Water Street · St. John's, NL
Old Harbour Barber
One chair, no rush, down by the harbour. Scissor cuts, clipper cuts, beard trims and straight razor shaves, by request or walk-in.
- Open
- Tuesday to Saturday
- Walk-ins
- Whenever the chair is free
- Pay
- Cash or tap
The chair
One barber, one chair, one head at a time.
I'm Mick. I took a small room on Water Street so I could cut hair without a line of people watching the clock behind you.
There's one chair, a window onto the street and a kettle in the back. You get the time your cut needs. If you want to talk, we'll talk. If you'd rather sit quiet and watch the gulls, that suits me too.
- Scissor and clipper cuts
- Beard trims
- Straight razor shaves
- Ages 5 and up
Prices
The fare card
In Canadian dollars, HST included. The time is roughly how long you'll be in the chair.
| Service | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Scissor cutShaped with scissors all over, washed, finished with a razor neckline. | 45 min | $38 |
| Clipper cutClippers on the sides and back, scissors on top, edges tidied. | 30 min | $30 |
| Beard trimShaped and lined, with a hot towel to finish. | 20 min | $18 |
| Straight razor shaveHot towels, lather, one or two passes, cold towel. | 40 min | $40 |
| Cut and shaveAny cut plus the full straight razor shave. | 75 min | $70 |
Not on the card: kids under five, colour, and shaved designs or lines. Cash or tap only.
Admit
One
Chair
No. 1
Days
Tue to Sat
Pay
Cash or tap
Walk in or ask ahead
Is the chair free?
Usually, on weekday afternoons.
Tuesday to Thursday, from about 1 to 4, is the quiet stretch. Look in the window as you pass: if the chair's empty, it's yours. Mornings, Fridays and Saturdays fill up with requests, so ask ahead for those.
- Text (555) 555-0156
Say what you'd like and roughly when. I answer between cuts.
- Use the request form
The same thing, written down. I text you back with a time.
- Walk in
If someone's in the chair, I'll tell you honestly how long it'll be.
The week at a glance
- Tuesday10 to 6Usually free 1 to 4
- Wednesday10 to 6Usually free 1 to 4
- Thursday10 to 6Usually free 1 to 4
- Friday10 to 6Fills up. Ask ahead.
- Saturday9 to 3Busiest day. Ask ahead.
- Sunday and MondayClosedThe chair gets a rest.
Running late or can't come?
Text as early as you can, even ten minutes before. There's no fee. If you miss two without a word, I'll ask you to walk in next time instead of asking ahead.
The shave
How a straight razor shave goes
About forty minutes, leaning back in the chair. Nothing is rushed, and you can stop me at any point.
- Hot towel
Two minutes under a hot towel to soften the beard and warm the skin.
- Oil and lather
A little pre-shave oil, then a warm lather worked in with a brush.
- First pass, with the grain
A fresh blade in the razor for every client. Short, slow strokes.
- Second pass, if your skin wants it
Lathered again and shaved across the grain. Sensitive skin? We skip it.
- Cold towel and balm
A cold towel to settle things, then a plain, unscented balm.
Where to find it
Down on Water Street
A simple drawing, not to scale.
St. John's, NL A1C 1B9
Which door
The navy door between the bakery and the ship chandler, with a barber's pole in the window. Street level, no steps.
Parking
Metered parking on Water Street, or the lots along Harbour Drive, two minutes' walk. Bike rack out front.
Hours
- Tue to Fri
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Sun and Mon
- Closed
Do you cut kids' hair?
From age five, yes, and the price is the same as a clipper or scissor cut. Under five, a shop with a booster seat and a bit more chaos will suit them better than my one tall chair.
Do you do colour or designs?
No. No colour, no bleach, and no lines or designs shaved in. Plain cuts and shaves, done carefully.
How long is the wait if I walk in?
If the chair is empty, there's no wait. If someone's in it, I'll tell you honestly how long it'll be, and you can grab a coffee on Water Street and come back.
Can I bring a photo of the cut I want?
Please do. A photo saves us both a lot of guessing. I'll tell you straight if it'll work with your hair.
Is the razor clean?
A new blade goes in for every shave and every neckline, and combs, clippers and the chair are cleaned between clients.
How do I pay?
Cash or tap, debit or credit. No cheques. Prices on the fare card include HST.
Can I get in with a wheelchair or a stroller?
The door is at street level with no steps. The room is small, so text ahead and I'll clear the bench out of the way before you arrive.
Request a time
Ask for the chair
Tell me what you'd like and when suits you. This sends your request to me. Nothing is booked until I text you back with a time.
Or text (555) 555-0156