Blog · October 13, 2026
Barber vs salon for men.
Go to a barber for short men's cuts, fades, tapers, line ups, beard work and straight-razor shaves. Barbers work with clippers and razors all day. A salon is often the better fit for color, chemical treatments, or long styles built mostly with scissors. Many men use a barber for everything else.
Walk-ins welcome(773) 499-0045
What a barber does best
- Fades and tapers, from low to high and down to skin.
- Clean edges: line ups, necklines and beard lines.
- Straight-razor shaves with a hot towel.
- Beard trims and shaping.
- Classic short cuts, finished with a neck shave.
When a salon may fit better
- Hair color, highlights or chemical treatments.
- Long styles shaped almost entirely with scissors.
What The Chair offers
The Chair Barbershop at 750 N Franklin St in River North does all of the barber list above, plus scissor cuts for longer and textured hair with The Old Fashion Scissors ($63) and an Express Chair Facial ($63). See the full price list or read about beard trims and shaves.
Word on the street
Five stars, again and again.
Questions
Quick answers
Still not sure? Call the shop at (773) 499-0045. Someone picks up.
Should men go to a barber or a salon?
A barber for short cuts, fades, line ups, beards and shaves. A salon for color, chemical treatments, or long scissor-only styles.
Can a barber cut longer hair?
Many can. At The Chair, The Old Fashion Scissors ($63, about 50 minutes) is a precision scissor cut for longer and textured styles.
Do barbers do straight-razor shaves?
Yes. At The Chair, The Royal Shave Experience is $45 with a hot towel and an aftershave finish.
Published October 13, 2026. Prices, hours and the rating come from the shop menu and its Google profile.
Find us
Visit The Chair
Right in the heart of Chicago, on North Franklin Street. Easy to find, and worth the walk.
Hours
- Mon to Tue10am to 7pm
- Wed to Fri9am to 8pm
- Sat9am to 6:30pm
- Sun10am to 6pm