Showerthought: I saw a barber in Chicago charge $5 for a neck shave and it got me thinking

I was in a shop on the west side last week and the guy next to me just wanted a clean neck line, no haircut. The barber did it in about 90 seconds with a straight razor and charged him a flat five bucks. Honestly, is that a good move to offer quick services like that, or does it just bring in cheap customers who won't book a full cut?

3 comments

3 Comments

nora_chen1mo ago

Actually that's a solid move for a barber. Five bucks for a neck shave is easy money during a slow time slot. It gets people in the door who might come back for a full cut later. Plus it builds a reputation for being quick and helpful. That kind of small service can turn into a regular customer.

grace_perry441mo ago

Oh man, @nora_chen you're totally right. It's such a smart way to fill those dead hours. I've seen barbers just sitting around looking bored, and five bucks is way better than nothing. That little bit of help really does make people remember you. It feels more like a neighborhood spot than just a business.

evangarcia17d ago

Yeah, "neighborhood spot" is exactly the right way to put it. When a barber remembers your name and hooks you up with a quick neck shave for pocket change, it makes you want to keep coming back. I bet that five dollar service also leads to a lot of tips, too, like people just toss an extra buck or two because it feels so fair. And word spreads fast about those little extras, so before you know it the barber’s getting new faces in the chair just from people talking. It’s one of those small moves that builds a whole vibe around the shop.