Patsy's, and the Heart of a City The heart of a city doesn't…read morebeat in time to the rhythm of landmarks whose silhouettes are stamped on postcards. Its pulse doesn't shake the shopping centers or the offices or the multitudes they carry. It honors no arrhythmia before the Capitol or the architecture that has grown around it. Because it's often the case that the biggest machine lives and dies not by its most imposing part, but by the smallest pin in its center. It's easy to miss Patsy's Barber Shop if you're weaving through the traffic of State and Pearl. You have to know to take the right onto Howard Street and go slowly enough not to miss the white neon tubing that brightens the shop and casts just enough of its glow onto the sidewalk to let you see the barbers ply their trade. Patsy's opened in 1930 at the cusp of the Great Depression, when a proper haircut was a man's resume and the newspaper on the empty seat was the employment office. It was a family business, like many that had dotted the downtown and further south to the neighborhoods that would eventually be sacrificed to Nelson Rockefeller's sense of grandeur. William "Tragedy" Yager now presides over the memories absorbed into the mirrors and the padded chairs. Since 2006, he's followed in the footsteps of his great grandfather, a man who likely opened up shop as he always did on the day Japanese planes set off for infamy. And anyone who's had a seat in one of his chairs and a hot towel on their face knows that Tragedy didn't just inherit a trade; he inherited a love and a duty to everyone that crosses the threshold. A large man with a long, thick beard and a tapestry of tattoos lining both temples, he wouldn't strike you as a man you would want to meet in a dark alley. But again, the seat, the hot towel, two minutes in conversation, and you'll realize that he's exactly the man you would want to meet in a dark alley if your car broke down, if you were cold, hungry and scared, if everybody passed you by. Because there are certain things you can expect from those possessed of the instinct of leadership. But what you may not expect is that sometimes, the places where matters are truly decided accept walk-ins. Patsy's Barber Shop has two locations, 3 Howard Street in downtown Albany and Room 126 on the Concourse Level. Call for an appointment and check for hours. And be sure to patronize the many barbers Tragedy has trained personally.

I've always been hesitant about getting my beard trimmed and shaped with the worry of having it cut…read moremore than I want to. I finally had the courage to have Jayden work on my beard and he absolutely did exactly what I wanted and it came out amazing! Thank you Jayden and Patsy's you now have a customer for life!

Convenient, professional, and efficient. They work fast without cutting corners. The attention to…read moredetail was there, and they made sure I was satisfied before I left. Solid work on both hair and beard, and the price was more than fair. This is a reliable shop. They were very laid back. I'll definitely be coming back. One more thing I don't have to worry about anymore!

Good cut, quickly done, and a friendly shop. My husband loves going here. And now I have to add…read moresome more characters for Yelp to accept my review. But what can I say besides they did a great job quickly?

This is where I moved to from the Men's Room downtown after Jerry became a fireman (good move on…read morehis part in my opinion), even though I work much closer to Men's Room downtown. I have also tried Patsy's and Mr. Cuts. I have a lot of hair and it is coarse and there are several cowlicks, and Heather keeps it all under control. Results at other places I have listed here have been less predictable, and at times downright weird (same barber at the Men's Room cut the same mole on my neck three times with the razor, even with warning. Patsy's feels like everyone just got out of prison, and I never found a connection where the conversation was about my actual hair because there are lots of tattoos and piercings and motorcycles and drama. Mr. Cuts, when I tried it, was a former Men's Room barber who ignored the cowlick situation and left me looking like a second grader for three days while it grew out to a length that responded to product). The barber relationship is like the mechanic relationship: you gotta know things are going to work right after you've paid the bill. Heather makes sure she knows what you want done, and competently executes without unwanted variation. The fact that she's a nice person with a calm presence and a good sense of humor means if there's an issue you can talk about it - but there's no issue, so its all good. The one star I might have removed is for the parking situation. I get the location for the captive audience in the building, but for me that's just a total bummer because it adds $$ to every visit. If you can't walk there easily, this is a four star review.

Dina has been cutting my hair for almost 20 years, and I think that says something. Whether it's…read moreDina herself (or colleague Heather--also excellent), Castiglione's is the only place for a haircut. I just recently (and I don't know why I waited as long as I did) tried a hot towel shave---wow. Just wow. The shave itself was smooth and close, and the overall experience was amazingly relaxing. I almost hesitate to give such a glowing review, as it will mean that it's just that much more difficult to get an appointment, but right is right. If you're looking for an excellent haircut in a friendly shop, this is the place.

Great men's barber shop. They take walk ins and appointments. The ATM is broken. They charge a…read moresteep fee for cuts and for ATM but take their time with customers. Review: 5

Great place great service. Ask for Matt Raymond. I do recommend doing appointment they do walk ins…read morebut you might be waiting. I was a walk in and was seated within 45 minutes. This is a place to go to for straight razor cuts.

I was looking last minute for a place to get a decent haircut in Albany. I called like an idiot…read moreabout two hours before closing and Tony graciously made me a slot. I always get nervous getting a first-time haircut at a new place but Tony makes you feel like a regular the minute you step in. They always have coffee and coffee cake and chat like you're old friends. I've been three times now and have been happy with my hair every time. Tony takes the time to figure out what you think your hair needs. I've got coarse, wavy hair with three strong colics in the front and Tony has always been able to manage them better than most. I'll always come back here and recommend people to Perfect Cut. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but it's the perfect type of calming mom-and-pop place you want to come to every month.

For males: stick with Toni, because Steve decided to give me uneven, summer haircut that I didn't…read morerequest. Toni will be creative giving you ideas depending on what you want to have done and what would look better and will cut your hair and do your beard however you desire. Steve will ask what you want and do something different. Steve never again, nice guy though. Toni, you better let me know next time before you take few days off so I don't get shaved like this This place also has coffee, tea or cake, pie, snacks for customers while they wait. Lovely family atmosphere, happy customers.

I just got a cut and color from Junko and she did an amazing job. I'm very very picky about my hair…read morecolor looking natural but expensive but not done at all...if that makes any sense, and Junko nailed it. Hair is a gorgeous brownish blonde, perfect for winter and for getting some sunny highlights in a few months. Cut and style are also great. So happy with my hair!

Made the 45min drive to Albany after reading positive reviews on yelp. Pleasant setting, looked…read moreclean & professional. Arrived on time 11:30am for haircut, mani, pedi. Jan got me started on pedi & mani with diligent young lady- was great! By 1:12pm Jan was finally ready to cut my hair after shampooing, $15 eyebrow wax that she talked me into, & finally voila, a $55 10-min haircut with no layers nor shape. I asked for side bangs 3 times & each time was met with resistance. "I don't want to cut too short" I gave up after the third ask. Conversation was also intrusive - where do you live? What's your job? What's your ethnicity? This is supposed to be a relaxing experience, not an interrogation. Total bill $145. Will not be going back for sure.

I can't even give these people a 1 , let along a 5 star .. they get no stars! they are so rude!!!!!…read moreand the shop is dirty... they don't know what your talking about , I showed them a picture of what I wanted and they said they u det stood but did not!!! they still tried to do my hair even tho they showed me the twist / they were doing which was wrong. they just are so pressed and worried about the money , they washed my hair for $20 did not use any special shampoo or conditioner and then put this black sticky nasty cheap gel on my hair which then I had to call me mom to come to the shop they just wanted to keep going .. I told them to stop but they wanted the mo ey so bad .. my mom came and told them to stop ! she said she would charge for the wash! then let me leave with half hair in black sticky gel!!! these people are rude!!!!! and then had the nerve to be acting like they were praying in the other room but rude and tried to hold me hostage why my mom went to get her credit card from the car . I guess they thought that we were not going to pay for thwm washing my hair .. which again I left with tons of black gel in my hair! them people do not kno me what your talking about only money !!! and then there mean and rude!!!! and they talk about you while your sitting there and amongst themelves, that s so rude , disrespectful and just ungrateful. people come to your shop to get serviced and you have a problem with them. DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!! to treat a kid this way and then they have people gambling outside and drinking and smoking right in front! so unsafe !!!! they get no stars... throw the whole shop away!

Great place call # for an Appointment and ask for Joanne she has been cutting my hair for years.read more

My hair was f-ed up and I was traumatized by hair salons in NYC. Minolo saved my hair with an…read moreinnovative technique that he came up with out of necessity. I usually get annoyed with hair dressers who chop off all my hair because they're lazy and because they try to make me talk (usually to sell themselves...). Minolo had an authentic, real and empathetic personality that I have never encountered in this business. He kept the length of my hair so well and it looks even better. I have never been happier walking out of a salon. Some extra feedback: I live 5hrs away in Brooklyn, NY and stayed upstate for the weekend (as I usually do every few months). I found this place by chance on my way to Guitar Center. I have a few Paul Mitchell products and I like them over the several I've tried (esp. "Super Skinny" serum for my frizzy and wavy/curly hair) - so I decided to walk in. I would definitely come back for Minolo, he treated me like a human being and he is very skilled at what he does. This salon has a lot of integrity. I never walked into a salon like this in my whole entire life. I am really grateful to encounter such wonderful human beings.

I decided to treat my stepdaughter to a trip to the hair salon. Innovations Hair Salon was…read moreaffordable with the best reviews so I gave them a recommendation to her. WOW she's so happy and her hair was cut very well! I'm sending her mom there next!

Ok, I've been going to this salon for awhile. The atmosphere is positive, and I can get the cut…read moreand color I need here at a reasonable price. It's always a happy bustling place with all kinds of customers, including men. I like the variety. But they kicked it up a notch this past week when I went for my usual. The owner has had surgery and is there working, like a trooper as always. And the other beauticians had her back. They teamed up and got things DONE. Everyone benefitted from this spirit of camaraderie, and it was heartwarming. Maybe that's why this is such a happy place to get beautiful! Definitely one of Albany's best kept secrets.

A great place to get hair and nails done. Clean environment. Amazing techs and great pricesread more

Ryan gave me a perfect cut. She's also a good person. Highly recommended Let her cut every hair…read moreon your head

If you are a walk in good luck. I've called no answer. I've walked in no invite to setting up an…read moreappointment. Every time I've walked in it's empty and still " oh no I am busy "