Chai’s Barber Shop

Had my haircut here for the first time the other day. Walked in and got a seat in the chair immediately. Chai was my barber and he was awesome. He has a really loving and peaceful way of being. Being in his chair I felt genuinely cared about. He took his time with the cuts, it seemed very intentional. I didn’t get a look at myself until the end and I was genuinely surprised. I usually don’t like haircuts. I find them a little awkward for the first few days, but this cut I liked immediately. He also put some nice smelling aftershave on my neck. Best haircut I’ve ever gotten.

Chai and John make you feel like family and they are truly great at cutting hair. Have had a few styles while going there and they master them all.

This is our neighborhoods barbershop. You will find skilled barbers and pleasant shop. Noticed this is a barbershop that guys will wait a long time because is worth the wait. Now ladies are welcome. There’s a stylist barber working there. Support out local business! Bring all your friends and family. YOU WON’T BE DISSAPOINTED.

It’s a matter of perspective. Maybe amongst Utah barbershops (between the generic salons and some «boutique» barbershops), this may be a great place, but anywhere else, it’s simply mediocre. I live in LA, but was visiting my parents for over two weeks, seeing as my schedule is a haircut every two weeks (side fade plus a top pomp) I decided to stop in to Chai’s for a fix-​up (and specifically asking for Chai). After a 1.5 hour wait, I left disappointed, and slightly angry, and yes — I did bring a picture.
The cut: The fade was okay, uneven in some spots, but he managed obtain most of the necessary weight in the back and the sides. His hard part was a little slimmer than I expected, but he has attention to detail, and shaves it straight and clean.
The caveat: don’t let him touch the top. He rounded it and cut it a little too short to facilitate the comb-​over style that was necessary for the pomp in the front. He then styled it with Pomade (despite the picture and I walked in with a matte finish) and slicked it back, completely eliminating any sort of volume in the style.
Final verdict: the guy is good for some basic cuts. Buzzes, some standard fades, fine. But don’t expect the same sort of attention to detail, quality, or even training that comes with some of the barbershops in bigger locales. His prices are also along the same lines of Barbershops in LA/​NY — despite his competitors all feature lower prices for the same cut.

Used to love this place, they always cut my hair really well. But since I moved I haven’t been in awhile because it’s pretty far from me now. I was in the area and decided to stop in and just wait for whoever was open but isaiah (my old barber) greeted me said they were booked up the whole day and I could make an appointment to come back tomorrow. This just reminds me more of a hair salon than a barbershop, rather try another place than have to plan out my haircut every month.

There are now usually 3 or 4 barbers there in the afternoon and evening, with fewer during morning hours. Everyone there still provides great haircuts, so much so that I actually have started seeing one of Chai’s newer barbers. This is still the place to go for a haircut!

I get my haircut at chais once a week for the last 3 years, I have been on a long road to find the perfect barber and once I found chai I never looked back. Chai its more of a good friend to me then just my barber, I don’t even need to tell him what kind of hair cut I want he already knows and to me coming here is always a great experience. You come here for a hair cut and you leave with new friends made. I plan on coming here for the rest of my life. I have been to most good shops here in slc and chais has been the most memorable and best hair cut experience you will ever have, here you will laugh talk and enjoy even the time you spend waiting in line. I can always look forward to chai being there for me when I’m in need of a good haircut. A couple years ago when chai first was opening his shop he did a early opening for me and my friends so we would be ready for Vegas this is something I will never forget. I most definitely recommend chais barbershop for any type of haircut your looking for, if you want a fantastic barber with over 20 years of experience and friend for life this is the place for you.

Great cut and friendly vibe. The best for beard trimming and old fashioned shaves. Thanks Chai!

A friend recommended Chai’s shop to me when I was seeking a good white-​boy fade like I have gotten at Maxwell’s in Reno. I’ve been to Ray’s as well, and while they cut a decent fade, the place is always crowded, the receptionist is indifferent at best, and I never seem to get the same guy twice. Chai’s, on the other hand, is awesome. So awesome that I almost don’t want to write a good review because I don’t want it to get too popular like Ray’s. Chai himself is THE MAN. Hilarious, friendly, interesting and interested in you, not to mention great with hair. He really takes care of you and makes sure you get exactly what you want, and remembers you and your preferences the next time you come in. I have also sat with Elijah and John, both of whom did an excellent job cleaning me up after months of no cuts, and were friendly to boot. I have very fine hair that shows lines very easily, plus a receding hairline, and I’ve never had any issues days or even weeks afterwards. If there was one thing I would change about the shop, it would be the wait time, but since everyone else there is getting the same personal experience, it’s to be expected. Don’t go in thinking you’re not going to spend a minute. You are. You’re going to have conversations while you wait and while you’re in the chair. It’s gonna take time. It’s going to cost you $ 15 plus tip. You’re going to have a straight razor neck shave, and your clothes are NOT going to have hair on them. And when you’re done, you’ll have a perfect cut and some great stories to tell your friends. Thank you Chai!

I first decided to try this place after reading Zach F. review here several months ago. I’m the type of person who really appreciates a good haircut and I can say that both John and Chai are top-​notch barbers! I have never had anyone cut my hair spend near the amount of attention to detail as Chai and John did.
I waited several months before writing a review because the first time I went to Chai’s shop Chai himself was my barber and gave me the best haircut of my life. Before writing a review I wanted to make sure these guys were the real deal and that the amazing haircut I received wasn’t just a one-​off. I’ve had 5 haircuts in a row from this place and each time I am amazed at the thorough job they do. Seriously, these guys know how to cut hair and treat it like an art form.
The first thing I will say about my experience at Chai’s is that it is much longer than was used to. That is of course not a bad thing because they really take their time and do everything right. It’s certainly not that they are slow, it’s just that these guys actually take their time and create a good haircut rather than rushing people in and out of seats to fill quotas set by a haircut chain executive.
The entire experience at Chai’s was so different than what I was used because I think I’ve been accustomed to repeatedly settling for Great Clips, Sports Clips, Fantastic Sam’s, or some random salon. And most of the time the individuals in these shops are women females and sometimes (not all the time of course) women tend to focus more of their attention and expertise on hair needs particular to women (e.g. layering, styling, coloring, extensions, weaves, etc.)
I don’t mean to downplay these other establishments, but so many of the stylists at these types of places don’t have the skill to really do a good blend or fade or to focus on sideburns neckline– all things that really make or break a guy’s haircut. Having seen the difference a true barber brings to the outcome I will never settle for a haircut from someone who hasn’t gone to barbering school and really made that a focus.
I am happy to see that Chai’s is expanding and they even have a female barber working there. At Chai’s I always walk out feeling like a million bucks and I enjoy chatting with the guys. There is a great sense of camaraderie and there is a great atmosphere. I work every day in a suit and tie so I need a business haircut, but they can do all types of haircuts because they are just that good.

I went to Chai’s based on my roommate telling me to go and I’m glad he mentioned it to me. Not only is the shop minutes away from my house but Chai himself is a really rad guy: super friendly, talkative, takes his time with your hair to make sure it’s just right. What more can you ask for? It’s the first place in Salt Lake that I’ve found that’s like a guys hangout too, not like a salon. Really not much else to say other than you get what you pay for. So if you want to keep looking like you got a $ 10 haircut at Great Clips go for it, but if you want to upgrade yourself then go to Chai’s. I’ll be going back for as long as I’m in Salt Lake.

What’s that you say? My favorite barber opened his own shop? I don’t have to wait 2 people deep to get my hair cut now? He’s the kind of barber that remembers how I like it cut so it’s the same every time? I’m sold!
After 6 years at Ray’s Barbershop, Chai has gone out on his own and opened a nice little shop. The shop itself is new, clean, and bright. He’s furnished it with antique barber chairs, but the real prize is the guy behind the chair. Chai takes his time and never tries to push you out the door, even if someone else is waiting. Between gabbing and cutting, I think he took about 30 minutes on my cut vs 12 minutes at the Great Clips/​Supercuts type places. Best part is his cuts always grow in nicely. You’ll look as dashing in 2 weeks as you do when you walk out.
There’s a few changes from Ray’s though. No more massage at the end of the cut. He also doesn’t use Bay Rum aftershave like they do at Ray’s (but I might bring my own next time cause I kind of like it) rather he has chosen a modern aftershave.
I’d definitely recommend you check him out next time you need to get your ears lowered. Cut’s are $ 15. I’m giving him 4 stars now because the shop is still new. I’m sure when he gets a few things ironed out (quieter shop vacs, I’m not sure if he’s set up for credit cards yet) it’ll be 5 stars for sure. Either way I’ll keep going back.