In the world of hair cuts and hair stylists, I’m more of a barber guy. I prefer not to pay more than $20 and keep things pretty basic. And since I tend to keep it short, it’s a once a month visit AT least! I had been a frequent customer of a big chain hair place but grew disenchanted over time. They didn’t take reservations and the overall quality of the stylists just wasn’t very consistent. Then I started noticing online reviews for Arrow Haircuts which were really good. So I decided to give them a visit. Which isn’t easy because you tend to get attached to your stylist! But it was definitely the right thing to do.
Arrow Haircuts opened up in 2014 in Cameron Village and has since expanded to downtown Raleigh on Hargett and also into Durham as Pedro Williams. The first thing you’ll notice about Arrow at Cameron Village is the slightly industrial (concrete floors) feel to the space which is a bit guy-friendly. Hair products and local knick-knacks are on display in plywood shelving. A standard hair-cut runs around $19 and includes a straight-edge razor for the back of your hair-line. Reservations can be made online and while walk-in’s are accepted, they are rare to find for the more popular stylists. (If you’re looking for a restaurant at Cameron Village, check out this post!)
Once you arrive, you’re offered a beer (usually Fat Tire Amber or Fullsteam) to “prepare” for your haircut, cool! I have my guy Steve, who is really comfortable cutting my thicker Asian hair and does it all with scissors. He’s a personable guy and knows how to chat up his clients which is cool. At each stylist station, there’s a Craftsman toolbox holding equipment to add to the industrial feel. After the cut, he cleans up with the razor, gives you a quick brushing for stray hairs and you’re off! For me it’s typically a 20 minute cut with a 10 minute relax and wait beforehand.
The newest “Arrow” location is out on 9th Street and goes by Pedro Williams. Same industrial interior spiced up with classic Sports Illustrated cover pages lining the walls and ceiling. There is some sharing of staff, you may see some Raleigh stylists here as they continue to get their operations going. Same great experience and talent so if you’re out by Duke University, you’ve got another hair cutting option!
Overall I’m pretty impressed with the hair-cutting talent at Arrow and Pedro Williams. They do a great job with customer service and make sure to listen to your requests. So thank you Arrow Haircuts and Pedro Williams for making me look better than ever!
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