Sly’s Barber Shop

Seems to me that the service has gone way downhill. Used to be quick and precise, but now Sly seems to be genuinely disinterested in getting things right. Not to mention the lack of attention to basics, also he never bothered to ask what the customer wants. Recently I had a haircut there, and the finish was very sloppy. Perhaps he was just tired. Large areas in the back were uneven, and he simply did not seem to notice. Also I had seen at least two occurrences where customers did not pay after the cuts. Maybe these were friends, and it makes me wonder whether the glowing ratings indeed came from the same cohort.

Best barbershop in Boston/​Cambridge, period. Cheap and amazing service, and Sly is a really honest and hardworking guy who likes to see his customers happy. I am not going anywhere else.

Great location and great service. The barber is very professional, attentive to detail, and is close to my school. He keeps the place tidy and usually has the TV on for entertainmenr.

Sly gives a great haircut and he makes you feel welcome. Five stars.

Awesome friendly spot in Boston/​Cambridge area! I’ve been to a couple spots where I’ve paid up to $ 40 for a haircut and the barber takes up to an hr to cut your hair on top of waiting to get the cut. So that would be at least two hrs out of my day just to get my hair cut. For some reason these places just couldn’t get it right consistently. I’m not a picky guy either. I think a medium skin fade with a little off the top isn’t asking for much. So I stumbled upon sly’s after searching Unilocal for a savior! Couldn’t have asked for anything better. $ 12 for a haircut and you’re in and out of there in half an hour looking exactly the way you want. Make sure to look up the popular times on Google though because it does get quite busy there sometimes.

This was easily the worst haircut I have ever had. The front was a mess — as it had very different lengths — and the back was shaved high and rounded in a strange way. I would have asked them to fix the top had my view of the mirror not been blocked by a tall pile of products. I simply couldn’t see what the barber was doing the whole time and trusted him to take care of it. I am giving two stars because the service was very friendly, and the price is highly competitive. Also, I was referred there by a friend who had a great experience with them.

Friendly, good haircut, nice vibe, $ 13 for mine, quick… All good!

First time taking my son to Sly’s Barbershop, loved the haircut. Most of all my son was happy with it. He listened to what kind of haircut I wanted for my son and was very friendly. Thanks! I would recommend.

Sly is a true artist. Fast, efficient, friendly, fluent in a variety of styles — in short, everything one wants in a barber. I never make appointments, always walk-​ins, and I’m usually out within the hour, though I’d suggest brining a book or something. Highly recommended.

Great atmosphere and $ 14 cut. Hard to beat.

It took me more than a few years to find a good barber back in my home in Colorado. I’m spending a few months in Boston, and among my fears was finding a good barber. 4.5 stars on Unilocal is nothing to be taken lightly, so I decided to give this place a shot. Although it was a lot smaller than I expected it to be, it definitely made up for it in the price and quality of the cut. At $ 14, this haircut was the cheapest I’ve had. Although it was not as detailed or polished as the cuts I get back in Colorado, the barber was skilled and helpful. Very friendly environment, for sure. Sly was out for the day, so I didn’t get him, but I was still very satisfied. Great place.

This is a great spot! The barbers are professional and very fast. Great if you need to be in-​and-​out without the whole talkative/​distracted/​on-​the-​phone barber thing.

Unfortunately there has been a little inconsistency at Sly’s lately. I’ve been a loyal customer for almost two years now, but lately I’ve been getting home and fixing the back of my neck or around my ears. He has gotten busier, and I’m happy for him but I’d like to have the haircuts I used to get. He is still a great guy and I wish him luck.

Cheap, fast, and friendly. Left with a great looking haircut. Thanks Sly!

Get a fade, keep the sides clean…
Sly the man is on point. He’s reliable, gets there early and opens on time. Worth the wait if there is a crowd. He’s fast but pays attention to detail. Great neighborhood Barbershop.

Sly’s barbershop is a quick and affordable old school barbershop with incredibly personable staff. From the second I walked in, I felt comfortable and we’ll take me care of. My haircut looks great and I will definitely be back next time my hair gets long.

This place is awesome! Friendly service and excellent skill. I’m a girl who buzzed her hair a few months ago and is in the process of growing it back out — I was nervous to get my first razored-​in part but they did an amazing job. I’m so so happy with what I received (and at a great price too.) I don’t even live in Boston but I’m seriously considering making the two hour trek just to get a cut here again.
UPDATE: I’ve been back to the shop four times since (keep in mind I live two hours away and travel just to get my hair cut here) and each experience was just as great as the first. It’s always a good time catching up and getting a cut.

I needed a clean up on a new cut I recently got when I was in NY. I went from long hair (pomp style) to very short, so I did my work researching barbers in the area to make sure I would be getting a quality cut like I did in NY. I heard of Sly by simply googling «best barbers in Boston» and his shop was mentioned in an article. And he definitely deserves to be on that list. He’s got the talent and skill I was looking for. And better yet, it was only $ 13. I live in Chicago. If only I was located here. The shop is your run of the mill barber shop. It’s nice, clean, and small. No problem there though. Sly is a nice guy too, he really listened to what I was goin’ for and did it quickly and efficiently. Is recommend dropping in his shop. Don’t let the affordable price and small shop scare you away. You don’t need an overpriced barber and glass of whiskey to get a quality cut. Go see Sly.

Sly’s been my barber for a half a year now. He’s the best.
I’ve never had so much fun getting my hair did. But that’s because Sly does it right.
Great haircuts, great price, great atmosphere, great attitude, great hours. Sly is the man.

I have always loved coming to Sly’s barbershop. Not only is he great at cutting hair, but he is charismatic and makes you feel comfortable while you are in the shop. He has a wide range of talent when it comes to hairstyle that he can produce. He handles well, weaves, braids, and extensions. He also has a versatility in more complex cuts, like the fade mixed with a longer, pompadour styled grown out top (Macklemore).
Keep your eyes keenly peeled for his shop, because it is discretely nestled into an unassuming storefront.
Sly has recently hired another fellow named Michael who rivals Sly in barber talent. Wait time has been cut down, and I received an excellent bald fade from Michael last week.