 Comments

1019 U Street, NW

Last month we learned Signature Barber Shop was coming to the former 4NXC, and long vacant, space on U Street. Now open:

“Signature Cuts and Shaves is a vintage barbershop for men that specializes in scissor cuts and straight razor shaves in the heart of historic U Street.”

mcd

High end barber shops aren’t for me…. Full disclosure – I was in the military for a long time so I am used to the $8 (literally) 5 minute hair cut from the random barber at the barber shop. Sometimes it was good, sometimes it sucked, but you know what is great about hair- it grows out.
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I got out of the military and was introduced to the $35 dollar (on the low end) barber shops here in DC. It blew my mind a little at first. My hair isn’t that complicated. It shouldn’t take 30 minutes. I don’t want you to wash it. I don’t care if you blow dry it because I am going to go home and shower off all this cut hair, so why bother.
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All that said- I will throw in a plug for Victor’s Hair Salon on 8th and T. Good family owned place. It is still a 35 dollar haircut, but I feel like I get my money’s worth there. Good people, good haircut. Will always have my business.
- GBinCH
  
  How much is this place? If it’s priced like some of the other trendy barber shops (Barber of Hell’s Bottom), then $35 might be a little optimistic!
  .
  The funny thing is that there are so many good neighborhood barbers in DC. I live in Columbia Heights, but have been going to Camillo Damiano’s for a decade now. I love the place and, although the prices have crept up a little, a basic cut is still $18 and takes all of 20 minutes.
- P. Lecheval
  
  $35 for a man’s haircut in DC these days actually isn’t that bad. The proliferation of these places around town that charge well north of $50 for a man’s haircut in order to fund your stylist’s poorly-executed tattoos is nauseating. Some people just want a haircut, that’s all.
- MDM
  
  You can get an extremely good cut at B&C at 18th and S NW for $25 (including tip). i don’t think I could ever justify spending more than $30 for a haircut, unless it was for a special occasion of some sort.
- Patrick
  
  I highly recommend Victor’s as well. He and Irma are solid people and they take their time with each customer. Many customers, like myself, have become friends through the years.
spookiness

You can’t judge a book by its cover, but nicely designed signage probably doesn’t turn people away.
- Hmmm
  
  I just noticed it says established “2015”
  - spookiness
    
    I noticed that too. Thinking, maybe the business is moving for somewhere else, or the opening has been held up for various reasons but the sign was designed and paid for prior to now.
    - Hmmm
      
      My guess is the later. They probably acquired the lease (or bought the building) last year and it’s just taken a while to get the place done up and open. If I remember correctly, this unit was a bit of a dump so they must have had a lot of work to do before opening.
Tworthton

I thought straight blade shaves were not allowed by DC health code/law.
- anon
  
  I’m not sure – but that sounds like some type of dumb law DC would have on the books.
- stacksp
  
  Plenty of DC barbershops offer straight blade shaves. I get it myself at HIS Grooming Lounge on Penn Ave. It could very well be “against the law” technically I guess.
*

Just was DC needs; another $60 men’s haircut place with a forced “bespoke” vibe. The hipster is dead, long live the hipster.
heffieb

While my hair was short I went to the barber shop in the basement of the Dept of Energy. I think it was $12 for a scissor or clipper cut and an extra $3 for a razor cut.. Very old school and relaxed. I and another woman with very short hair were the ladies mentioned in the blurb below. We got the same haircut as the guys and paid the same price (which was nice, as many places charge you more for the same cut it if you are female).

The Forrestal Barber Shop, The Razor’s Edge, accommodates both ladies and gentlemen for cuts only. Service is by appointment only from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday. The Razor’s Edge is located in Room GD-020, and appointments can be scheduled by calling (202) 586-1615.

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