The QG — Local services in Baltimore

I've had this note on my list for a while to provide feedback on my first visit to the QG.

As a psuedo milestone, I came to the QG to say goodbye to my first beard experience that I started growing about 9 months back in preparation for an Iceland trip (to get that Nordic feel, ya know)? I wanted a decidely "luxurious" farewell as I decided to go back to my five o'clock shadow look, vastly prefered by my wife. I also decided to make sure it was a memorable moment, I would do something more upscale, so I chose this based on some recommendations.

I liked the establishment. It felt more at home than your typical barbershop. The atmosphere was great and the greetings at the door were very welcome. To preface the next part, I was called about a week before because I had booked an appointment using MindBody and asked for two services, shave and haircut. A gentleman left me a voicemail that this would likely take longer than 30 minutes, so I needed to call back and extend my appointment. I did just that the following day, a Tuesday, and arranged the additional haircut for half an hour earlier. Thinking I was golden, I put it out of mind until my appoitnment the coming Thursday.

I hung out for about 10 minutes after I arrived assuming another appointment had run late, and requested the front desk to show me around the location to ponder joining. I got to see the floors with the spa, clothing, cigars, and met the bartenders on the top floor. I was impressed, and appreciated the tour before returning to the waiting room.

It was about 10 more minutes where I felt uneasy that I was approaching my original appointment, and was forewarned they may not have enough time a couple days back. A fault of my own was the fact that two additional voicemails were waiting on my phone that I had not checked. I work on a military post with little service at my duty locations and often go dark with electronics once I get home, so I assumed it was already taken care of and I never looked twice.

When I asked, they couldn't find my added appointment in the system, and had to ask my stylist if she could take me any sooner, which she could not. When my original appointment came up, I sat down and we had to talk if my haircut or beard shave was more important based on the time. I chose the latter since this was about the beard, but my lion's mane (party in the back) needed some upkeep, too, and I didn't want to make a second visit or go to another barber shop.

At that moment, I knew my experience would either be cut short or rushed. The stylist was good, very friendly and did a great job with the shave. She managed to sneak in some trimming to my hair (I'm growing it out, so I just needed some maintenance and to cut the back to match the growing top). I enjoyed the shave, and the cut turned out ok, but this moment was somewhat soured by feeling rushed and nervous as to our time. I paid for both services at the end with a healthy tip, but assumed that if both services were done in that window, corners were cut along with my hair, and I probably didn't get the full QG experience.

I did get a drink at the bar after to "celebrate". I got the bartender's recommendation, a dark cocktail that was very good. The bar was nice as well, and I wished I could have stayed long enough to try their food (a friend had good things to say about the selection and taste).

All in all, the experience was good, but without the snag, I can't help but wonder if it would have been the experience I was looking for to have my new go-to spot for grooming coupled with food and spirits. I may try it again, and will have to be extra careful that the communication was on par so nothing feels...

I am from Baltimore but live out of state these days, as I am currently serving in the military. I was visiting back home this weekend, and needed to get my haircut (in the Marines we have to get our haircut weekly). Finding a barber outside of a military town, who can cut a high-quality faded is usually a struggle. I have tried many different barbershops in the Baltimore region, and have yet to find one of my liking... until I visited the QG this weekend! I booked an appointment online with Laura, for 1100 Saturday morning. And I was more than pleased with not only my haircut, but the the experience as a whole! Laura did an amazing job with my faded haircut, and did a great job answering any questions I had. Luckily for me, she had time before her next appointment so she gave me a tour of the entire QG Department Store! The entire facility is not only clean, but extremely accommodating. The staff throughout the store were kind, welcoming, and most importantly of all they were very professional. They did an excellent job of making sure my needs were taking care of, and ensuring I never had to wait around. I could continue writing all day on how great the QG, their staff, and the experience was, but I will wrap this up with this. If you are in the Baltimore area, and are looking for a relatively inexpensive, professional service. Whether it be a simple haircut, or you are getting a new suit tailored, the Quinntessential Gentleman is the place to be! It is your one stop shop for everything you need in your daily and professional life. The experience alone is worth its weight in gold. I will definitely be returning to the QG for many years to come, and I hope others will...

I visited the QG for the first time 11 years ago. I have had my hair cut at many places, but I’ve never been so consistently pleased with my haircut at any other establishment. The barbers at the QG are extremely professional and make sure they know how you want your hair to look. Now when I go, they can pull how they did up my last haircut using their software so I don’t even need to remember.

The establishment is catered to men, with a billiards table in the waiting room and a free refreshment when you enter. My experience with all of the barbers there has been positive, most are very friendly but if you don’t feel like talking they will be respectful of that as well. The staff at checkout use a card on file and validate parking to make the experience smooth and comfortable.

Though all of the barbers are very skilled, Dermaine is my favorite. Dermaine is a clothing designer that previously worked in the tailor shop. “You can only cut a piece of cloth once,” Dermaine says of his tailoring experience. He takes that same meticulous approach to cutting hair. Every time I visit Dermaine asks if I am growing a beard, and though I say no (I’m just lazy about shaving), he has always framed my sideburns and blended them into my beard. Two months ago he encouraged to let the beard grow and I never expected it would look so good. He recommended a beard balm and gave me so many compliments that I really feel confident for the first time while growing out facial hair.

If you are looking for a premium experience and haircut, you should definitely visit The QG...