Ricky’s Tribune Barber Shop

I have had expensive haircuts for special occasions, but I have never had a haircut as good as the one Ricky gave me. And I haven’t paid such a low price since the 80s anywhere.
Ricky is a wise man, a hard worker, and an excellent barber. He has probably cut more hair and been through more than the rest of the barbers I have been to combined.
If you are looking for an old school barber, you can’t find better than Ricky.

Simply called to ask how busy they currently are and if he takes appointments. Got pussy and all he said was «I’ll be her til 5, sir» then… Click. Just lost a customer he never had. WTF makes him so special?

Unfortunately before going to Ricky’s barber shop hoping to get an old fashion haircut, I called first to verify his time of closing shop which was told to me 5:00p. After getting their to his shop a little after 1:00p no one was their at the Baber shop even though a sign hang in the inside corner of his shop saying «come on in» with no one to be seen after waiting for a while I finally gave up the waiting. Perhaps I should have asked that certain question, «do I need to make an appointment first» but it didn’t seem necessary to mention.

I’ve known Ricky for 50 years. He cut my Dad’s hair and cuts mine. If you want a great hair cut and opinion on the news of the day, GO TO RICKYS!!!

I recently moved to downtown oakland and am scouting out a new barber shop. I walked by Ricky’s place and thought I’d give it a shot. I am tired of the spotty quality at super cuts and like to have my hair cut more often than I can afford a quality $ 35 cut from a salon. So, I am going old school and looking for an old fashion barber shop.
Ricky is about as old fashion as it gets. A one man shop, Ricky’s is small and he gets straight to the point. Ricky is a trip, man. He is probably about 75 or so and loves to tell a story. I was in on a slow Tuesday and got a pretty awesome history of Oakland, and his personal story.
On the positive side he cuts a mean head of hair. For only $ 13 I got a great haircut. Evenly trimmed and tight, he really knows what he is doing. It is kind of a walk of faith though, as he really does his own thing. I like a simple trim so I was happy to see how he did.
On the negative side, the place is tiny and not all that clean. For me it was just part of the experience, and charm of an old school barber, but for those more concerned with appearance this could definitley be a factor for choosing Rickys.
Overall I got a great haircut for a super low price! I will keep looking around for now, but Ricky’s is certainly a contender for me!

If you’re old enough to remember what a real barber shop haircut is like, you’ll appreciate Ricky’s. As I sat there and listened to his amazing stories, I felt like he wasn’t doing much cutting. You can’t see yourself in the mirror while he’s working, so you can’t really tell what’s going on. It felt like he was just snipping little bits of hair here and there. After an hour (yes, an hour) of that, I was sure that I was going to walk out needing to go get a haircut. But when he spun me around to look in the mirror, I was shocked to see how much he had cut. And it was perfect. I walked out looking good; none of that «it will look good in a week» stuff.
Ricky has more than 50 years of experience cutting hair. If you trust him, he’ll do you right. If you want a real haircut, he’s your man.

Ricky is a great barber and a wonderful raconteur. I learned a lot about Californian political history. He was connected with many people through his friends at the Tribune as well as in professional golf and the navy. He even cut Bruce Lee’s hair before he was a star. I say check him out.

Dude cut Bruce Lee’s hair. ‘Nuff said.
So much more than just a haircut, a visit to Ricky’s is an essential Oaktown experience. Ricky is a local treasure, at 75 years old, he has operated a 1-​man barber shop in Oakland since 1962. Needless to say, he has seen a lot of things, and has some pretty interesting stories to tell. He likes to talk (favorite topics include boxing, golf, Oakland, life, the universe, and everything), and he swears like a sailor. Actually, he is a sailor, having served in the Navy in Korea. And he knows how to cut some hair. He takes his time (read: don’t go here if you’re in a hurry). He does things his way (read: don’t go here if you are extremely particular about your cut). He wants to make his customers happy. He usually does. Most of all, he’s a genuine, no-​bullshit, all-​around good guy, and he deserves your business.
Walk-​in only, $ 17.

On the up-​side, the haircut was only $ 13, which is one of the only things I’ve found cheaper here in CA than back home in Dallas — so, yee haw to that!
On the other hand, in a flash, my sideburns were gone gone gone — buzzed off with Ricky’s clippers faster than I could say «hey — I kinda liked those!».
I read the reviews here and decided to give Ricky a try. My hair’s not that complicated — which is probably why my haircut has never been given a name. I figured it’d be hard for my three year old nephew to screw it up, so I figure someone cutting hair for 40+ years could probably handle the job with some measure of competence. And Ricky didn’t fail to measure up to that.
But.
The first thing one notices when sitting in Ricky’s barber chair is that Ricky’s barber scissors are kinda barber dull. I’ve never had a haircut be an almost-​painful experience before. And I’m pretty sure this is why kids cry at the barber shop. Or at least why they *think* they should cry.
As others have mentioned, Ricky moves at his own pace. It didn’t take 75 minutes — thank god! — but it wasn’t what one would ever describe as «quick» either (except for the part where my sideburns went missing — THAT was fast!).
And Ricky does love to tell a story — well, I assume he was telling a story — but I really couldn’t make it out over the news/​talk radio that was playing in shop at the same time. I did make out a few choice cuss words — and while I like to cuss as much as the next guy (maybe more!) — Ricky’s use of foul language seemed almost gratuitous — as if he knew he had the reputation of being a salty ex-​sailor and he was trying to live up to that reputation — but his heart just wasn’t in it.
So anyway, yeah — I gave it a try — but I think I’ll move on to another local barber and hope for a better barber experience. I mean, a $ 13 haircut is great and all — but in the end, it’s my hair — and even though it’s not complicated, it’s still something that I’ve got to live with until the next haircut. And dammit, it takes forever for me to grow sideburns.

Finally found a good barber. Ricky did an excellent job of cutting my hair. He asked what I wanted and proceeded to cut it the way should be done. Best haircut I have had in a long time. Plus, the cost was very reasonable. Definitely, I will go back. Please support your local independent businesses.

Ricky’s Barber shop is as good as it gets.
First, the hair cut was great, and Ricky takes the time to make your hair exactly how you like it.
Second, his small barber shop reminds me of what a barber shop should be like, with its charm and personality that you don’t get with a lot of places anymore.
Third, Ricky has stories to tell. Whether it is playing golf with pros in the 1960s and 70s, to cutting the hair of Bruce Lee when he used to live in the area, who he has a signed picture of adorning his walls, I’ve never met a more fascinating and warm barber in my life.
I’ll definitely be going back.

Serious. Ricardo is serious. About his stories. About his haircuts. He’s the man if you want a simple, and yet clean haircut. Korean War stories free of charge. A true slice of Life and worth every penny.

First things first– the haircut was great. But that’s not all that Ricky’s is about.
So I decided to go here because of the other reviews. I was curious as to what an ‘old school’ barbershop actually meant. Well, for starters, the space of the shop insinuates the word as it is small (only one chair) and, well, old. Similarly, Ricky is also an older man with an ‘old school’ character. I don’t want to spoil the experience, so I’ll stop here, but this haircut is more than a haircut; it is a brush with history, americana, and a very kind older man.
Thanks again Ricky

uh, first off RICKY ROCKS. The haircut is good and I will be back for sure…
I went mostly because of Zach and Adam’s reviews… Nearly an hour after walking in, I left learning more about Oakland’s history, the Korean War, Navy vs. Marines, the ’89 quake… we discussed losing a parent, perspectives since 9/​1, G W (and his war) and of course some aspects of hair…
Thanks be to god for another genuine, sailor mouthed, old-​school barber that I long to find and have not been able to here in oakland.

I have to agree with the other reviewers. A great old-​school barber. Reasonable prices for a haircut and a lot of stories.

As much as I hate the phrase «old school», that’s exactly what Ricky’s is. He’s been cutting hair in Oakland for 50 years, mostly in the Tribune building, where he made a lot of friends. He has pictures of sports figures all over the walls, in his single chair barber shop.
Don’t think he’s a stylist, or you’re headed to a salon. He’s a barber, and a damn good one. He cuts with scissors and a comb; ask him for «#2 on the sides, #3 on the top» and he’ll laugh you all the way to the door.
He loves to talk, and swears like a sailor — he left the Navy in ’57. We talked about family, values, what Oakland was like, sports and his grandkids. I don’t talk much during a haircut, so he told a lot of stories. I had a great time, and got a haircut I’m very happy with.
He’s long winded, so don’t go if you’re in a hurry (I got a parking ticket). I’m assuming that if he had a customer waiting, or I had asked, he would have been happy to cut much faster. However, I was having a great time, and wasn’t worried about the time.
Highly recommended.

I came here based on the previous reviews. I’m 39, interviewing for a new job, and needed a respectable haircut. I thought Ricky’s would be a good choice, and it was.
The shop is a hole in the wall, maybe 6′ by 12′, and a classic, one-​chair barber shop. Ricky is a salty old guy, but very friendly and funny. He took a couple snips with his scissors, pauses to tell a story, snips again, and so on.
I explained my situation and he gave me a classic businessman’s haircut. He said it used to be called the «short-​long»: short, but not so much that your spend the next couple weeks looking like you just got a haircut. A good, no frills haircut for $ 12.

I have been going to the same barber in Southern California since I was 15 years old. Finally, my hair was getting out of control and I couldn’t wait for the next trip down there so I decided I would find an Oakland barber. After reading Scott F’s review below, I decided to give Ricky’s a shot.
First the bad parts: Haircut took roughly 75 minutes. He didn’t seem to pay any attention to the way I described how I wanted it cut. He just kind of did his thing.
Now the good parts: He called my haircut the «Hollywood Summer cut». I’ve never had a named haircut before. And despite not being anything like what I wanted, I actually really like it.
Ricky is an amazing human being. Throughout the 75 minute process I was never bored while he regaled me with stories of Oakland’s past. I won’t spoil the surprise by giving any details here. Just try for yourself and be entertained.
Oh yeah, in an area and a time where everything costs at least twice as much as its worth, Ricky keeps it real and his prices are very reasonable.

I work in downtown Oakland and needed a cut and I saw this place listed.
I found the address and peeked in to see a small space with one barber chair and an older man, Ricardo (aka Ricky), at the helm. He’s been cutting hair in Oakland near the Tribune tower since the 1950s and he moved over to this other space a few blocks away from the Tribune Tower when the Tribune Tower was sold.
The experience is a really good old school experience. This is a classic barber shop and a barber that has been cutting hair for 50 years, which is a lot longer than I’ve even been alive. He has serious experience and, needless to say, gave me a good cut (and I have insanely straight hair on which every cut shows).
While cutting, Ricky animatedly told me about the changes in Oakland over the years, about his time in the US Navy and how he ended up here. He also told me a few jokes and some colorful stories. If you have a taste for colorful, entertaining and unique people, then you’ll like him. He might have «old school» attitudes or swear a bit as he’s busy telling a story, but it’s part of his sincere, warm charm.
While you’re there, you should check out the photos he has of former customers and of himself in younger days since they’re interesting. Bruce Lee is up there along with some greater and lesser known celebrities from mostly previous times.
I’d recommend checking this place out. The main possible warning I’d give is that you might not want to go when you’re in a hurry since if he’s not busy, he’ll probably want to talk a bit (my cut took an hour or so), but I found this to be part of the fun so I didn’t mind, though I did need to get back to work.
Enjoy your cut.