La Flamme Barber Shop

Address:	21 Dunster St, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Phone:	+1 617-354-8377
Rating:	3.4
Working:	7AM–6PM 7AM–6PM 7AM–6:30PM 7AM–6:30PM 7AM–6:30PM 7AM–6:30PM 9AM–4PM

Location

Photos 20

Reviews 16

Anonymous User

Heres the scoop: This place rocks! Its an old-fashioned barber shop with a real-world pulse. My barber there asked me to post an online review. I think thats pretty cool. A dude from half-way around the world in a very old profession [that cant be digitized] using social media to promote their business. The following is redundant from my posting on Yelp. I get my hair cut by Ali and have been [on + off] for about 5 years. Hes great. When i lived in NYC i frequented a very trendy world renowned salon. The owner was a friend of mine so i got a good break. Still, when i couldnt afford the $$$ Id hit the "real" barbershops: $7 for a clip in an authentic environment with a dude that had been cutting hair for 30 years. La Flamme is that kind of place. The store has been on Dunster Street for as long as I can remember [first visited Cambridge in the early 70s]. Its got high ceilings, real barber chairs, tiled floor, great mirrors and woodwork and a staff of barbers in crisp white smocks. My early [young] impressions were that this was the J Press of barber shops; NOT! The customers are students, professors, entrepreneurs, and others who appreciate the value here [and Im not just talking $]. Think of this as the Cheers of clip joints. I get a great haircut in a locally owned store [not a chain] where the guy who cuts my hair will be there next month when i need another cut. And the month after that too. In a fancy place they shampoo you, give you espresso, cut your hair for an hour and charge $60. Here, it takes 20 minutes once Im in the chair, I pay $20 [14 + 6 tip] and glad that a nice % goes into the barbers pocket. Sure you may have to wait at busy times, but what better opportunity to read the newspaper, catch up on the latest issue of Mens Life or if youre really lucky, a dog eared edition of Easy Riders. Isnt that what barbershops are all about?

James Cummings

The first movement of the barbers trimmer sent A LOT of my beard hair straight into MY EYE. I went in to get my beard cleaned up and ended up having half of it cut off. My barber kept saying " believe me it will look great". It did not. Because my eyes were in such discomfort I didnt notice until after I left that my beard was trimmed UNEVENLY and with PATCHES of different lengths. This place has a very particular charm to it which is why I went inside in the first place. I cant speak to their actual haircuts but I definitely did not have a good experience.

Mr. Benjamin Pearce

I dont need a great haircut, just a quick cheap one, so I went here for YEARS... until on a hot summer day, when one needs a mediocre haircut the most, they decided to "part" from their posted hours and claim summer hours. At 6:01 pm, when the open sign said they close at 6:30, and with 3 barbers present (including the owner) cutting hair, they turned away a loyal customer of years. Clearly their rent is not high enough. What a way to treat a regular who always tipped at least 20%.

Hank Alexandre

See lots of bad reviews here, but take it from me, after going here for 17 years if there is one thing I have learned it is ALWAYS WAIT FOR THE BETTER BARBERS. Look for the first two chairs on the left. If not there look for the last chair on the right or the end chair. The barbers waiting around for customers are probably not the people you want. If you are looking for a permanent barber - ask for George or Dina... you may have to wait a bit longer, but for 15$ its worth it.

Greg Bogosian

Ive been going to George for over 16 years now, and this place is one of the true holdouts for the old-style barber shop, including the feel and quality of what you get there. Everyone there has a great attitude and is very skilled, and walking in there feels like going into the past, as the place has been open for over a hundred years as a barber shop. The prices are also very reasonable, and you can go to them nearly anytime and not have a huge wait, no appointment needed.

Anonymous User

visiting from germany, I didnt know where to go for a haircut, I wish I had googled before. At this place they completeley destroyed 4 months worth of a carefully pruned haircut. Before, it was 5 inches, afterwards, 1,5: Although I told the guy only to cut less then one inch, he cut off nearly everything without even asking. If you miss the army, try this place. Otherwise, avoid it.

Anonymous User

La Flame is a great place. Most barbor shops are not welcoming to a woman with a very short haircut, not this place. They will cut it exactly as you ask. It is cheap. $16. I wash my hair at home. I dont get any better haircut at places I have gone that are 5 times as expensive. And the decor is so great the way it has been basically unchanged for decades.

Harry Stone

I went to La Flamme once to get my hair cut a month ago. It was not that busy and I was promptly served. The building is very nice, and it is definitely an old-school barber shop. It is fairly expensive, but I guess this is the price of getting a haircut in Cambridge. My haircut was nice and the barber was very professional.

Thomas Hou

What a terribly unprofessional place to get haircut… the guy who did mine used only the electric shaver and literally shaved everything without any technique, I could have done that by myself at home. It was the worst haircut Ive ever gotten. The place was old and honestly unpleasent to stay.

Joseph Michela

La Flamme has been my barbershop for the last four years. Their location is excellent and prices are very agreeable. I have my guy that I always go to. Ive noticed very little turn-over in the staff so everyone these is very experienced.

Arthur Safira

Ive come here before, and the place is honestly kind of weird --- in poor shape inside, with a wide variety of barbers that somehow give off this vibe that they arent really professionals at it. My haircut was passable, but below average.

Aidan Richards

I always get my hair cut here, but there is a system you have to keep in mind. The best barbers are in the front, and the less skilled in the back. Left to right, the best barber is the older man near the cash register.

Scott Reed

Got one of the worst haircuts of my life here...AVOID THIS PLACE! I told them to take 1/2 inch off, but they didnt listen. I had to go to another barber to do a repair job and they laughed at how bad a cut it was.

Anonymous User

The problem with this place is inconsistency. Some of the barbers are good and some are not. It totally depends on who you get. I have left many times disappointed and probably will not go back. Its cheap, though.

Daniel Hogan

Family owned business for over 45 years serving the Cambridge community with the finest haircuts. Mohammed is king of tha fade. Great people, good prices, great area. Hey and look at the old school sign.

Charles Tiu

Ive been going to this establishment for the past 4 years for my hair cut. Christi works on Sundays and shes great - super friendly and relatable, makes simple chitchat, but gets the job done quickly.