Terminal Barber Shop

NEVER AGAIN. Honestly, I work in the dundas and yonge area, and I get hair cuts every 2 weeks. I usualy go to onyx or maybe even top cuts or some of the other smaller places around here which are many. I had yet to pay more than 25 $ for a hair cut and shave ANYWHERE around here… except for this place. When I first walked in, I guess it was the boss. older looking guy, said harcuts are 25.$. I thought it was a little pricey, but I was in a rush and I would have been next inline. So I took my hair cut. While im getting cut by the same «boss». he asks if I want a shave too. Im like, you can just use the machine and grade it down a bit for me, ill shave when I go home. Then he turns around and tells all his barbers working there. from now on, shave and cut is 35 $. I didnt say anything. cause he didnt say anything to me about that. besides. I didnt exactly get a shave. i got the machine with #1 on it passed around my face. thats it. Time to pay… you guessed it. 35 $ Im like. u passed the machine on my face. you didnt shave me. Hes like 35 $ sir. im like. ok if its 35 $ for shave too. ill pay, but I need my proper shave. Hes like sure. so I sat back in the chair, and rather than pulling out his razor blade and hot shaving foam like he should have for 35 $. he pulls out his other small little machine, and just marks my face a bit. .
Thats not how you do bussiness man. Theres no signs of prices. etc. and you made the price after I sat in the chair. effin rip off. Never again. Hair cut wasnt bad. but deff not worth 35 $. Back to Onyx for me. where 25 $ (which includes the tip) will get you an excellent haircut, and you will get to watch a cool movie while waiting.

The old school barber feel is refreshing. The quality and barber skill level is more like a 1 IMO.
I called prior to my arrival to ask how long the wait line is, I was told I could get seated right away if I got there soon. I work 5 min up Bay St (I walked pretty fast). Walked in and I was the 4^th gentleman to take a seat and wait with 4 men in the midst of getting a cut. I’m fine with waiting but don’t lie to the customer.
The barbers pretty much rushed every cut including mine. While I was in the chair a customer called and asked pretty much the same question I had, prior to coming in. The barbers response was «just come in». Keep in mind it’s getting close to closing time.
These guys here rush all cuts and pay no attention to detail and lack all skills of a quality barber. If you haven’t had a proper prior cut done you will likely get a bad haircut. It seems the goal at this shop is to get as many cuts done in a day as possible. Which is counter intiutitve to a proper barber. For 25.00 $ plus a tip totaling 30 $ (I tipped good because I do appreciate the physical demand of cutting hair all day). I could have gone to my usually salon that charges 30 $ plus tip and the gentleman that cuts me there has way better skills with the machine and scissors and get a shampoo and head massage by a beautiful salon attendant included. But I was in a rush.
My final words are «Never again, who’s next?»

To the two idiots that gave this business bad reviews over Faith McGregor’s cry for attention, grow up.
Why on EARTH would you want a haircut from someone that doesn’t want to give you one?

Absolutely outstanding barber, in the old tradition. I got a great haircut and a fantastic shave. Highly recommended.

I must say that this was my first beard shaping and straight razor shaving experience in the GTA. My reference points are the babers of Istanbul, Turkey, where a high quality and quick haircut, beard trimming/​shaping and straight razor shave runs you about $ 10 in total! So it was already tough to accept the steep price of $ 55 for the same service but I guess that’s the price downtown. Unfortunately, the quality and speed lacked significantly at this place. I have decided that I am on a mission to find the best valued straight razor and beard shaping barber places in the GTA. This definitely did not make the list. The shaping was totally messed up and stuble was left all over my upper chin and lower lip area. I’m super disappointed with the lack of quality for that price. I believe my barber’s name was Ahmed located at the original spot. God bless for trying but I have to give this place a ³⁄₁₀ for value.

Came on a Saturday and literally got kicked out since they were too busy. Won’t ever try again.

I went there because of the good reviews. But my experience and haircut were absolutely horrible!

Awesome. I’ve been here a few times and am in and out in 25 min.

I’ve lived in this city for a long time, and seen a lot. The cut here is always great, and you’ll look sharp. You however need to be specific in what it is that you want, otherwise you’ll get that generic cut. I find their pace just right /​I hate sitting in a chair for longer than it needs to be. I can’t speak to the hot towel service to which some have commented in the below, but I see a many of repeat customers.

Best Barber Shop in town.
I have been been to a fair number of them in Toronto. I am rather picky about my hair cut, but these guys get it right every time. Makes that $ 22 well worth it.
The shop has early/​mid 1900s décor. Each of the 4 chairs are unique and have a history of where they came from. And here is the kicker, if you ask them, they will play Sinatra or a Dean Martin CD too. Which in my opinion make the experience it so much better.
Everyone should experience this at least once.

Great service! they are fast and efficient. I’m usually out within 20 minutes at most with no complaints. They do charge a bit more than some other places but I don’t mind the price. Love the décor as well. Feels like a real barber shop.

I come here for pretty much all of my haircuts. The service is exceptionally professional. They always have a tv on silent playing the news, and jazz is always playing over the air (the owner apparently is a huge jazz lover). The folks are very professional. I’ve always gotten a simple cut, and these guys have always been terrific.
That said, if you are looking for a cheap 10 dollar haircut this is not the place to go.
Also, depending on the time of day, do prepare to wait for 10 – 20 minutes, just due to the sheer popularity of this place. If you don’t want to wait, you can head around the corner on Dundas to Terminal Barber Shop 2.

A reliable, classic old school barber shop. Cuts are quick, reasonably cheap ($ 22), and reliably good. It has a nice, warm, old fashioned feel inside. They even finish off your sideburns and neck with a straight razor. Probably not the place to go if you’re looking for the latest trend but if you just want a good, basic cut check Terminal Barber out.

I gave this place a try because of reviews I read and the fact that it’s the oldest barber shop in the city. I walked in at 4:15pm on a weekday and was out before 5, and that’s with all 4 chairs already busy with customers. I had to wait less than 10minutes, most of which I spent perusing some splendid magazines (mainly consisting of «Life») that actually were interesting to go through and were not out dated which was greatly appreciated by me.
The chairs are indeed fun to sit on, but in all seriousness, they are nice to look at and are not uncomfortable but nothing really special that it brings in a practical sense. I sat on the Hercules brand chair from 1901 Chicago (according to their website). The haircut was $ 22 (Shaves went for $ 27). I should have read the info here better as credit cards are not accepted and plastic was all I had. I mentioned this before I sat down and my barber indicated that it was fine and I could pay him later. He then went straight to my hair and it was nice to just tell him that I wanted it short but not too short, and the direction in which I brush it before he set to work (I have extremely uncomplicated hair). He was quick, not overly talkative but very friendly and kept it simple. A mini head rub was also included which I always enjoy! :)
After the cut, he was perfectly fine in me leaving to get cash which I don’t know if any big time hair places would allow these days. He got a better tip as a result too.
I really enjoyed my experience, I’m not too sure if they are the place to go if you want some fancy dandy hair cut but for a simple cut I’ve not been to any place better in the city. I will make more trips there for certain!

Friendly, multilingual staff (I get to practise French); careful, precise haircuts; low prices. What else can you ask for?

Did you know that Woody Harrelson has received his haircut here? This is a cool spot for an haircut.
This is the oldest standing barber shop in Toronto! Since 1925, the «Boys Club on Bay Street» has been a downtown fixture at Bay/​Dundas, offering haircuts, massages and hot lather shaves in a classic barber shop setting.
I didn’t have time for a wet shave, but I’d try that even despite Paul R.‘s bad experience during his visit to the store. For $ 17.00 who can go wrong? That’s what they also charge for an haircut too, by the way. And for the professional cut that you get, that’s cheap. The key to a great haircut (for real men) is a good taper. Attention to detail in the taper and how the hair grows from the crown down into the taper will make or break your haircut. These guys know what they’re doing. I was fifteen years in the military — I know all about haircuts, and these guys are good.
They only accept cash — another reason I like them. You won’t feel badly handing them a twenty and turning down the change — I felt like a million bucks coming out of there. The chairs and furniture are ancient; old and sturdy. The barbers know their craft.
Why don’t you just come down yourself sometime and relax in your chair, watch the others get their haircut and when it’s your turn, relax and enjoy your time. No need for chit-​chat or anything. You’ll like this place; trust me!

I went to the Terminal Barber shop sometime ago for a straight razor shave. I have extremely sensitive skin and cut easily. I told the barber and he assured me it was no problem. It was a busy Saturday so I had to wait, which was fine, except that, unlike Trufitt and Hill, they begin to rush when they are busy. Let me tell you, rush and straight razor shave are two things that should never, ever, be done together.
I could feel it as soon as he started that my face was going to be burning and cut up when he was done. He did not heed my warning that I had sensitive skin. When I was done he said «looks good» and told me the price. I looked in the mirror and under my chin was full of little cuts. I pointed this out to him and he said «oh, lets try this» and he rubbed a little balm on the chin. That was it. I’m pretty sure the etiquette in real barber shops is that if you get cut, you don’t pay. To add insult to injury (literally!), when I got home I took a really close look in the mirror and he had missed a spot so there was a little patch of hair left.
This whole experience was entirely unacceptable. I wouldn’t complain so much if I hadn’t told them I had really sensitive skin (it’s borderline abnormally sensitive), but he was given fair warning and chose to rush.
I’ve never had a haircut so I can’t comment on those.

In my books, the best barber shop in the city. Why? Great cuts, great shaves (thanks Mustafah!!), great old-​world interior, antique wood and brass barber chairs, great music, no appointments needed, central location, friendly, hard-​working staff, and cheap!!! Did I mention cheap? If you’re a fan of Truefitt & Hill (which charges $ 38 for a haircut), get this: 17 bucks for the same cut at the Terminal… and unlike the atmosphere at T&H, the surroundings and feel of the Terminal Barber Shop are authentic.
Now, if you’re looking for a manicure, a facial, or some such… T&H is still the place to go. But when you need a trim? Terminal, period.