Thread: Report: Covenant Barber Shop, Fresno, CA

First, sorry mods if I should have just kept this in the other thread, but I didn't have ability to edit the title and wanted people to see the review. please delete the other thread if you like.

the other day I was looking for a local spot to get a new haircut, wanted to go retro with a pompadour (turns out it isn't "quite" long enough, almost....) I came across this...

MySpace.com - Covenant Barber Shop - 24 - Male - FRESNO, California - www.myspace.com/covenantbarbershop

and posted here asking about it, after I stopped by to see the location and get the phone number. Cool place, great artwork all over, indie bands, couple of barbers stations, motorcycle parked inside looking like something Brando might have ridden. great ambiance. case with a hone, razor and strop in it, as well as old school pomade, nothing water soluble.

Today I did a walk-in, Lou was outside talking to one of the ink slingers from next door. I walked in and started looking at the hotrod mags, he came in and we got right to business. I told him what I was trying for hair wise, he said he could help with that. I said I'd like a shave too if he had time. this was about 4:10pm.

sat down and right to the cut. I of course talk and talk and talk. feeling him out about his knowledge of straights. he is after all only 24 right?

not only does he do shaves, he hones his own and shaves with one himself. when i said I did he asked if I sharpened it myself, I said no I didn't and that I had them sharpened, i wasn't really setup etc. He hones his at home, because he says it takes a while. he uses a real straight and only uses the disposable blade one for clients at the shop. he has some regulars that bring real ones. said most of his clients getting shaves are older guys that remember getting them when they were younger (there was a guy there as I was leaving that was there to get his head shaved).

feeling good about his knowledge I told him I brought one and he stopped cutting immediately and asked if he could see it. I took the w&b in padauk I have for sale, it is the closest to traditional and non-intimidating of my shave ready blades. he said the edge was pretty good and it looked like I knew what I was doing, I reminded him I had somebody else hone it (josh earl in this case).

cutting mostly done he reclines me and starts the shave. hot towel wrapping whole face, some massaging of it, making sure it is tight over the lip. hot shaving cream. he seemed to know what he was doing, went WTG, ATG, and XTG, over some spots more than once, always more hot cream between. no cuts. He definitely knew what he was doing. I never shave ATG and my skin being so sensitive I felt it really, and was a bit worried about the after affects, but wanted the first shave to be conducted without my input, for accurate observation of what goes on.

One more hot towel and some touch ups. then cold towel followed by aftershave (maybe old spice? didn't see as back was to mirror, but smelled good). that was fire baby! The result= not necessarily smoother than I get, some areas yes, some about the same. But he was shaving a strangers face with a strangers razor that he'd never handled before. I had no expectations going in, only a slight worry about something horrible after reading here. I was pleasantly surprised, happy, and my face now? no pain, no burn or rash. He did good. Pronounced my razor good, it shaved well.

Then we went back to hair. the front of my hair isn't quite long enough for a high and out pompadour like I was wanting (I'd been gel and blow drying it up to get it poufed in front, but i wanted it to have that wet, slick look). he broke out some real pommade, this one made by a friend of his in town. I told him about the "designer" pommade I'd tried from supercuts. he said that the water soluble ones really don't work like the real thing. man, it goes in hard, but when he got done combing I liked the result. (wife by the way didn't, she was wanting the up and out and she likes my hair dry and soft).

End result, great blood free shave + haircut = 20 bucks! Old school pomade = 6 bucks! (the other one I had, probably about same amount, 15 dollars from supercuts).

I highly recommend the place if you're coming through this way. Also, he inked, complete sleeve, traditional catholic pieces. into music, he's a rockabilly music promoter here in town. likes hotrods and custom bikes.

Guys name is Lou. Cool cat.

Red

here is the do after I got home and changed to go to a wedding reception. sorry the angle isn't best. it is just combed mostly back, very little lift. you can't see but I'm taking my sideburns down to my jawline, to compensate for shavign off my goatee.



This is later tonight, when I discovered the beauty of pommade. I came home and engaged in some vigorous excercise, my hair getting messed up in the process. I combed through it, got it more up in front this time (wife was happy about that). in this pic you can see the left side enough to see where I'm bringing the sideburn down.

Thanks. Nice read. I'm glad your experience was favorable and it sound like you had a good time. Would you do it again?

Since I started bring my straights to my barber I find I am getting my hair cut more often because of the great conversations.

I'd definitely go again, but would ask him to skip ATG. I don't find, after having it done, that it makes a big enough difference to warrant the wear and tear on my skin. I was actually thinking of trying to get a couple of my friends to try it out, for 10 bucks it's a great way for them to find out what it is like.

I forgot, I put the start time so I could say that we finished up at about 5:30. so about an hour and fifteen minutes for 20 bucks. not shabby at all. this could bcome addictive.

I'd definitely go again, but would ask him to skip ATG. I don't find, after having it done, that it makes a big enough difference to warrant the wear and tear on my skin. I was actually thinking of trying to get a couple of my friends to try it out, for 10 bucks it's a great way for them to find out what it is like.

I forgot, I put the start time so I could say that we finished up at about 5:30. so about an hour and fifteen minutes for 20 bucks. not shabby at all. this could bcome addictive.

I will be in Visalia for business in the next 8 weeks and I am going to see this guy! I have been to Gentleman Joe's in Phoenix and gotten a straight shave, it was great, but with a disposable. I might just bring mine in the checked luggage and go see this guy. I will be due for a cut then as well. SWEET!

sound like 20 bucks for a shave and a haircut is a steal. im thinking a big fat tip for the guy is in order. it wouldnt bother me one bit for an hour to drop 40 bones on a good old fashion shave and a cut. remember support your local barbers.

Dirt4Din let me know when you're around, maybe we can grab a beer after you get your shave.

I'm thinking of going back this weekend, taking my freshly honed C-Mon and getting another shave. don't really need the cut yet, but could let him work on the sideburns a bit now that the bottom has grown in enough.

Red
PS
sorry about the double post above, don't know how it happened and don't know how to delete these.

Hello my name is Doug I am a 3rd generation barber I am 42 and I work with my dad and my son we are all bikers we ride harley and I think I ran into this guy at a bike rally my shop is central valley chop shop I am glade to see the kind of shop he has and glade to see you keeping the art up and going I am a true tonsorial artist the new age I like to call myself an old time barber I've been cutting hair sience 1990 my address 160 s farmersville blvd suite c 559 804 5578 give me a call are drop in no appt nec unless you want me to stay late alot of the shaves I do are after hrs cause they don't want to get alot of people waiting as all situations are defrent some times could take a little longer any how drop by give me a call you can check out my face book doug Terry central valley chop shop cya

I'm in Visalia and my grandpa goes to Coplin's Barber Shop in Armona, a small town just outside Hanford. Coplin, to my knowledge, still uses a real straight as he's in his mid-late '70's. Grandpa swears by the man and says that if he nicks you the shave is free. It's nice to know that there's someone from the younger generation following in the footsteps of his predecessors.

coplin's barber shop - Google Maps