Bruce's Barbershop — Local services in Emeryville

Make a long story short: Giovanni is completely not recommended.

If you want a guy screaming and laughing as loudly as possible with his mouth a single foot from your ears, depicting gory scenes from horror films, kind of erratic and ADHD like, yelling about what he saw in jail, you should definitely take a haircut with Giovanni.

The haircut itself does not look good at all. I do take some of the blame because I said “classic” and “elegant” and that’s it, but I didn’t mean for him to freaking cut off my entire hair. I don’t know how is this classic or elegant. Maybe in jail.

edit: forgot to mention how when he finished, he just put a ton of clay--not recommended for men with receding hairlines--on my hair without asking first, and then when I asked to read the ingredients to make sure it's at least not full of parabens and other nasty stuff, he gave me the box and the ingredients were written in like 3 different Eastern European languages, but not in English. I asked him to remove it, so he takes me to shampoo (btw, rubbing my head hard when towel drying, not pleasant and not recommended for receding hairlines), and then wants to charge me for the shampoo! I understand a lot of people enjoy this barbershop, and while the other guys seemed completely decent, I wouldn't recommend getting a haircut...

I have been going to Bruce's since they opened in 2020 and have been getting my hair cut by the fabulous owner, Lauren, for about 5 years prior to her opening the shop. So barbershop culture is a thing and many barbershops I've visited certainly cater to cis/het masculine culture (I get it, but damn!). As a queer person, this can feel quite unwelcoming (and is an overall unpleasant vibe for anyone just looking for a fresh fade). Indeed, I've had to walk right out of a barbershop in the past because of misogynistic and homophobic shop talk. I love Bruce's Barbershop because it is a woman-owned and operated business that has a pleasant atmosphere, which no doubt is the product the shop's commitment to inclusivity and shines through with all of the barbers at Bruce's I've interacted with over the years. Go here for a cut that will literally have people stopping you in the street to compliment you! Lauren will always have you looking fresh and the other barbers are right up...

I recently visited this barber shop for the first time, and I have to say, it was a fantastic experience. Not only did I walk out with a great haircut, but I also had a wonderful conversation about dogs.

The shop itself is well-maintained and has a classic, old-school feel to it. The barbers are skilled and take their time to ensure that you're happy with the end result. They're also friendly and easy to talk to, which is a huge plus in my book.

During my visit, I happened to overhear that the barbers were talking about dogs. She started asking me questions about what kind of dog I was interested in, and we ended up having a lively conversation about different breeds and their personalities.

I really appreciated that my barber took the time to chat with me about something the bay can be a less than friendly place.

Overall, I highly recommend this barber shop to anyone in the area. The skillful haircuts and friendly conversation make for a...