The newest barber shop in NYC is a perfect mix of old school meets new school. FSC Barber, opened August 1st, is a expanded location based off the success of a not-so-secret location in the LES, a four chair babershop, at the back of a clothing store called Freeman's Sporting Club. It's also where, just down Freemans Alley, Freemans Restaurant and Bar serves a fresh, gourmet menu.

The new location (shown above) sits between the tourist friendly Meatpacking district, the West Village and Chelsea, just a two minute walk south from the 8th Avenue L stop. Part owner Sam Buffa says the location is, "trying to redefine the idea of the barbershop."

The interior features art deco and re-purposed, vintage decor. The worn, blond floor is salvaged Appalachian wood, the left sideboard is vintage Koken and the right sideboard is a recreation to match. The hair washing station rebuffs salon, white glove treatment. It's straightforward and functional with a dual spout and beautiful, vintage basin.



Services star at $25 for a trim and $40 for a cut. Barbers are mainly salon trained so they can execute layers or shags, unlike a traditional barber. But also they can also do more traditional cuts for men of any age. The signature service is a cut with traditional, straight razor shave (hot eucalyptus towel, pre-shave oil, later, shave with grain, re-lather, shave against grain, post-shave moisturizer, cold towel), $70.

In the back, there's lockers, re-purposed from a defunct church, for jackets or bags, alongside a vintage phone booth that's planned for a functional update. In the front, there's a small but well edited selection of hair products and select accessories. Products includes the hard-to-find, full line from Cool Greese, plus items from Baxter of California and Malin + Goetz.

Also for sale (shown below), the "Mastodon" straight razor designed by Black Sheep & Prodigal Sons; hand crafted with woolly mammoth, ivory handles, dark mammoth spacer, sterling silver lining and rivets, and 3 mm quartz stanhope magnifying lens with microscopic vintage erotica.

FSC Barber accepts only walk in clients, no reservations. The owners want the place to have a approachable, neighborhood vibe. Overall, the services are high end and the prices remain reasonably affordable. Other barbers in NYC can offer the razor cut, but FSC Barber appears to be on par with any of the more established locations. FSC Barber covers a lot of territory between the feminine, salon experience and the commonly unsatisfactory, cheap cuts that prevail for men.