The Chop Shop

I went into The Chop Shop today for my 3^rd (or 4^th?) cut. I’m really happy with the cut and everything about the experience. I cannot recommend the shop enough (even with the risk of making it harder for me to get an appointment in the future!). Here’s a summary of what you have to look forward to:
Starting off, when I first called to make an appointment, I left a message and THEY CALLED ME BACK! Sad that this stands out to me, but it seems like these days it takes forever to get some people to return calls. Not Josh… he was right on it. For follow up appointments, Nick and Josh are really good about just texting to get you on the calendar. I’ve only experienced them being on time and super reliable.
The lounge area is comfy and worth just hanging out in. The plaza that they are located in is relaxing and full of good restaurants.
The cut was pro. Josh is skilled with the blade, scissors, and clippers. It never feels rushed, or like he is just going through the motions, he is a skilled barber. His cuts really last a long time too. I can go a month without a trim, but he has offered the neck trim if I want it.
Good products for sale too. His pomade that he carries keeps your style going the whole day and doesn’t look greasy.

The Haircut: Nic and Josh are both good at cutting hair, they both can do normal, styled and urban cuts. As of right now, Nic is my barber. Being latino from the LA area, it can be tough to find a nice tapered haircut in SLO. I normally get a low taper on the sides and back with a 2, and trim at top and it was spot on. I just got a 1 on the sides and back with a high taper and slight trim on the top and it looked great. They also include shaving, which a lot of chain places don’t. The haircut was $ 25 bucks this time.
The Barbershop: The barbershop is located in a little plaza and can be missed easily if you’ve never been and parking can be a little hard during lunch or afternoons. The Barbershop is oldschool/​hipster/​nostalgic vibe that works. They a chill lobby and plenty of TVs. They only have two barbers, which is good and bad, I think they can easily fit one more dude but IDK.
The Service: The service is awesome and laidback but still professional. They take their time with their customers, which is why it’s imperative to make an appointment. Takes pictures of what you want if you don’t know how to describe it, its perfectly fine. Haircuts can last between 30 to 45 minutes. They can do walk ins if people cancel or don’t have an appointment but thats if youre lucky. I’ve been there a few times where random customers walk in looking for a haircut ASAP but they get told that they can squeeze them later in the day but not right now. Call or text with a time in mind about a day or two in advanced, its hard to get a same day appoinment.

The chop shop is a trusted barber shop that I’ve been lucky to have gotten my haircut at for 2.5 years during my time as a student at Cal Poly. The booking is convenient and my barber Josh has always been personable and given me hair cuts that I always enjoy. Definitely would recommend to anyone in the area looking for a personalized and sharp haircut

I’ve got my hair cut by Josh 3 times now and it’s been the best haircut I’ve received each time I go. Josh is a really friendly guy and the atmosphere of the place is great. If you’re looking for a barber in SLO, I highly recommend Josh. Both my roommate and I were looking for a good place to go when we got to college and both of us always have had a good experience when we stop by the Chop Shop. I cannot recommend this place enough!

Josh is hands down the best hair artist on the Central Coast. His barbershop is an awesome place to relax and an overall great place to give your hair the attention and style it deserves.
Not being in a large metro area like San Francisco or Los Angeles it’s hard to find someone whose passion is really shown through the attention to detail in their work. The Chop Shop is conveniently located off Foothill near Santa Rosa that you won’t have to fuss trying to find parking or paying for a meter somewhere. Simply park in the off street lot walk up to the shop and relax.
Walking in a little early for my appointment, Josh was eager to greet me right away and was extremely genuine. Josh really cares about how you want your hair to look and will do everything in his power to give you it. Every step of the way, he was considerate to ask how I wanted my side burns, the back of my hair, even how I wanted to have my top taper to my sides! How cool!
Where the magic comes in though is in his experience using both traditional clippers as well as scissors. Most barbershops I wouldn’t trust coming close to my head with a pair of shears; however, the style I like requires a close buzz on the sides and only scissors on the top, this is a technique he has completely mastered. He is able to blend the top into the sides flawlessly that will leave virtually no lines on your head so that your style looks like a complete haircut and not haphazardly thrown together.
Make sure you setup an appointment a couple days in advance to play it safe because you won’t want to go elsewhere! Give him a call or shoot him a text!

This review is long overdue! I moved to Atascadero from Los Angeles in mid November 2015, this was the first shop I decided to try and I haven’t went anywhere else. The place I used to go to (Stay Gold in Upland) was really good, but most of them were clipper savvy and never really used scissors. From my experience, it seems that a barber will usually know the clippers really well, or the scissors. Not both.
Josh knows both on an extremely professional level, being able to do really clean fades while layering/​styling the top. What I really like is he gives great insight to how a certain style will adapt to your head shape. He really cares about you looking your best when you walk out that door, and that’s really hard to find. I’ve been to so many barbers over the last ten years, and Josh really tops them all. Finding the perfect barber can be frustrating, getting a cut you don’t want really sucks!
I went to The Chop Shop today actually, decided to go really short on top. He made the transition perfect, giving me the haircut I imagined.
As long as I live here, I’m sticking with Josh. Every cut has been consistent, ¹⁰⁄₁₀ every time. I highly recommend him if you’re looking to get a supreme cut. Oh yeah, and best of all you can pay with your card! Thanks Josh!

My brother and I spent a long time looking for a good barber to cut men’s hair. I have gone to 4 other shops in SLO 2 of which were after I had gone to the Chop shop once already, because I am a person who wants the best. So I made sure to check out a few more hair salons/​shops before I committed to The Chop Shop. Don’t get me wrong the other places had great stylists, but it just wasn’t the same as getting my hair cut from Josh. Most of them dealt with women for the most part, so they just did good men’s hair cuts instead of great men’s hair cuts. Josh has so much experience cutting hair, it blends together very well from top to bottom, and even if you have a beard he blends it right into that. The experience is wonderful, very friendly, gear environment, great conversation and always has a game on if possible as well.
To sum it all up, my brother graduated and left SLO and misses geoff hair cuts at the Chop shop, so if I had to recommend a men’s hair shop in or around SLO, it would be here.

Been getting my haircut by Josh for over a year now and couldn’t be happier. Dude knows how to cut hair and is easily the best I’ve been to in SLO. If you’re looking for a good cut, the Chop Shop is the place to go.

I’ve been coming to the chop shop since 2012.
Chop shop is hands down the best barbershop in town, probably in the central coast too. Josh (my barber) always strives to give the best haircuts and always listens to his customers. He’s also a pretty cool guy to talk to too.
I also have been to the other shops in the area (rays, ritual, kut, etc); but at the end of the day, the chop shop gives the best overall experience.
I plan to continue coming to this shop until I graduate from college, and whenever I come through SLO. Thanks Josh!

My boyfriend found this cool shop on Unilocal and decided to take a chance. Being from NYC, men’s haircuts are considered sacred so he was a little apprehensive. But after Josh was finished, my boyfriend felt like he had found that east coast edge! He loved his fade and was super impressed with the awesome professionalism. Josh was down to Earth and new exactly what my bf wanted in a haircut. He has found his new barber! Thanks Josh.

This is the only place to be if you need a quality cut! Josh is the man, he is truly a master of his art and knows that cutting hair is more than just a «job», you will quickly realize this after you see his attention to detail and don’t forget the straight razor neck shave! He takes his time on each and every cut to make sure that it’s top notch before you get out of his chair. Make sure to book an appointment at least a day in advance to get the time you want. Josh is always punctual so don’t be late or not show up. It’s just rude and inconsiderate not to mention that this is how he survives. The shop has a great vibe and is well decorated. Josh has a few TV’s around the shop that are always on SportsCenter to keep you entertained. Also if you’re a raiders fan, you will click instantly with josh. I came to Josh after having a bad experience with another barber shop in SLO and Josh did not disappoint! I have been a regular client of his for 8 months now but I am moving to SoCal soon and I’m bummed because I don’t think that I will be able to find another barber with the same passion and skills that Josh has. The Chop Shop has fantastic products to keep your hair looking fresh at a great price. Overall The Chop Shop is a great place to get your hair cut and build a friendship while you’re at it! I would highly recommend The Chop Shop to anyone looking for a great cut!

Josh is a guy who is passionate about what he does, and he is master at what he does. This can be seen not only in his excellent work, but also the people he has working with him, the products and tools he uses, and also his OG shop.
Everything is very chill, set an appointment a few days ahead of time and everyone is really good at working with you and your schedule.
Josh is a really busy guy but when he gets you in that chair he is focused on nothing but what he’s doing to you, and does it very well, and he takes pride in his work.
¹⁰⁄₁₀ recommend.

Have been coming to this shop for 5 years, have had great service every time. Josh def knows what he is doing. Knows how to switch up styles if looking for something different.
It has a true barber shop feel, there is always sports playing. I tried many different places in SLO until I found Josh and have stuck with him since. It’s close to Cal Poly and would recommend it to everyone to check it out. Recommend in calling ahead to make an appointment.

Quality haircuts that can fit into your schedule. Very vintage environment with a real barber shop feel. I’ve come here the past half year and I’ve never been disappointed with Josh’s haircuts. He’s a nice guy to talk to while you’re getting a trim and super friendly and flexible with his schedule.

Josh is a true professional and takes extreme pride in his craft. I’ve always walked out of the place with the best cut possible. The atmosphere is top notch with sports on every TV and they make sure to keep the place stocked with drinks if you happen to be waiting. Since I’ve moved from SLO I’ve been unable to find a barber shop that even comes close. BTW this guy is a die harder raiders fan so if your part of The Nation he’ll keep you up to date on everything silver and black.

Chop Shop is hands down one of the best places to get a haircut for guys in SLO and SLO County. Being a customer here for the past two years says something already.
The atmosphere that Josh and company provides is any guy’s dream. Multiple sports channels set up with whatever you need to get your team’s updates.
Also, small talk isn’t even an option when it comes to these guys. They genuinely put time in to hearing what is new with their customers, ask them about their current life situation, and even throw out advice when asked.
Overall, they deserve all the hype they can get because once I do leave SLO after Cal Poly I might just travel back for an appointment.

I see Josh and I always leave happy. The shop is super chill and so is Zeus, his bulldog. You can try for a walk in but the best way would be to set up an appointment with Josh or Jarrett. They are great about setting and keeping appointments. I don’t think I’ve ever had to wait when I’ve had an appointment.

I’ve been going to The Chop Shop for about a year and a half now on a WEEKLY basis, so I believe it’s time for me to write a review.
Location: The Chop Shop is tucked away over by Kona’s Deli and Charlie’s Place on Foothill. So if you’re heading to class at CalPoly or coming into town from Cuesta, there is no reason to stop by.
Appointments: I believe Nic is doing most if not all of the Walk-In’s if he has time, but he’s building quite the clientele, which should tell you something for someone who has been cutting in the shop for a few months now. If you’re looking to get a cut by Josh or Jarrett, then you definitely need to make an appointment because these three guys are the best barbers on the Central Coast. For Josh (who I HIGHLY recommend and has been my personal barber for the past year and a half) it can be a two or three day wait for a cut depending on the time of the year. It’s not a long wait for the best cut in town. Get his number and text him; he always responds back, has never double booked me, and has always tried to squeeze me in when I’m in a pinch. DO NOT «FORGET» OR BE LATE. It’s just kinda rude and lame to stand this guy up like that when he works hard for all these appointments. Cancel ahead of time so he can squeeze other guys in if you know you’re not gonna make it.
Shop: This shop is the modern quintessential «Barbershop». Four TV’s on ESPN all the time. Whether they have you facing forward or spinning you around, you’re gonna be looking at a screen. My favorite part about the shop? No ladies. Not that they aren’t invited, but it’s just not the kinda place you wanna bring them. We’re talking about parties, relationships, sports, etc. You just wanna come in and relax, don’t you?
The cut: I’ve paid $ 50 bucks for a haircut in San Diego. Thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. I came here to SLO and the haircut Josh gives IS the best thing since sliced bread and it’s only $ 25 bucks. You cannot beat that price, and honestly you don’t want to. You might go to supercuts/​sportsclips and get a haircut for $ 20 bucks, but you’re going to a place where all the LADY barbers have no idea how to even line a guy up properly, let alone how a guy’s hair should really lay on their head. Josh has been doing this for so many years that you can throw whatever you want at him and at the end of the cut, you’re gonna love it. That’s after the hot lather straight razor shave of course. We’ve changed up my style so many times that we’ve lost track, but Josh knows how to evolve with the client. He’s not thinking for just right now, he’s thinking about what this is going to look like in the future. He’s told me several times about how he thought about my cut afterwards and gave me new ideas about what we could do with it to take it to the next level. He also takes critiques really well, so if you don’t like something just tell him because he’s gonna fix it and he’s not gonna make that same mistake again.
Plus, Josh can read people like no one else’s business. He can tell if you’re having a crappy day and need a pep talk, he can tell if you just had a crazy night and wants all the details as if he’s been you’re best bud since you were in middle school, he even remembers if you were complaining about a test from a couple of weeks back and will ask you to see how you did. He knows how to hold a conversation and remembers all kinds of details, but if you’re not the social butterfly he also knows when it reign it in and keep it quiet so you can relax and enjoy your cut.
Overall, I seriously cannot give this guy enough accolades. His shop is awesome, his customer service is awesome, his cuts are second to none. This review isn’t from someone who goes in once or twice every three months, I go in EVERY WEEK (ex-​military) so if you trust one review here, it should be this one.

There is a type of guy who likes to have his hair well cut.
Appreciates the work of a straight razor and shaving cream (not gel).
There is a kind of man that wants to spend $ 25+ on his haircut, because he understands that art and skill are worth paying for.
There is a kind of man that likes to make appointments ahead of time for a spot in the chair and doesn’t like to sit at walk-​in spots reading generic magazines while small children crawl all over him.
This is a place, for just such a man.
As a note, yes, women are not allowed inside. It’s meant as a «guy’s place».
Avoid awkwardness by just staying outside. Better yet, guys, make an appointment when you are not with your lady friend.

1. Free beer with cut? Check.
2. Hot lather for straight razor neck shave? Please, absolutely.
3. Sports on the tv? Great conversation? You’ve come to the right place my friend.
All for $ 25 and well worth it.
Do your self a favor. Try The Chop Shop. It is the only barber shop in San Luis Obispo that blends tradition with modern skill/​style.