Jack the Modern Barber Shop

Given that they cater to men I didn’t find that were particularly knowledgeable nor did they know how to deal with my cowlicks properly…
I guess all they know how to do is shave a head.
They also refused to give my wife a fade (traditional mens cut) because she’s a woman. I thought they only specialized in men, not that they were actually discriminating.
I have yet to encounter any «woman’s salon» that refused me service because I’m a guy. Furthermore, all those other places actually knew how to deal with my hair ad offer up solid advice on products.

My hairstylist of 15 years suddenly shut his doors with no notice. That’s pretty nerve-wracking…having someone new do your hair after such a long time.
So, I found this place. I’ve had 2 cuts now.
I don’t ask for anything too crazy, Jennifer (the woman who worked on my hair), did a decent job both times. Finding a new stylist is a process. The first time out, she got it to about 85% of what I wanted. The second time, after a couple of adjustments, she got it to 95% of what I wanted. I have no doubts that on my next visit, it will be exactly what I want.
My stylist is very competent, professional and friendly. The MVP treatment for 1^st-​timers is excellent.
This place does need a bit of a facelift as it’s starting to show a little age.
Like any place, especially with hairstylists, you just have to find the right one and any other shortcomings are easily overlooked.

A great, comfortable guy’s hair styling place. I’ve been a customer for 4 years, and they are consistent, attentive and aim to please. Unlike some unisex salons where they are frustrated with cutting men’s (more basic) hair, this place is happy to accomodate any request-​and if you are not satisfied will do their best to make it right. Online booking available.

This review is from my husband, who doesn’t have a Unilocal account. He had not had a haircut at a real hair salon in a long time. He was one of those guys who didn’t believe in paying for haircuts and always made me cut his hair. Eventually I got annoyed enough by the constant complaints and requests to fix this part or that part (I’m not good at cutting hair) that I did some research and sent him to Jack.
His first haircut was pretty decent, and he really liked the complimentary massage for first timers.
The second time, he was just about to start a job hunt. Went in with a request for a «relaxed professional» style — something suitable for a young engineer to go to interviews with. Even brought along a reference photo.
The resulting haircut looked like something Trent Reznor might have approved of: strangely shaped, faintly reminiscent of a faux-​hawk, with one extra long, asymmetrical chin-​length lock hanging in the front. How that could possibly be interpreted as «relaxed professional» is beyond either of us to guess. It looked nothing like the reference photo, either.
It was so bad that the first thing he did when he got home was pick up the scissors and lop that weird lock off. After that he made an appointment at my salon, which is unisex and doesn’t have sports, but fixed up his hair into something that he could actually interview in. Also, the scalp and neck massage was included for free.
Even if this were a $ 15 haircut place, he still wouldn’t go back. Sorry, but hair stylists/​salons just aren’t allowed to have off days.
04 Apr 2013 edit: I received a message from Helen, the owner of Jack, apologising for the experience and offering a free haircut. Hubby has decided not to accept the offer, but we’re both pretty impressed with the level of care for customer satisfaction, so I’m bumping the review by a star.

Haircuts are expensive, over $ 46 with tax. Cut always is a little too short. Ladies are very nice, friendly and service gets it the two stars. Otherwise it’s a pass.

I’ve been here a few times now so I figured I’d help my fellow dudes out because I know how nerve-​wracking it can be to lose your barber/​stylist to free agency, trades, reassignment to the minors, retirement, etc and have to find a new one.
Things I like about this place are:
— The «guy» atmosphere. You can’t turn anywhere without a TV in your face with a live sporting event showing.
— The staff are a solid, professional roster of stylists. Should challenge for the division title this year.
— Appointment booking is very easy. Online bookings get a very quick response. The quick response is even more appreciated when the time you want isn’t available and you have to coordinate a new time.
They also have a good selection of hair and grooming products out front.
The one missing piece that I think would make this a championship team? A straight razor option for grooming or trimming. There’s nothing like warm shaving cream & the skilled hands of a stylist to clean it all up.

Love the atmosphere, love the concept and when I first started going here, I loved the service.
However, like in sports, you’re only as good as your last performance.
And quite frankly, the last performance by a stylist there SUCKED.
The stylist I’d been happily going to for about 6 months exercised her free agency and moved back to Ontario, but I liked Jack enough I wanted to stay a fan. That meant trying a new stylist; this one was from points east as well, from Manitoba.
Hope they didn’t give up too many draft picks for her, though, ’cause the new stylist really dropped the ball.
I even gave her a photo of myself, showing how I wanted my hair cut, and was very explicit in my instructions.
Obviously, she wasn’t very coachable.
She still cut it too short. WAY too short.
I expressed my dissatisfaction when I was paying, explaining to her that she cut it much shorter than I had instructed her to.
Her response?
«Sorry.»
That was it. No offer for a discount then or in the future, nothing. Not even a free baseball card.
In my world, if you’re sorry, you show that through some action, ’cause actions speak louder than words. It’s real easy to mouth the word, «sorry» — but I need more than that when you’ve just butchered my hair. (I couldn’t get it cut for four months, it took that long to grow back to the length I like. I felt like Samson after Delilah had shorn his locks).
Management could have done more to rectify the situation; obviously, you can’t put the hair back on my head, but offering me a free cut would have probably at least enticed back once more (albeit, four months later).
But, they offered me nothing. Nada.
In the meantime, I found someone else to cut my hair for about the same price, and she does a much better job.
So, despite all the other pluses, I will NEVER go back to Jack.

A great escape from the overpriced shi-​shi salons and the discount «hair cutters» that populate the city. JACK is moderately priced, has a great «guy» atmosphere, clean and professional… and the staff are wonderful.
Definitely make an appointment! (I’ve tried to walk-​in many times before, and they’re just too busy.)
Also, NEW COMERS receive a FREE MVP treatment! (A shampoo, condition, warm face towel and extended scalp massage.)

Not as luxe a space or complete an experience as other men-​only salons (MR. in San Francisco, Halo in Chicago), but do you really need a paraffin treatment or glass of wine with your cut? I have to second Jonathan T.‘s recommendation of Marginni — she knows men’s hair.

ok — $ 18 for a buzz. for someone with über short hair, a price like that is a god send. especially when they do it right.
the woman who buzzed my noggin was awesome. her name is marginni. pronounced mar-​JEANIE. she is the newest addition to my «favorite people in the world» list. she knew exactly what i wanted to do with my hair because she actually listened to what i was telling her. something fairly important in someone who’s about to cut your hair. and she gives the most awesome scalp massage ever. i was trying to hide my goosebumps of enjoyment because i was so embarrassed at what a great time i was having just getting a scalp massage.
come here for your next haircut gentlemen. then get what’s called the mvp treatment. it’s only 5 bones extra on top of your haircut. it’ll be the best $ 5 you’ll ever spend.

Get a great cut in a «guy» atmosphere – TVs tuned to sports & news, sports décor, surf the web while you wait. Excellent selection of quality grooming products. Try the MVP hot towel/​scalp massage. Talented, friendly female stylists. Support a Cambie Village business that survived the Canada Line construction.