2906 W Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15216
(412) 207-7891
Step through the door of House of Handsome in Pittsburgh’s Dormont neighborhood and be transported to a different era. Getting a haircut here is an actual experience.
HoH has been getting some very solid coverage in the local press and I needed a haircut ASAP after a self-inflicted hair snafu involving a pair of clippers and my mind being somewhere other than where it should have been. Normally I would have just started from scratch and zipped my head but I wanted to avoid holiday photos of me looking like I just got back from Alien3.
As luck would have it, I had been keeping HoH in the back of my mind and been stealing looks at the place whenever I drove past - and immediately called to see if there was any possibility of an appointment. If not, I was going to be Sigourney Weaver’s poorly cast body double for Christmas.
There were no immediate openings that day but they agreed to see me the following one. I didn't mind wearing a hat for 24 hours so I agreed to stop in.
Was it a happy accident that I mutilated my hair? Maybe, because it afforded me the opportunity to get time in Lauren’s chair. More on that later.
First I had to get there. I set out to drive the six and a half miles that I knew would take an hour because of the holiday traffic around South Hills Village and the steady rain, which always seems to stop traffic in Pittsburgh for some reason. It took 50 (!) minutes to arrive for my 2 o’clock appointment. I must have been meant to be there because I ended up parking my Solar Orange i3 right in front of the tasteful Sierpinski Triangle tile facade that is the outward face of Pittsburgh’s House of Handsome.
Walk inside and it’s like 1922 v2.0.
In a previous career I toiled away all the live long day in the art deco masterpiece that is The Chrysler Building. The same kind of attention to detail that went into making that world renowned skyscraper went into the creation of HoH. The décor is modern but period appropriate; the vision beautifully rendered, from the patterned tin ceiling to the various brass fittings.
Basically it’s a refinement of the deco aesthetic executed with obvious care and with the artistic flair of Michael the owner.
The House of Handsome Experience
I could give you every detail of my haircut but I’m just going to gloss over what you might expect. Michael has a vision for his establishment. Basically you leave your guns at the door and comport yourself like a gentlemen. He runs his shop his way and I suspect if you don’t like it, the proverbial highway is in your future. I was gently but firmly rebuked for casually letting loose with a mild expletive when I was describing to him how I ended up in my predicament.
“Gentlemen don’t need to swear.”
Fair enough, I’m willing to play along. These rules, and I’m sure there are more, elevate and set the tone for what is and isn’t expected of patrons. (I’d love to help him come up with a “gentleman’s handbook” but I’m sure it’s something he’s already compiling. )
This is a boys club but girls are most definitely allowed. I was lucky enough for Lauren to be in control of my HoH experience. She guided me and explained the reasons behind the various creams, lotions, and related barbershop concoctions she applied to my face, head, hands and more (by more I mean she waxed my ears and nose and allowed me to see the fruits of her endeavors. Like I said, boys club.) And by the end of the roughly one hour experience I was as relaxed as can be and was ready to recommend the place to anyone who would listen. I can't wait to bring my Dad here when he is back in town.
SO, if you are in need of a haircut or maybe need a one hour vacation, I highly recommend Pittsburgh’s House of Handsome. Please note, in keeping with their period aesthetic the only form or renumeration accepted is that printed by Uncle Sam and which comes in the color green. It’s definitely worth saving up to visit.
