WELCOME TO AMERICAN HAIRCUTS®.

Why did you start AMERICAN HAIRCUTS® and who owns it?

The AMERICAN HAIRCUTS® concept was created by Dave Alexander, Scott Brown, and Greg Martin.   Dave Alexander, who has been cutting men’s hair for 15 years, is a former radio Program Director and had a long tenure as the Vice President and Director of Operations for a chain of men’s salons. He is also the Men's Hair Guide for About.com, a top 10 website owned by the New York Times.  Greg Martin ended his successful career in Real Estate and Restaurant Management to become a barber with the goal of applying his site location and management experience to a profession he loves.  Scott Brown has a great deal of experience in finance, administration and customer service (having completed the “Disney Way” program) and serves as our shop manager.

We opened our first shop in Roswell, Georgia on April 11, 2005. In 2008, we teamed up with Jason Mikell Akins, an Atlanta businessman and entrepreneur to open our midtown Atlanta location on November 17th, 2008. We have more store openings planned for the very near future.

When we decided to create a new "concept" in men's haircare, we asked "What do guys want?"  We thought of everything. Barbershop with a coffee bar? Nope. Barbershop with a sports theme? Been there.  Done that.   We even considered a racing themed shop with hubcap wall sconces. Click HERE to see the original logo! None of our ideas seemed right. After about three months of sometimes heated debate, we nearly gave up. One night, we broke open a bottle of really great Scotch (Johnny Walker Blue Label, to be exact). A few sips later and we started reminiscing about going to the barbershop with our dads and how it felt to sit in a real barber chair. And how that hot lather felt on the back of our necks. We talked about the great conversation and about how the place smelled. Then it happened. We realized that, as guys, we didn't want a theme or some kind of "concept." We just wanted our barbershop back. A place where we can feel comfortable, get a great haircut, and have fun doing it. Our "theme" is really an "anti-theme." AMERICAN HAIRCUTS®  is a real barbershop for real guys. We didn’t invent the barbershop, a concept which has been around for years.  We just came up with a better way to package and promote it.  We’ve brought the barbershop into the modern age.  Remembering the best of the past, while incorporating the future.   Real barber chairs, hot lather shaves, great haircuts, and a traditional atmosphere combined with a few modern touches like free high speed internet, online appointments, and an exclusive in-shop music system and a big screen plasma television to keep clients entertained while they wait.   Our shop manager also serves as concierge and offers fax and notary service and can make reservations or get directions for our clients. 

In short, the barbershop is back and it's better than ever.

Is AMERICAN HAIRCUTS® a franchise?

No. We're an independent shop and not part of a chain or franchise. If fact, our "corporate office" is the spare bedroom in Dave's house. While we may open more shops, we will not franchise our concept. Many think we are a franchise because we don't look like a typical "mom and pop." We have a well thought out look, logo, website, and nice looking display materials. We're all so detail oriented that we paid close attention to every aspect of our image. That shows in the way our shop looks and in the way we treat our clients.

The problem with many franchises is that the franchisees (owners) aren't barbers or stylists and don't know a good haircut from a bad one (nor can they train staff members who need improvement). Franchise owners don't typically know the best ways to reward and motivate people who cut hair (which leads to poor performance and high staff turn-over). The result is inconsistent quality from store to store. Our owners are barbers who work in the shop, so you can rest assured you'll always get a great haircut at AMERICAN HAIRCUTS®. In fact, the eight barbers we have on staff at the time this was written have over two centuries of experience cutting men's hair!

Another problem with many franchises is that, as a franchise organization gets larger, the focus becomes geared toward opening more stores and squeezing out as much profit as possible. Franchise support slips and so does the quality of the shops. Nothing is worse than having a haircutting establishment owned by a frustrated franchisee who has just given up. You're not likely to get a great service in one of those types of places!

One additional problem with the "too much focus on the bottom line" franchise concept.... Did you know that many franchises penalize their haircutters for spending too much time with a client? They want to turn that chair around as quickly as possible! One very large chain has a policy that a haircutter cannot take more than 12 minutes on a haircut. Is it any wonder why you can't get a good haircut at most franchise shops? At AMERICAN HAIRCUTS®  we actually have a policy that a barber cannot spend LESS than 15 minutes with a client and we encourage our barbers to spend as much time as necessary to get the haircut perfect. Or "concept" is to create loyal clients through consistently great service and a fun atmosphere. If that means we take a bit longer, then so be it! When the 12 minute franchise around the corner is out of business, we'll still be here.

If a shop has "Fantastic," "Super," or "Great" in the name, chances are they aren't. Most franchise haircutting establishments give our industry a bad name and it kinda pisses us off. Can you tell?

Sorry, franchises are not available. And never will be.

Do you cut women's hair?

We're a guys place and all of our barbers are trained specifically in the techniques for cutting men's hair. We recommend that women go to a salon staffed by stylists who are trained in the techniques used to cut women's hair. We limit our practice to men's haircuts and shaving because that is what we are trained to do.

Can you cut my son's hair?

Certainly. We cut guy's hair - from the first haircut to the last. And we love our kid clients. We're proud to say, the best kids in metro Atlanta get their hair cut here. One thing to keep in mind about our shop is that we were specifically created to be a fun and relaxing environment for men. We love kids, but we don't cut the hair of kids who are screaming or otherwise disruptive. While it can be disappointing to not be able to get your kid's hair cut, we must consider the comfort of our other patrons and the safety of your child (having sharp shears next to a child who is thrashing about is just not safe). Our atmosphere is adult, and while we try to keep the conversation clean when kids are present, it can sometimes be a bit mature for young minds.

One additional question we get asked from time to time is, "Why do you charge the same price for a kid's cut?" The answer is simple. Kid's cuts are more difficult to do than adult cuts (and take as much time) as kids move around a lot and you have to be more delicate with the cut. Some people think this policy is not kid friendly, but we feel it is fair to our barbers who earn a percentage of each haircut they perform. Our barbers often throw in special touches for kids (such as free toys) and we always make sure they have fun in our shop! We want our kids to be clients for life!

Where can I find ideas for a new haircut?

Talk to one of our barbers who will be happy to make suggestions. For more information, you can also go to haircutsformen.org, a website from one of our owners that discusses all aspects of men's haircare.

Do you cut long hair?

Sure. Today's longer, razored styles are no problem for us. In fact, because we're trained specifically for cutting men's hair, we can give you a longer cut that is still masculine. In many salons they are trained to cut women's hair, which is typically softer and fuller. They normally cut men's hair using the same techniques, resulting in a soft, full, and pretty look. Probably not what most men are after. We'll give you a longer style that is masculine, lean, and edgy - not pretty.

How long am I going to have to wait?

We try to staff our shop to keep wait times to a minimum, but we do often have a wait during peak times (afternoons after 3 p.m. and all day Saturday). To minimize waiting, keep in mind we do offer reservations (which you can make online or by calling the shop). Also, if you walk in and there is a wait, you can put your name on the list and not lose your place if you want to run an errand or get a snack. You can't do that at most other barbershops or chain shops. While we try to avoid making you wait, we don't apologize for our wait times. We sometimes have longer wait times because we're a popular place and we're the best place in metro Atlanta to get a quality haircut. You probably wouldn't want to eat at a restaurant in metro Atlanta on a weekend night if they don't have a wait (if they don't, it probably means they're no good). The same thing applies with barbershops. If you come to a shop in the afternoon or on a Saturday and there's no wait, it probably means the place is no good. The advantage to AMERICAN HAIRCUTS® is that we give you ways to minimize your wait time by offering reservations (which you can make online or by calling the shop) and by holding your place on the waiting list if you would like to do something else until your barber is available.

When we quote wait times, we try to be accurate, but certain factors (such as a difficult haircut or changes to a client's ticket) may increase wait times. We also ask that you keep in mind that, because we take reservations, a client may be taken ahead of you. This is because they have made a prior reservation.

We strive to make each haircut perfect, and we're sure you'll find we're worth the wait. With just a little planning, we'll have you in and out in no time.

Why do you ask for my phone number?

Your phone number is unique to your family and it enables us to easily find you in our computer system. Rest assured that your number is safe with us. We will never sell your information or give it to anyone that may try to telemarket you. That gets on our nerves, too. The computer also gives us a tool to enhance our service to you (when we know how long it's been since your last cut, we can take off just the right amount), and it also tracks our barber's performance and ensures our staff is compensated accurately.

Do you do military cuts?

Most definitely. Flattops, high and tights, regulation cuts, and 'fades" are no problem for us. We'll give you a precision cut you'll be proud to wear. We'll even wet shave the sides and back and also offer full head shaves - for the same price as a regular haircut. If your are an active-duty soldier, police officer, or fireman, we're proud to offer you a $2 discount. It is the VERY least we can do for those who risk their lives to protect us and keep us free!

Is it customary to tip (and how much)?

Barbers, like most people in the service industry, rely on tips as a part of their income. Tipping barbers is just the same as tipping in a restaurant, generally around 20%. Most clients tip $4-$8. Of course, the decision to tip is personal and you should tip whatever you feel is appropriate for the service you receive. If you ever feel the service you have received at AMERICAN HAIRCUTS® is less than exceptional, please let one of the owners know.

Your website is great. Who did it?

Our website was done by Dave Alexander, one of the partners in AMERICAN HAIRCUTS®. Obviously, web design isn't his full-time career, but Dave can do the basics - it's a hobby he enjoys. He does the graphics, design, and set-up. If you need a basic website, Dave is willing to do them at a very fair price. For more information, please check out his web design website at upgradedimage.net.

Where indicated, photos are by Troy Farina (www.farinaphotography.com). Troy's website was done by Dave as well. Dave took the rest of the photos on the site. You can tell who took what! - Dave's a better barber than photographer!

Why don't you open on Sunday?

We believe that everyone needs a day to worship, to spend time with family, or to just relax. For this reason, we will never open on Sunday. We try to offer convenient hours for our customers, but we also realize that our team needs time to have a life outside of the barbershop. Because of this balance we believe our team is better rested, both physically and mentally, and more able to offer you outstanding service.

How come you don't do color?

We specialize in cutting hair. That's all we do. Many in our profession make the mistake of trying to be everything to everybody and, as a result, lose focus and become less proficient in each area. Just as you wouldn't go to a general practitioner for brain surgery, you shouldn't go to a general stylist for a haircut. At AMERICAN HAIRCUTS®, we give the best cuts because that's all we do. Besides those chemicals stink!

Can I slap Cory?

Cory is an excellent barber, but sometimes he gets out of line and needs a good slap. Go ahead. Slap him 'til it feels good!