Came here for a trim, got one of the worst haircuts I had in years! Going to a new barber is risky. I tried someplace new and got burned! Avoid this barbershop! If I wanted to gamble with my looks I'd go to Supercuts, not here where it costs $40! read more

Had an appointment with one of the barbers and he cut my hair exactly as I told him: tapered on the sides and a bit longer on the top. When I got home and showered though, I realized that it was a bit too long on the top and didn't like the way it looked when combed to the side. Not the barber's fault but I still called Charlie's shop the next time I was free and asked if I could get it touched up. Charlie told me to come in the same day, any time I was free, and quickly fixed the top by trimming it a bit shorter. I really appreciated that he took the time to do that and now I like the look of my hair a lot better. I will definitely return here since they do great work and made me feel like they appreciated my business. read more

Nice and quick but I asked for a slight trim and they took WAY too much off :( Not happy.

Good people. Good haircuts. No appointment necessary. No waiting on the middle of the day. Go.

Michael Pach has tended to my hair for about 12 years. He was even able to finally convince me to go way shorter on the sides. He's always on time and great to chat with on politics, bikes, and the fate of the world. :) I highly recommend Michael! Charlie's great too! The reservation system work well BTW. read more

I have been going to Charlie's Barber Shop for years. Michael Pach is my barber, and he is great at his craft. He knows exactly what I need in a haircut and is a great guy to talk with. I highly recommend him. Ray C. read more

I posted a 1* review the other day, BUT IT WAS THE WRONG SHOP! Sorry, Charlie. YELP folks: can I have it deleted or can I modify my last post? read more

Michael is a great barber, he gives a quality haircut and the environment at Charlie's Barber Shop is great. Would recommend to get your cut from Michael! read more

First, let me say that I have been going to Charlie's for all my haircuts during the previous two years and I've always been satisfied, which is all I'm looking for in a haircut. But after today's experience, I will never again enter those doors... The barber was firstly quite brusque with the comb and it was a bit painful on my ear and scalp, but that's OK. Not the best haircut ever, but OK. THEN HE CUT MY EAR! This was with the electric shaver thing. At first he said there was "no blood" until I touched my ear and saw a bunch of red on my fingers... hmmm. He stopped, apologized and proceeded to clean up the blood. He kept saying it was "a small cut". It didn't hurt much, but it was bleeding quite a bit. He ended up PAUSING 4 TIMES JUST TO CLEAN UP BLOOD. After biking back to the office, I cleaned up a bunch of blood again and several co-workers during the day asked "what happened to your ear??". See picture, but I wish I took one before the blood dried! THEN HE CHARGED ME THE FULL PRICE. I delibrately didn't say anything, thinking that it was their one opportunity to consider coming back and they blew it, so a little consolation $ is ok. THEN WHEN I GOT TO THE OFFICE, I REALIZED THERE'S A HUGE CHUNK OF HAIR THAT HE DIDN'T CUT BEHIND THE CUT EAR. I think he kinda just got nervous and didn't touch that part of my head after the cutting incident. It was way longer than the other side. He had combed my hair in such a way that I didn't notice all the extra hair there at the barbershop. He probably wasn't necessarily trying to hide it on purpose, but stil, it meant I spent about 5-10 minutes trimming my own hair in the bathroom sink. BY FAR THE WORST HAIRCUT I'VE EVER GOTTEN IN 20 YEARS!!! STAY AWAY!!! read more

Charlie's Barber Shop - Barbers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

They take their time to understand what you want and they don't rush the process. My hair tends to stand straight up and out, but Michael takes the time to explain and make sure I get the style I want in the end. It feels like a barbershop and that's a good thing. read more

Quality haircuts from any of the barbers here. They listen to what you want and also offer suggestions if it seems off base like when I asked Michael to take an inch off my hair he asked if I wanted it spiky. I said no and he trimmed it to my liking based on our history and my liking. read more

Sharp, low-key, cash-only shop with good vibes. Michael and the rest of the staff clearly know what they're doing: tell them what you want, and they'll use their expertise to help advise you towards the best way to accomplish that. Michael had really friendly service, and still picked up that I wasn't in a very talkative mood today - which he respected. Now that I live in Porter, I'll definitely be coming back. read more

Charlie's Barber Shop - 3" fade Hair Cut - $35 - Barbers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Adam was respectful and professional. I am very happy with his work. He was thorough and didn't take too long.

COVID update: After letting my hair grow in all different directions, I was thrilled to see Charlie's open and just got a great haircut from Charlie, himself. I am going to describe my experience, hopefully this will be helpful: 1. Haircuts are by appointment only. No more walk-ins. 2. Charlie takes a number of excellent and well needed precautions, including checking your temperature, giving you hand sanitizer upon entry. 3. Masks stay on for both you and the barber. 4. Charlie sanitizes your chair, the barber 'tools' 5. There was one other person getting a haircut, who was seated 3 chairs down (well beyond the 6 feet recommendation). I was comforted by all the precautions. Despite all the changes, one thing remains the same: Charlie's excellent haircut. read more

Run of the mill barber shop. Haircut was fine. However, DO NOT get a shave here. You can see from the photos I added, would not stop bleeding for over an hour. Very painful experience, the barber rushed his work, missed spots, and broke skin much more than is acceptable. read more

Charlie's Barber Shop - At Charlie's we shave you with a chainsaw - Barbers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Michael has done a great job getting me ready for multiple job interviews. One employer said I almost got the job based off the haircut! Just kidding - but in all seriousness he does a great job. read more

I moved to Boston about a year ago and skipped around many barber shops. This one by far... the best barber I've been to. Haircuts are quick, precise, and cheaper than most! Charlie always makes time for his customers and works so well with you to get the haircut you've been looking for. If I could get only have one barber for the rest of my life, I'd choose Charlie from Cambridge read more

Charlie's is great. All the barbers there are very good at what they do. Just make sure to bring cash because they are cash only.

Friendly, clean shop. Not the best of cut. Gave them a photo of medium-long sidepart, got myself a short adventure of tintin hairstyle. Maybe just wasn't the best day for me. read more

I love this place! I started going because I had a pretty good barber in Arlington but it just took so long I couldn't afford to go during my lunch break and get back to work in time. Charlie and his barbers are very friendly but they don't waste time, so its the best of both worlds, you don't feel rushed but you also don't have to worry about it taking too long if you have somewhere to be. They all give great hair cuts, I prefer going to Charlie just cause I have been going to him so long and he's a great guy to talk to, but the other barbers are great as well and I don't hesitate to go with them if Charlie isn't available. Its reasonably priced (much more so than the bagel sandwich I splurge for next door every time, lol) there is parking etc. I live in Jamaica Plain so I am not that close, and there is a barber shop 3 minutes from my house but I still got to Charlie's cause its so great! read more

Charlie and Matthew are the best. Tried other barbers in Cambridge and Charlie's gave the best haircuts by far. Have been coming here now since 2015. Doing it right during Covid too! read more

Do not go to this place. I have wavy hair that's fairly easy and the barber went ahead and told me that my hair is difficult and that I can't get the haircut that I want. He literally criticized my hair the whole time and the haircut turned out just awful, my hair has never looked this bad my whole life, and I'm not exaggerating. In short, If you go to that place you'll get criticized for having bad hair so that they avoid doing a good job, so it's basically your fault. read more

Fastest haircut I've ever had (at least as an adult). Efficient, polite, professional. Minimal wait. I'm happy I finally found a satisfactory shop. They charge $25 per cut, unfortunately. cash only. (Maybe $25 is fair - market price has been stuck near $20 for a long time, despite inflation..) read more

These guys are the most dependable - always an amazing cut. I've spent up to $60 to get a haircut in the areas and find that Charlie's does a better job for a 1/3 of the price! I had Lucy today, who is new. While I was reluctant to stray from Charlie or Mike, Lucy did such an amazing job. Seriously one of the best cuts I've ever had. I hope she sticks around!! read more

I never write reviews.. serious I never write reviews. But my experience at Charlie's has always been amazing. I can walk in and without any worry, I can get my haircut by whomever is free and know it will be an awesome cut. I was worried at first that the variability in barbers may mean a worse cut (because they don't know my hair or how I like my hair cut, etc). If you tell them what you want and know exactly what you want, they make it perfect! I have had the coincidence of getting Reda as a barber for my last 4 cuts (I get one a month for the past year at Charlie's). He remembered me, remembered our talk, remembered my preference and was the most professional respectful a person could possibly be. He asked me every single step of the way for clarification on what I wanted. He thought of things that I never would have and I am so grateful that he asked his questions because my hair looks perfect. (example questions: do I want a fade from the top and the sides, do I want the side buzz to go until my part, do I want a hard part, do I want after shave, etc). If you come to Charlie's (and I recommend that you do), do not fret on who you get to cut your hair. They are all perfect! Thanks guys! See you next month! read more

I've been going to Charlie's for a couple years. I've mostly had Michael and Charlie cut my hair, but I've always been happy. A couple downsides that aren't too bad: 1) They only accept cash 2) There are no reservations so you never know how long the wait will be 3) Once you're there, you need to look around and remember who was there ahead of you, no place to write your name or anything, so it's a bit stressful That being said, the prices are fair and the cuts are good. I even take my five-year-old son there and he likes getting his haircut. Charlie gives him a lollipop at the end. Charlie's is a great place to have in the neighborhood. read more

Let me start by saying I loved the last haircut I got, from Michael. I had a new barber cut my hair this time, and it was very bad. She shaved off most of my hair after me telling her to give me exactly what I had last time and saying specifically what Michael told me he gave me. This seems to show a lack of synergy/communication among the barbers. I am virtually blind without my glasses, so I couldn't see until it was too late. Honestly, this was a mistake on my part, but I trusted this place after my positive experience last time. Lesson: always double check. She did make the haircut free, but I am still very displeased. I'd recommend a different barber, and when you go to one, stick with them so that this doesn't happen to you. read more

Charlie's Barber Shop has been the only place I go to get my haircut over the last three years! The barbers are super professional, efficient, nice, and friendly, and it's always a pleasure to work with them. Scheduling an appointment online is very easy, and they are very good with keeping on schedule. Highly recommended! read more

I moved to the Porter Square area the end of May and have been coming to Charlie to cut my hair since. The barbershop here is such a friendly atmosphere right on Mass Ave, and Charlie is so kind and the best barber I've ever had. No barber has ever given me such a perfect haircut in under 20 min. read more

I usually don't write negative reviews for places because I don't want to impact their business, but I felt like I had to speak up in this case. I got one of the worst haircuts of my life here a couple weeks ago. I decided to give it time to grow out before reviewing, because sometimes that makes a difference but not in this case. My mom had given me a haircut because of COVID, and it was ok, but not what I wanted. Neither of us had an electric razor, so she hand cut the sides, and while they were even they were too long. My usual barber still has not returned to work, so I decided to schedule an appointment at Charlies. When I got in, I explained the situation, and told him to just use the clippers on the side. Well, he used the clippers on the side, and things looked ok. Then he said he was going to use the thinning scissors, and started cutting the sides with them. Again, totally cool. But after he finished the sides, he immediately went to the top and started thinning without asking or consulting. I had told him not to touch the top, and he took off at least 2 inches. However, he left the front of the top (bang area) completely untouched, so my hair was ~1-1.5 inches for most of the top, and ~4+ at the front of the top. The cut is nearly impossible to style, and I need to spend at least 15 minutes on it to make it look halfway decent. Most of the time, I look like a unicorn with a horn of hair sticking up. In short, I didn't get the hair cut I wanted, the hair cut I got wasn't good, and it still wasn't cheap. If you want a slightly overpriced buzz cut, feel free to get it here, but if you're a guy looking for a good haircut go to another place, cause you won't get it here. EDIT: pics attached read more

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Highly recommend! I have been going to Charlie's for around 7 years now, even after I moved to NH 2ish years ago. I tried multiple barbers at multiple new shops up here and could not find one that matches the consistent experience I have at Charlie's. So now I make the drive to Cambridge when in need. Always a great cut regardless of who is in the shop and is in a great area to explore for those not from the Boston area. read more

I've been going to Charlie's for the past couple of years, and I couldn't be happier. As a graduate student, price is an important factor for me in choosing a barber, and I think Charlie's has the best price to quality ratio of anywhere around. Charlie has always given me a great haircut for an affordable price, and I greatly recommend him! read more

Just went there today, well worth it. My barber was reda and i have to say he knew what he was doing. Got a hair cut and beard trim, he was definitely a perfectionist. Going there always now. read more

Sometimes no frills is the way to go. Charlie's is a tiny barbershop. Three barbers, a handful of chairs in the waiting area and not much else. With no one managing the phone, the cash register or the line, it can be a bit hectic. That's where the beauty lies. Charlie is fast. Hair flies, scissors, snips and electric razors whir at the speed of sound. The barbers at Charlie's aren't just fast, they're also really good. They know what they're doing. Also, there's nothing sexier than a warm lather shave on the back of your neck. You might argue that's a frill, but I'll argue and say it should be a daily occurrence. Just remember, cash only. No frills include no credit cards. read more

From the reviews for this place, I was expecting a long wait, but I was ready for it. I went right after work one day, rolling in at a cool 6:35pm with my fully charged iPad and a book in case that died. I was surprised to see not a soul in line save for the one man already getting his hair cut. I'm not sure who cut my hair, but I'm guessing it was either Charlie or Mel. I have Asian hair, so I have NEVER known what do to with it. I went in there and after a few questions that all made it 200% clear I had no idea what to do with my own hair, the barber just smiled, and said "Yes, Let's just do this then. . ." and then went to town. NOT EVEN 10 MINUTES LATER I was walking out the door with the freshest haircut that I have ever had. EVER. I don't think that I can emphasize this point enough: EVER. I rolled out of there at 6:44pm with a fully charged iPad, a book, and one of the most amazing haircuts I could have wanted. If you know what to do with your hair, thats great. But even if you don't this place is for you! Stop by with a crisp $20 in your hand and call it a day! read more

I just moved to Cambridge and was nervous about seeing someone new after I got used to my favorite cheap-o haircut on Telegraph. A friend recommended Charlie's and I checked it out. Charlie worked quickly and after the straight-razor neck-shave, I had a solid barbershop haircut. read more

2 stars because I walked in and was immediately greeted and directed to a open chair ( I was the only one in the place). Friendly enough, I didn't go to make friends, just a simple hair cut. Scissor cut...not uneven. lopsided, chunks taken out. I don't know if this is a new look or the norm for a haircut. I am not really all that particular when it comes to getting my hair cut. I ask for it not to be clean cut, just shortened without the razor-edge lines that says I just got a haircut. I went home and trimmed up, trying to even out the hack-job. Overall, I would not return to see if the other guy is any better. $20 later and a poor haircut, I am ready for my interview. read more

Decent. Friendly. Inexpensive. Beware Mike who only cuts your hair SHORTER than you ask.

Talk about a yelp success story. I was in desperate need of a haircut having put it off for way too long because I didn't know where to go. So today I just search for a barber near my address and find this place. It's easy walking distance, so I just head right over (ah, the wonders of being a freelancer). No more than 30 minutes later I'm back at home with a fantastic haircut. Charlie certainly knows what he's doing. He's a nice guy, does a great job, and does it incredibly quickly. I think that was probably the fastest haircut I've ever had, but easily one of the best. And the chairs! Ah, the chairs. They're like super-luxury barber chairs. Way more comfortable than any other I've sat in. And all for $15 + tip. This is definitely where I'll be going for my haircuts for as long as I'm living here. read more

After months of putting off a much needed trim on the back bottom half of my head, I finally decided to look for a cheap hair salon and get it cut. (I'd been asking friends and friends of friends if they could cut it for me and they all said they don't know how.) I'd previously inquired at a hair salon in Inman Square about their price for a hair cut. What was posted on their front door was $35. I went in to double check: "How much is a trim for just the back of my hair?" "$45." "Oh. Why does your sign say $35?" "That's the price for a man's cut. Women's cuts start at $45." "Ok. Thanks, bye." Why is it that just because I'm a girl, I have to pay $10 more than if a guy asked for the same thing? That place will obviously not be receiving my business (let alone touch my hair) and I will never send anyone their way. After that experience, I waited another week or two until I was just fed up with my shag and felt bad for asking my friends so much for help. Today felt like the day to let go of my duck tails that had formed behind my ears and at the nape of my neck. I was in Porter Square, about to hit the gym, when I searched on Yelp for some help! Thanks to Evangline's review of Charlie's Barber Shop, I decided to check it out. (The single $ helped.) From what I gathered, she needed a trim on a 2" square area and she walked into a hair salon where the owner told her the "cut" would be like $40. When she said she could get what is essentially a touch up by her old place for free, the owner then laughed at her and made rude comments. She went to Charlie's where she was appropriately charged $8 and it was a quick stop in. When I walked into Charlie's, there was one customer getting his cut and one person sitting. I asked if he was in line and he said he wasn't. (He turned out to be another barber after more men came in. I was the only woman during the time I was there.) Cuts are $17 at Charlie's. (No matter if you're a man or woman!) Sweet! Much better than a ridiculous $45. I was fortunate enough to happen to get Charlie himself. It was quick and painless. The haircut took about 25 minutes which is fast considering that he listened to my request of clipping the back really short (unlike the female hair stylist at the last place I went to = $25). He kept telling me that he could keep going shorter but that he wouldn't be able to reverse it if I thought he'd taken it too far. I thought that was similar to how you can't remove salt once you've added too much into a dish. I kept asking him to go shorter, assuring him that it wouldn't be too short. He was reluctant but still kept going. About three attempts later, it was finally right. I love the feel of a good buzz. ;-) He did a superb job and I'm happy! Check out Charlie's! read more