This is a great shop! I brought my 13 month old for an actual hair cut (NOT from a kids cut spot which are horrible) and they did an excellent job! While their typical clientele Are not children, they were excellent and welcoming and we were very pleased with the experience! Alyssa was so patient and took her time even when my babe started getting wiggly. He has lots of hair and has had a few kids cuts before and they were not even close to this level of precision. The shop is new and pretty and they offer whiskey and beer while you wait . A great addition to the neighborhood so stop in and check them out! We are glad we found this gem! read more

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Really wanted to like this place and the haircuts are solid, but the service is consistently terrible. I understand that things often get delayed at a barbershop and you need to be a bit flexible. But rushing to get there on time only to sit and wait for FORTY FIVE minutes while the stylist finishes their last cut...and make ZERO effort to wrap things up somewhat quickly? No. This happened twice in a row. There is no way they would extend this same flexibility to a similarly flaky customer. Trying to avoid this mid-afternoon buildup of delays, I scheduled a morning appointment only for the stylist to text me directly and cancel outright because of car issues, offering an 8pm haircut instead. Lol, yeah, no. FAIL. Some of the other reviews here are spot on: the attitude at this place is one of thinking WAY too highly of itself and reeks of too-cool-for-school, try-hard hipster BS. Choose one of the other many nearby shops that actually show they care about keeping your business and respecting your time: Tailor Barber, Old Town, etc. read more

I really wanted to like this place, but I just couldn't. I wound up waiting an extra 35 minutes to get my beard shaved so goofy. The inexperience of this place is so obvious and the staff act so unprofessional. I literally was bleeding across my entire face after my shave and when I got home I had to shave it myself immediately! Really friendly staff they just don't know what they're doing and they don't care about your time. read more

Taking a gamble on a new haircut and hairdresser can be stressful, but Jay has been great. Always happy with the haircut. She never has me wait past my scheduled time, and I've just been able to walk in and get right to the haircut. I don't usually get a drink since I seem to schedule around work hours, but you can grab a bourbon with the haircut too! read more

My family lives in Chicago and I was visiting from LA for an extended period of time. Noticed my split ends were just horrendous and my hair lost all its body, so I decided to visit this salon and definitely wasn't disappointed. Nick & Nina are very professional, extremely friendly and they listen to what you need! I have trust issues with people touching my hair, so Nina put me at ease and gave me a fantastic cut. Would recommend to anyone and everyone. read more

Getting a haircut with a new stylist is always anxiety provoking. My experience with Nina put all of those fears to rest. After 60+ years of having my hair cut, I am delighted to say the short haircut I got at the Black River Barbershop is among the best I have ever had. Every aspect of my visit - including pricing - was just right. If you are looking for a stylish, short haircut, put yourself in Nina's hands. You are guaranteed not to be disappointed. read more

I've been going to Nick for a handful of years now, and he is truly one of the best. After just the first few months of going to him in the beginning, I kept wondering when he was going to open up his own shop because he's that good! It's great to see he finally did it. He has an attention to detail and skill that few have, and he really takes his time to give you the best haircut. Seriously, I've never had a barber or stylist spend as much time perfecting my hair as he has. Nick has been working with Nina for a couple years or so, and the cuts she gives her clients are definitely top notch! Obviously, I can't abandon my guy but I would be very happy be one of her clients. They opened Black River recently and recruited a few others who I have no doubt are also super skilled given their high standards. Thank you for moving to a much more convenient location off the Western Blue Line! read more

I have been following Nick for years. I am on his 3rd shop stop. He's an artist with the clippers. I always just let him do what he wants because I trust him. Highly recommend him! The atmosphere of the shop is very cool, but also quirky/ and outdoor like at the same time. Love the old school feel. Prices are very fair. I have always told Nick he needs to charge more. He's the best! And they have a great selection of drinks and products. read more

Nick and Nina are the best. I followed them here from their previous location and I couldn't be happier about it. The shop is right off the Western Blue Line, kiddie corner to it so it is very easy to get to. Their haircuts are always the best and that's why I will always come back here. the way they designed the shop looks so cool and well put together. It's definitely a reflection of their styles and passions. There are mounted busts of animals on the walls, old civil war photos mounted in frames displaying haircuts that are still in fashion today, and among other cool things a complimentary drink fridge stocked with beer, water, and whiskey. The location is great too if you end up coming early for your appointment. Its right across the street from Dark Matter Coffee and Next door to a comic shop, so I like to show up a little early for my appointments and grab a drink and a comic book and post up. All in all, I highly recommend Black River Barbershop read more

Wow Wow wow! Went in looking for something new and Shelby hooked it up. She nailed the cut.. it was exactly what I wanted and she is such a lovely soul! I'll be back! read more

This place runs off gimmicks more than off quality of work and service. I needed a new local barber after moving to the area, gave this place a try because it looked solid from the outside. But what's on the inside is what really counts, and from what I observed these people are not good people. I heard several occasions of customers and other stylists being bad mouthed when they left or weren't around, and this was only in the roughly hour and a half that I was there. It's not welcoming, it's not right, and it's not acceptable. It's just a complete lack of professionalism. Don't waste your time supporting and being around people like that, you'll just end up with an ok haircut and heartburn. read more

Highly recommend seeing Nick and Nina. Hands down the best haircut I've received. It's clear they really love what they do. No doubt I will be going here for my haircuts. A+ read more

I had my hair cut here a few months ago and was really happy with the results. Beyond a great hair, this place has a really great ambiance with a ton of personality. The staff is also amazing. I had a scheduling issue and they went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. As a female who has gotten plenty of over priced hair cuts in fancy salons in the past, I would highly recommend Black River to any guy or girl! read more

Megan is one of the best barbers out there. She is easily the best at cutting my black son's hair, and she's great with mine as well (white dude with curly-ish hair). She's really exceptional. I highly recommend her, regardless of your texture. She's also super cool and a great conversationalist. You can't wrong. read more

Great location and great haircuts. Easy to book haircuts online, and the shop is a hop and a skip away from the Western blue line stop. Got my hair cut with Nina and she was great (yes, they also cut female hair!), I cannot recommend her enough. The atmosphere of the shop is warm and inviting, but also quirky/original at the same time. Love the decor and people there. Prices are fair, and they have great hair products for sale as well. Also side note--great people-watching opportunities and views of people dancing at big city swing across the street if you get your haircut facing the street. read more

The first of many reviews starts here. As a fellow stylist in the industry I want to express my deepest sincerity of how I support the community with loving and supporting all of my stylist friends, associates, and colleagues. Therefore I will go on to explain many reasons of why not to support black river. As I walked in late due to mishap of my Uber and taking a 15 minute on average at that to support a shop of a previous co-worker that opened their own shop knowing they do good work. I was 2 minutes late according to policy. Understanding people are late sometimes and being in the industry I have NEVER turned anyone away in the numerous years I've done hair. With conversation between the co-owner Nick I was told he respects anything his co-owner Nina says. Understood as well in respect of partnership but the way I was told that they won't accept me as a client that day was rude to say the least. Cowardly; Nick blocks me in every form and won't communicate on behalf of his business as I do not want to communicate with his partner that made the firm decision for a loyal (not only but stylist) client. With all of this being said I want people to understand that a run of the mill shop will treat you as a run of the mill client as well. If you can't wash your own towels then don't open your own business. Ps. Every other platform is next. ;-) read more

This place is amazing! Nina and Nick have outdone themselves and their combined energy make Black River stand out from the rest. The vibe is as chill as they are, their dynamic is unparalleled, and their fades and cuts are the sickest in the city. Not only do they pay the upmost attention to their clients satisfaction in the chair but they paid the upmost attention to every detail at the shop. Love them and this space the opened! read more

I've been going to Black River since they opened and couldn't ask for a better neighborhood barbershop. No I don't have tattoos, nor can I grow facial hair. I always feel welcome though and the people are great here. Jay has been my go-to for the past few months and she is THE BEST. She's easy to schedule with through the app and she makes me look like less of a nerd with her awesome style. Also lol to some of the reviews on here... I don't write reviews often but this place deserves it because they care. Try caring more: miserable people who leave 1 star reviews... Go get your hairs cut at Black River! read more

Hard to go wrong when you are offered a selection of beer and whiskey when you walk in! So convenient, great folks, and super detailed oriented. Will be back! read more

Been going to Nick for years - best barber in Chicago, and Nina is right up there with him! Shop is in a great location right off the blue line. Clean and professional service. Would highly recommend read more

I went to Nick and Nina on a recommendation about 6 months ago. I have been with them ever since. They are tightly booked, but always find a way get me in, with my ever changing schedule. They are always professional. I am always happy with my hair when I leave. I will be a regular customer as long as I have hair. And I will recommend them to anyone who is looking for a barber. read more

Went here after trying several other barbershops in the area. The people who work here are full of them selves and deliver crooked haircuts. Couldn't fade if their lives depended on it read more

This is a really great place to get your hair cut. The people are great. The ambiance is great. The service is great. If you're going, be sure to ask for Emma - she is absolute best. read more

Cool and swanky space. I followed Emma who recently joined this shop and had my first visit last week. Emma is not only one of the most talented barber stylists I've been to (and I'm 48 so many years of experience living around the USA) but she is meticulous in her method and is able to create the style that you want. I love that she checks in with you during the process to make sure you're happy with length and the direction of the cut. 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! read more

First time here, Emma is the absolute best barber in the city. Her attention to detail and the smaller areas people usually miss is amazing. I am very particular to my hair and who does it but with Emma I will come back and see her every time! read more

As a barber, I know good work when I see it. The entire crew at Black River is METICULOUS. They are at the forefront of all the trends and can do virtually anything you can think of and they do it with passion. You won't be disappointed! read more