Hair salons and barbershops have become about more than just a trim. Some of the best shops in the city are also art galleries, clothing stores and event spaces. Some of them are some of the best-designed spaces in Toronto. Here is our list of some of the most unique salons and barbershops in Toronto. And in case you fellas missed it: 5 great places to shave your mo.
Day + Night Salon
Stylists with extensive film and editorial backgrounds staff this contemporary hair salon on Dundas West. They feature the work of local artists on their walls and brew great coffee you can sip in their backyard garden while waiting for your appointment. Apropos to its name, this salon morphs at night into an event space: even Brendan Canning has even DJ’d here.
Town Barber
Town Barber can be found inside Lost & Found, a casual men’s clothing store and coffee shop on Ossington. Nestled in the back of this space is Town Barber, a pint-sized barbershop. All in all, the space offers men’s haircuts and shaves, there are great clothes for sale, and the store brews Sam James Cut Coffee. What could be better?
Palm Sunday
Formerly known as the Saloon, this Harbord salon reopened earlier this year as Palm Sunday. Known for beautiful colour jobs, Palm Sunday is also an art gallery and gift shop, stocking local artists’ wares.
Their website will be a rotating photography showcase. Currently they are featuring the 92-year-old grandmother of one of their stylists in wigs that represent some of the many hairstyle trends she’s witnessed through the decades. The project was a collaboration with Toilet Paper magazine and Seletti World, who provided the awesome backdrop for the shoot.
Forest Hill Barber Shop
Less a barbershop and more of an institution, the Forest Hill Barber Shop has been open since 1931, so this shop is old-timey for real, not by design. The clientele includes some of the most rich and powerful members of Toronto society. Even still, they take walk-ins only so everyone must wait their turn – you never know who’s going to take a seat beside you.
Crows Nest
Tattoos, Jesus graffiti, electric guitars and art gallery-worthy skateboards define this super cool manly-man barbershop. It fits right in with its surroundings in Kensington Market. Most of their barbers fit the look with messy slick Mad Men-esque coifs.
Grateful Head Collective
Grateful Head moved to a beautifully designed space on Roncesvalles from Dundas West a few years ago. In their new digs, this rock’n’roll-inspired salon has hosted vintage sales, openings for local artists and they stock beautiful jewelry like the pieces designed by Desiree Girlato for ARMED. Expect a musical experience: they’re typically blasting a rocking playlist and Lysa Fina, one of the owners is also a musician.