When it comes to male grooming, it’s fair to say men have upped their game in recent years. And as you’d expect with a city as diverse as Brighton, when looking for a barbershop, there’s every type available, from the sleek and ultra-masculine to the fun, friendly and eclectic. There’s even a singing barber to serenade you from a balcony if that floats your boat! But whether you want a sharp new haircut, a traditional wet shave or your beard trimmed while your barber sings to you, everyone wants to find someone they can trust to do a decent job. So, to help you whittle down your ideal barbers from the multitude on offer in Brighton, here’s our roundup of the best that the city has to offer.
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Our guide to Brighton's best barbers
CUTTER AND GRINDER
- 36 Duke Street, Brighton BN1 1AG
- https://cutterandgrinder.co.uk/
This unique 1920s-style barbershop in Brighton has an elegant interior featuring antique hand-carved leather upholstered chairs and traditional barbershop kits imported from Chicago. Hossein Hamdollahi, who runs Cutter and Grinder, combines his 25 years of professional barbering experience with a background in engineering to offer precision cuts, which are highly respected. As well as cutting hair, services include beard trimming, wet shaves, and even scissors and knife sharpening using traditional methods and techniques learned from his native Iran.
OS LIFESTYLE
- 1 Castle Square, Brighton and Hove, Brighton BN1 1EG
- https://oslifestyle.co.uk/
Founders Joseph Steven and George Oakley set up OS Lifestyle nearly a decade ago with the aim of becoming the first carbon-neutral barbershop in the UK. Sustainability is at the core of the business. In addition to cutting hair, they also have a range of eco-friendly products, such as sustainable shampoo and soap, on sale at their central Brighton barbershop. They even pledge to recycle the hair from your head, teaming up with eco charity Matter of Trust to turn the chopped-off locks into products used to soak up oil spills.
Aside from their sustainability credentials, they’re known for being pretty good at cutting hair too. The pair combined traditional and modern barbering methods and made it to the Modern Barber magazine finals for the Best Team Award in 2020.
PETER JOANNOU MALE GROOMING
- 40 Middle St, Brighton BN1 1A
- https://www.peterjoannou.co.uk/
Peter Joannou loves to do two things: singing and cutting men’s hair, and he has combined these two passions in an unlikely but unique and joyful barbershop situated in The Lanes. In his day job, Joannou uses his extensive barbering experience to offer an array of cuts, shaves and scrubs, as well as a semi-permanent hair loss treatment. Then, on the last Saturday evening of every month, he performs songs by iconic American singers such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin from his upstairs balcony above the barbershop in The Lanes, donating all proceeds to charity. He’s gained quite a reputation across Brighton, even been joined by Rod Stewart for a duet!
TALLBOYS BARBERSHOP
- 17 Montpellier Place, Brighton, BN1 3BF
- https://www.tallboysbarbershop.com/
Tallboys Barbershop in central Brighton has a cheery blue and yellow exterior and in the summer, their doors are thrown wide open, revealing an eclectic interior with postcards and plants adorning the walls. This barbershop is friendly, inclusive and fun. Their ethos is simple: they say if you look better, you feel better, and their aim is to make everyone feel as good as they can. With everyone made to feel very welcome, their inclusivity doesn’t stop with their human customers but extends to furry friends too, with dogs allowed into the salon while you get spruced up.
BARBER AND FRANK
- 160 Edward Street, Brighton BN2 0JB
- https://www.barberandfrank.co.uk/
Barber and Frank have two salons in the Brighton area, one in Edward Street, Kemptown and another in Hove. The exterior of their two barbershops is contemporary and sleek, and this is followed through inside with a light modern space which creates a relaxing atmosphere in which to get your hair cut or enjoy a hot towel shave. Customers consistently praise Barber and Frank for their friendly salon environment and excellent all-around customer service. No appointment is necessary, with walk-ins available for those in a rush.
THE BARBER CLUB
- 4 Bartholomews, Brighton BN1 1HG
- https://www.thebarberclub.net/
Established in 2017 by Dimitri Loizi, The Barber Club offers haircuts, cutthroat shaves and the all-important – for Brighton especially – beard trim. It’s fair to say Loizi knows his stuff. Before he set up The Barber Club, he was a partner of the Rush Hairdressers chain, and in 2021, he made it to the finals of Men’s Hairdresser of the Year at the British Hairdressing Awards. The Barber Club has a masculine sensibility with black leather chairs and subway tiles. Customers waiting for a haircut or a wet shave can have a complimentary beer at the bar, chill out on one of the leather sofas, even play on the arcade machine, or enjoy a game of darts while waiting.
BLACK L'AMOUR BARBERS
- 17a Lewes Rd, East Sussex, Brighton BN2 3HP
- https://www.blacklamourbarbers.com/
Established a decade ago, Black L’Amour Barbers fuses traditional barbering skills with modern cuts and styling. Their jet-black shop exterior leads you into a space with a relaxed and laid-back vibe where skateboards are hung on the walls. Their diverse customer base, including men, women and children, all feel welcome and at home in this friendly, inclusive barbershop. There’s also free wifi and good music!
