I moved to Montreal three years ago. After all the unpacking, before joining the office, I had to get my beard and hair trimmed. So the first thing I did was find a barber. But unfortunately, it took me four tries to find one I liked. Four times. Although I’m not that picky.
The problem is really not that there are bad barbers in Montreal, that’s not the case. There’s real talent here. The main problem is that there are so many shops that look the same from the outside. They have decent Google reviews. But in reality, I had no idea whether I was going to get the best cut of my life or spend the next month waiting for it to grow back. So let’s know how to choose the right barber in montreal for your hair & beard style.
Instagram Matters When Choosing a Barber
This might sound strange to you, but every barber who’s serious about their work posts on Instagram. It’s not for show. It’s actually their resume. You scroll through and decide in two minutes: Will this guy cut my hair better? Do the fades look neat or patchy? Are the beard lines sharp or a little jagged?
Good reviews help, but photos of actual haircuts tell you much more. A friendly barber who can’t do a proper fade is also a problem.
It also matters to see if they cut hair like yours. Thick, curly, thin, Afro-textured, straight. Montreal is a very mixed city. A barber who works mostly on the same type of hair is not bad, he just less experienced on your hair. Don’t be their experiment.
Bring a Photo – For Clarity
Explaining a haircut verbally is more difficult than it sounds. “Slightly shorter on the sides” can mean completely different things to you and your barber. To be clear about everything, save a photo on your phone. Show it to the barber. That’s it. It avoids confusion once the haircut starts.
Most experienced barbers will tell you honestly if that style actually works with your hair type. If they just nod and start cutting without really checking your hair, avoid choosing such a barber.
Observe the First Two Minutes
Notice what the barber does before the clippers come in? Do they look at your hair? Do they ask questions? Feel the texture, see where your hairline naturally is? Or do they just put on a cape and start cutting immediately?
The one who takes two minutes to look at your head before cutting -’they’re the ones you should go to again. I saw this the first time I went to GanaBarber. I sat down, the barber looked at my hair from a few angles, asked what I wanted and didn’t want. Small things. But it changed the entire cut.
Beard Work Is a Separate Skill
Not every barber who cuts hair well also cuts beards well. That’s a different matter. Good beard work depends a lot on face shape like where your jaw is, how your cheekbones are shaped, which necklines actually suit you, and which ones you think suit you.
I’ve had barbers give me a haircut I really liked and then leave me with a beard that looked rushed. And the opposite has happened to me. If beard work is important to you, look for specific beard photos in their portfolio – before and after, not just the finished result shown in good lighting.
One shop that worked well for me personally was GanaBarber. Here the beard received as much attention as the hair. They shape it to the face, not just fix the edges. You notice the clear difference later when you look at yourself at home instead of under shop lighting.
How Much Should You Spend on a Haircut in Montreal?
A haircut in Montreal costs around $25 to $65. Not every expensive option is better, some of the city’s best barbers work in mid-range shops and have been doing this for 15 or 20 years. They don’t charge high prices because they don’t need to.
Higher-priced places usually offer more time. Longer appointments, straight razors on the neckline, hot towels, and attention to the little details. At a place like GanaBarber, the price indicates you’re not being rushed. Finishing touches like necklines, beard edges, final checks are done properly.
Understand your need. If you just want a clean, consistent cut every week, a good neighborhood shop for $30-35 will do. If you want the entire experience done properly, so keep your budget accordingly.
One More Thing About First Visits
The first cut is never the best cut. The barber is getting to know your hair the first time, and you’re learning how to communicate with them. If the cut is 80% perfect, tell them what the remaining 20% is. You get better results on the second and third visits because the barber understands you. That’s one reason I kept going back to GanaBarber.
