No question I love what is of-the-moment in Toronto; flip through my reviews, and you can see I use the words “hip” and “trendy” like sprinkles on a cupcake. But for some things, I am unwavering in my belief that old is best, and when it comes to my hair, I rely on a classic.
The Forest Hill Barber Shop has been nestled in the Forest Hill Village catering to men’s coiffures since 1931. Toronto wasn’t even 100 years old yet, and at that time, Forest Hill was a tony, leafy suburb. Today, Forest Hill is still an exclusive neighbourhood, where the average house price is in the millions, and its Village strip of banks, cafés, and bric-a-brac boutiques makes for excellent people watching.
Unchanged is the Barber Shop. Staffed by the same four friendly guys for many years, entering is like going back in time, from the barber pole out front to the hand-crank cash register.
The haircut is always good. True, this probably isn’t the place for a new spin on the mohawk, but they do the classic cuts supremely well, and their old-style shaves cannot be missed.
I eschew the hipster haircut joints because of the way I’m treated here. They know me by name- when you enter, everyone turns and greets you. That’s a level of service few can aspire to. If you’re in town and in need of a trim, drop in. You’ll be treated like a king.