Overall, I think Olive Drive Barber Shop is the best place in Davis for men's cuts. It's $12 with student ID, throw in a few for tip and you got a decent fade for $15 which is a steal. You might be able to get a better quality cut elsewhere but since I'm not huge into styling my hair, it gets the job done. The barbers aren't super talkative, they keep it short and to the point (good or bad depending on what you're looking for). Usually it only takes like 7 minutes to finish, but sometimes it feels like they're rushing you. There definitely is a long wait on weekends when school is in session. read more

This place is affordable, friendly, and high quality. $12 student haircuts + a $3 tip = $15 for a great hairdo and supporting a local, immigrant-owned business (versus Great Clips or something for $20 a visit). I've come in for three haircuts now and they're consistent - they remember my preferences and accommodate my receding hairline with humor There is a slight language barrier, but it's really nothing insurmountable. I'm also 6'2" so it's hilarious, (but maybe worth noting) I need to slouch down a bit in their chair. Fellow tall dudes, take note! read more

I stopped in yesterday on a whim during a bike ride. So glad I did. Got a great, meticulous cut and only charged $20!

I go once a while, and I have been cut by all three women barbers they have (the owner, another lady, and the daughter). My favorite is the other lady, Tram. A lot of people say this place is inconsistent but Tram really takes the time EVERY TIME to make sure you get all you want. The owner, Lily, is VERY inconsistent because sometimes she just makes you feel like she is rushing and doesn't really take that much time to care about details. I heard Motown is pretty good but the whole shop is super masculine and scares me LOL so I really recommend women, who have short hair and are looking for a barber shop, to ask for Tram! read more

I love going to this barbershop! The barbers remember my name, preferred cut, and always ask how I'm doing. My favorite go-to barber is Tram, and Tina is an excellent alternative if Tram is not there. Although I moved to Sacramento two years ago, I try to catch a haircut here if I'm passing through Davis. Please note they are cash only and will direct you to use the ATM located inside the small market across the street if you don't have cash. The owner, Lily, also collaborated with the nonprofit in Sacramento that I worked at and provided discounted haircuts for foster youth with special needs. They are definitely not an easy bunch but the kids reported she was patient and attentive. Sometimes the pup, Tofu, is present and barks at anyone entering... no worries, he's all bark and no bite. He'll climb into my lap and accept pets as I wait for my turn. I noticed some younger guys seem kinda clueless about what to ask for. Don't hesitate to be shy and ask for suggestions. It's perfectly okay to ask to see the back of your head throughout it the haircut. They really try to accommodate your requests. read more

Super cute barber shop, and the service is pretty great. My wife gets her hair cut here, and she always looks really fresh. The styling is always super clean, and the lines are straight. I'm impressed with her look every time. As a Marine Corps veteran, she has high standards for how her fade should look, and her usual barber does well. Only downside is that they take cash only. It's annoying to not be able to pay with a card. It's 2018! People use cards to pay. Time to upgrade people! Cash is old school. read more

Very well priced haircuts in a cute shop, barely any wait around 3:45 on a Monday, got exactly what I asked for! Definitely my new go-to for a haircut. read more

Been coming here for years and I always leave with a good haircut. I always ask for Lily (also the owner) so I know the results will be consistent and high quality. For $20 (non-student price & tip) you get a good fade and clip. A lot of college students come here so the wait can get really long during certain hours. It gets pretty busy on weekends and after 3pm on weekdays during the regular school year. If you can, stop by during the opening hrs. Even if it's busy Lily will make sure your haircut comes out right. I haven't tried the other barbers that work here but from what I've noticed, they do a pretty good job too. The shop is a cool little building outside of downtown (literally on the other side of the train tracks) with a few parking spots out front and some street parking. It looks kinda like an ol' school gas station. But for the price point and quality, it's a good bet. read more

terrible cuts. I first went here about a year ago and I got a solid cut. wasn't great but there wasn't anything wrong with it. so I went again and the cut was a bit worse. to the point where I stopped going. and a few days ago I decided to give it another try. I came in looking ok. I didn't need a haircut that bad and I looked fine. but by the time they were done I left looking 10 times worse. I've never had a cut this bad. my hair was medium length and I asked for just a little bit off the top. and I made sure she knew that. I practically have a quarter of an inch left on my head now. and none of it is even. it just looks so bad and im so pissed. i do not recommend read more

Ask for the Stephen Hawking cut! When I walked into the shop expecting the usual clip & snip, little did I know that someone--anyone--would ever see in my countenance even a pale shadow of a brilliant astrophysicist, wow! All I wanted was a $14 trim ($12 for students, $15 for "long hair"). Tina, my hair cutter, seemed to take her time, as though meticulously calculating the curvature of my noggin, even sweetly humming along with the background music (1950's and 1960's pop) to keep me complacent. She kept asking me how I would like it (what does that mean, exactly, is there even a right answer?), but all I could think was, "Shorter." Remember, I'd biked all the way to the shop on Olive, locked my bike onto the convenient rack at their parking lot, and walked in for a simple trim, no rocket science involved. So it was only at the end, after paying the bill (it was imaginary, no paper receipt, cash-only transaction), that I noticed one imperfection (or was it sheer genius?) in that one sideburn was cut lower than the other, such that, in order to render the line segment connecting the edges parallel to the horizontal, I had to tilt my head about 10 degrees--just like Stephen Hawking! Like they say, fall into a black hole and you never know how you'll come out the other side (a liitle dark matter humor, if you will)! Will I return? How do you know I haven't already? read more

Don't EVER think of coming here to get the haircut you wanted. Especially if the old lady who wears glasses approaches you to mess up your hair, firmly say NO and find another dresser for you. I had the worst haircut in my entire life, and she insisted that the terrible result's what I specifically ordered. She doesn't seem to understand the difference between 'shaving' the whole hair and 'cutting' it by scissors. She never used scissors in fact. I also told her how short I'd like my front to be, but she doesn't even know how to measure the length. I got everything way TOO short. If you want whoever you ABHOR to suffer from bad haircut for awhile, then please nonchalantly recommend here. read more

Went yesterday afternoon to get a trim on my DIY undercut. Wait was pretty long, almost an hour I think, with 5 or 6 people ahead of me. I noticed while waiting that under my chair were tons of bits of hair from god knows how long ago, but that's typical of barbershops I guess. It was my first time going to one ever. The lady who cut my hair was soo nice. I forgot to catch her name... She spoke Vietnamese with a central (Hue?) accent. I showed her a picture of what I had wanted, but she said she doesn't do designs (they take longer I guess, don't want to keep people waiting) so I ended up getting a fade. She noticed that my hairline was uneven too, so she fixed that as well! It was a pleasant atmosphere, I was happy conversing in Vietnamese with her, something I don't do much here in Davis. If you speak Vietnamese I honestly recommend talking to them in Vietnamese, they will appreciate it lots! Cash only. My cut was $12, but I had seen people tip to $15, so I tried doing that, but she told me to keep the money and focus on my education, get a job, and be successful! lol she's like an auntie. It's a shame I'm graduating, I'd come back often. read more

Only go to this place if it's the absolutely last option you have in Davis or if you don't care how your hair look because this place don't care about how your hair looks. There are much better barbershop in Davis than this place that is worth their price. Been here twice, and both experience has been awful. Hate to say this, but the Asian ladies here don't really care about how you want your hair done. In my most recent visit, I showed the lady pictures on my phone of how I wanted my hair to look (undercut style), and ask her if she can do that. She took only quick glance at it, and asked me what "number" I want for the cut. I asked her again if she can do the hair cut and she said "Yes, number 1 or 2?" Me being the naive, assume she was referring to the side cut. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, and let her do her thing. About 10 minutes later, she gave me a generic shave on the side and back, and trimmed my side burns without my input at all. The hair cut looks nothing at all in the picture I showed her. Overall, come to this place if you want a quick and easy generic haircut. In my opinion, it's not worth the asking price of $14. read more

Don't come here. Terrible haircut even with clear instructions. Requested two inches to be cut off the top and a 3 for my sideburns, back to be left long and untouched. Got botched. Owner tried to fix what another barber did but my year's worth of hair growth was already cut off. After noticing how upset I was she tried to tell me she "gave me a nice haircut" even though it's not what I wanted. Can't even begin to describe what I was left with. The middle-top of my head was way longer than the front. Not to mention her dog barking at every person who walks past the front door. I tried to give them a chance and I was disappointed even to my own surprise. read more

So sad that I just graduated and moved out of Davis - I've been coming here every other week for over 4 years and they've been wonderful! Tram usually cuts my hair but Lily and the other barbers are great, too. Consistently great haircuts and wonderful customer service! I always get a low fade from 0 and a slight trim on top and there are never any issues. I'll miss this place! read more

First time at Olive Dr Barbershop. I have been in Davis for over a year and I would say this was the best haircut I got so far.

If you're from SoCal and looking for a proper fade don't get one anywhere in Davis. Every barber in davis has a strange NorCal fade that doesn't care about the ridge that the fade should follow and people all over NorCal actually like the fade like this. It's more of a "fade-in" where the blend doesn't really "fade" until it hits the flatter part of the top of your head vs being gradual from the ridge to the thicker section of hair. If you need a line make sure to specify the the exact thickness as the default size of the line is almost half an inch thick at this place. As for the rest of the haircut? Chopped. read more

The nicest Vietnamese ladies in yolo county! And I'm not even talking about their hair cutting skills. It's always a jovial environment in there with the puppy tofu, and the barbers making small talk with you and the other customers. They're all very patient and are willing to keep altering your hair to your liking. Many people come here to see lily, the owner, but from my Own experience I feel like she is always too rushed and doesn't offer the level of detail the other two ladies do. But still good nonetheless. read more

I've been coming here for years and Lily and her crew always give great cuts, great service, at a great price. Short wait times set it apart from other Davis barbers I have tried, and if there's a line they will always tell you a good time to come back. I have always had a good experience here. Take it from a regular: The space is bright and friendly, they always remember you, and you always get exactly what you came for. What more could you want from your local barber? You need to try for yourself before you decide. read more

I've been going here for several years now. It has a cozy vibe and the staff are good at cutting hair. Im not sure where all the recent negative reviews are coming from. Thank you Lily and the staff for all the wonderful haircuts :) read more

One of the barbers of good, the other not so much. There was a communication problem with what kind of haircut I wanted and I ended up not happy with the end result. Just pay the extra $2 and go to great clips! read more

I have been going to Olive Barber for all my haircuts for the last 3 years now. I don't even live in Davis anymore, but I still make my way up here to have Lily cut my hair. My first time here, I came because they had the cheapest cuts in Davis and I was a broke college student. But after a couple visits, I realized that this place had the highest quality haircuts in Davis, too. Thus, I've become a loyal customer. There is sometimes a short line of people waiting for a cut and you'll have to sign in on the clipboard to get your place. However, the line moves quickly. Lily and Sylvia and all the other barbers there do great work and do it quickly! They do well to communicate with you to ensure that you are getting the haircut you want and that it is to your liking. Olive Barber offers really affordable ($10 for students) and well done haircuts. This is by far the BEST place to get your hair cut in Davis. read more

GREAT service from Lily and Sylvia. I always call ahead to see if either of them are in because they always cut my hair just right. They're super cheap too; $10 for students, but I always tip $5 because they really pay close attention to their work. You have to be pretty specific with your instructions before your haircut. Know what you want because they will go directly off what you say. "fade 2, some off the top" is far less specific than "straight fade 2, blend to the hairline, half an inch off the top with some thinning to style it back, and square the sideburns." Not to mention they do a straight razor with warm shaving cream on your neck hairline. Best barber shop i've been to in Davis. Would highly recommend. Reading these other reviews makes me think the people who have been going just don't know what to ask for. Definitely NOT the barber's fault, rather the patron. I've tried Razor's Edge and Motown in Davis before as well. Razor's Edge does an alright job, but he missed my sideburns once and doesn't seem to pay as much attention to my hair compared to Lily or Sylvia. Motown has a RIDICULOUS line. You have to be there once it opens to hold a spot within the next 2 hours... I had a couple haircuts with Mo himself, but they weren't anything special compared to the ones I get with Olive Drive. Also, they're $15 now. I'm a college student myself and haircuts are pretty important for people my age. This is the first Yelp review I've made because I believe so strongly in this business. read more

This is now our family barber shop. My boys get a reliable cut that pleases mom every time

What do you mean you had never been to a barber shop before? Yup. My mother trained as a cosmetologist so I never had a reason to have anyone else cut my hair, and my freshman year at UCD I'd just travel home and get my haircut then. Today was literally the first time someone other than my mother cut my hair. You could say the 5-star rating could be attributed to the fact that I'm just happy I don't look terrible, but it's a number of things. I actually like the haircut, which is impressive provided that my instructions for Lily were "I don't know, shorter but not too short, thinner, blaaargghh i'm dumb" She cut the sides to a 7 and used scissors to thin out and trim up the top and front. The length on the top and sides is perfect, and my only gripe (it's a bit shorter in the back than I was hoping) is entirely due to my lack of any idea what I wanted, how to say what I thought I might want, or what various fades look like on my head or what each razor length means for how bald I might leave the barber shop. Cut to the chase! Good location near downtown, reasonable hours on every day of the week, 2 people were ahead of me and Lily was working alone yet I was on the chair in about 15 minutes, $10 student cost - I could go on but I don't need to. For a $10 haircut done in about 10 minutes, I can leave knowing I can comfortably come back and rely on Lily to not make me look stupid. Simple and affordable peace of mind is worth 5 stars. UPDATE 5/20/13 - Came in again and got a haircut from the man that was working there. He took my stupid monkey fur weave and made me look like a man among men. Olive Drive Barber Shop goes 2 for 2. UPDATE 11/02/14 - I've come here about once a month for the past several years now. Ben and the hispanic male who used to work here no longer do, which is unfortunate as they did best with my requests. Lily and Sylv are certainly still capable provided clear instructions. I have yet to venture away from those two since Ben's departure, so I cannot attest to the quality of the others that work here. read more

The worst experience ever. I have semi-longed hair and wanted for a bob hairstyle. The owner used less than 5 mins to tried to get it finish and told me that Asian cannot do bob hair coz out hair are too straight and rejected my request. I have seen lots of Asian girls with bob hair, this is hilarious. She just wanted to get the work done and didn't even tried any effort to cut the bob nor to talk me. I had to ask her to cut some parts again for twice. She didn't even touch my bang unless I asked. And the process is hella messy. I got hair on my legs, hands, and all over my neck and inside the clothes. She pulled off the 'protecting wear' during the cut. Really disappointed and wonder why the rating is so high. Btw, GIRLS get NO student discount. read more

As good as a barber shop gets, for me. The last great barber I had was in San Luis Obispo. They did a great job, but the place was usually overflowing with high school and college athletes, local law enforcement, and military ... so many customers that the wait was often more than an hour. My work day just couldn't handle that. But I haven't been happy with my haircuts since ... until today. Lily Nguyen's care and cut were perfect. Our conversation was friendly and pleasant. Not a fancy place at all. Very basic. But it has all that I need in a barber shop, and I am eager for my next visit! read more

4 stars for the haircut, 5 stars for the low price for students. My experience has been positive. If you know what kind of cut you want, you'll get a good cut. If you don't, it helps to bring a picture. I usually ask for a 0-2 on the sides faded and a short trim half an inch and thinned out at the top. I have an undercut. I've been cut by all three ladies and they all do a great job. There may be a language barrier but if you get past that, you'll get out with a fresh cut read more

Sedi Did an amazing job!! I'm up here from Orange County for some out of town business and I always struggle to find a good barber when Im out of town. I made some phone calls around for pricing and checked reviews and after coming to see Sedi I knew I made the right choice. She's friendly, very welcoming, and also has a great positive attitude and I can tell she loves what she does and is enthusiastic about it! Great Job Sedi. read more

Got a pretty good haircut here. It's the cheapest place I've found in Davis at $10 for students. Subtracting a star because their clipper is very dull and constantly tugged hair out . She also automatically squared my back. Even though that's what I wanted, I feel a good barber should always ask. She added some cute things at the end with the hot back-neck shave and scented oils. BEWARE: There was a guy barber working when I was there. Didn't speak much English and had a crew cut. I saw him absolutely butcher two people's hairs in front of me. Also, during the back-neck shave at the end, he actually cut the guy. When it was my turn, I kindly told him I was going to wait for the lady instead. They guy right after me did the same. read more

Been coming here for about 2 years now. Very friendly staff and always takes care of their customers. I'm pretty easy going with my haircuts but they have always have done a great job in trying to give me the cut I request or from a picture I show them. read more

if you come here you will get one of the worst haircuts you will ever see in your life. you could give them the most simple brain dead kindergarten level directions and they somehow do whatever they want and do a terrible job. this is like the definition of bad barber shops. id rather get a buzz cut then come back here. read more

They give pretty decent haircuts hair and it's pretty cheap (for the student special). The ladies here always try to somewhat start up a conversation with you, but it stales pretty quickly from my experience. Whenever I get a haircut, I always see people come in and ask for Lily, and the past 2-3 times, the answer is, "Oh, she's not coming in until later." It kinda sucks for those people that they have to keep checking back in for Lily to get there, without her having a set schedule or something. One thing that's pretty unique here is that they smear hot shaving cream and use a razor on the back of your neck and sideburns at the end of your haircut. Anyways, this place is pretty good for the price and it's my go-to place for a haircut when I have to get one in Davis. read more

I don't know how this place gets such good reviews. I show a picture from Yelp of their own salon to the lady that cut my hair. So I assumed they would know what to do based on the fact they've cut this style before. She says okay. Everything was fine at the beginning. She asked how short I would like my haircut and I said let's start with half an inch off. So off to a strong start. There was no interaction after that. She kept cutting shorter and shorter and I assumed that she knew what she was doing. I was faced away from the mirrors so I didn't see anything she was doing. When she handed me the mirror, I guess she noticed my expression because she took the mirror and kept cutting away. I told her it didn't look like the picture. Then she starts babbling on about how my hair was too thick to have a combover and basically blaming me for not telling her exactly what I wanted. Then she slathered some stuff on my neck and started shaving it with a straight razor. I didn't ask for that???? I just wanted a combover and what I got was a bad haircut and a very defensive Vietnamese lady. Absolutely the WORST haircutting experience I've had in my life Avoid if possible. If not possible, then drive further to another place. read more

My experience at the Olive Drive Barber Shop was one of indifference. I've certainly had better haircuts, but it could've been way worse. In the end, I had an OK haircut for a low price. The building is very small and looks a little run down. When I first entered the building, a woman was standing there, perfectly still, staring at me. She then asked me to sit down and asked me how I'd like my hair cut. It wasn't until we were done, that I learned that her name is Lily. This place is for you if: you have little to no money to spend on haircuts and you are a student ($10 with student ID), or if you are very pressed for time, as Lily is very fast. This place is not for you if: you like to have good conversation while you get your haircut, or you don't want clippers used on the back and sides of your hairstyle (it costs $18 for scissors-only and cannot be discounted for students). One of the biggest drawbacks for me was the fact that they did not accept credit or debit cards, also known as cash only. I was not expecting this (although I should have) and was sent over to the liquor store across the street, which has a $2 minimum purchase amount for card transactions, but offers cash back on debit transactions. The coolest part was that I got my first experience with a hot lather shave. Lily, out of nowhere, grabbed some hot lather from a dispenser and cleaned up my neck and sideburns. It was a novelty, to be sure, but also pleasant. I will probably not be getting my hair cut here again, as I prefer both Super Cuts and Great Clips to Olive Drive Barber Shop, but I'm sure the student price will be enough for many people. read more

Probably the best traditional barber shop in Davis at this time. My hair was cut by Sylvia, who was engaging and gave a darned-good haircut that was just about exactly what I wanted. Detail-oriented and not rushed. The other barber present, Ben, was also welcoming, and I will try him next. Definitely a keeper - seems like most spots in Davis are a bit more rushed these days. It's an established barber shop, so I would like to think that their standards will remain high! Note: I'm a white male with brown hair which is cut very conservatively. I noticed a couple of other reviews claiming Asian hair, so I identify my hair type only if it is relevant. read more

I used to get my hair cut here for years. I used to get a decent cut, and the $10 deal for students was great. However, the last several hair cuts have been horrible. The last straw was a poor haircut that took over an hour to complete. I've noticed a huge increase in the barbers, and it seems as though Lily has been bringing on a variety of employees and using the shop as an opportunity to train new. This was confirmed by former employees. In my opinion, a totally unacceptable business practice. Even Lily (the owner), who used to give a solid haircut, has gotten unbelievably sloppy recently. In addition, I have no problem with a barber not having a full and complete grasp on English. However, I feel like basic communication about getting my hair cut is absolutely essential. My recent experiences have been marred by an inability to understand my preferences, which I then had to correct on my own at home. The environment isn't horrible, but kind of dingy and childish. I wouldn't recommend coming here. You can get the same student deal at Motown Barbershop in downtown Davis, as well as a much better haircut. read more

I've been coming to this barbershop since I was literally 4 years old. Lily, Sylv, and Tram are awesome at what they do. Not only do you get the cheapest haircut since that dude that does them for free in an alleyway, but they're also some of the sweetest people around (way sweeter than the aforementioned dude). I always come away from there feeling fresh and smooth, particularly because they use the hot shaving cream on the back of your neck. Ooooh it's so good. And for 10 bucks with the student discount?? Amazing. read more

Don't do it fam! DON'T DO IT! I literally got a haircut here one month ago, and they messed me up so bad! I downloaded yelp just to leave this review! I went to my barber back home and he said my last hair cut was so bad that he would try his best to fix it now... but it still came out a little weird. This hair cut was so terrible it literally radiated through my next cut! They fade you up really bad, taper like crap, and only know how to do comb overs!! Don't do it! I legit almost cried because my hair was 3 inches long from the top and I told them an inch and they almost buzz cut me!!! Please just get a haircut back home or go somewhere else. Those certificates/awards they have on their left hand wall for "best barber shop 2012, 2016, and 2018" are lies!!! Run, save your precious hair! read more

Very good shop. $10 student price for a haircut 90% as good as the $25 barber shop I used to go to at home. The majority of the haircut is done with an electric hair trimmer, and the top/front is done by hand with scissors, which results in a clean, put-together look for a young man. Lily is consistently good and fast (around 10 minutes), while her partners (they change) are around as good but often take a bit longer (15-20min). I would definitely recommend this shop. read more