New punk rock barbershop in Tacoma specializes in the classic straight-razor shave
Hidden inside the Sola Salons complex is a new barber shop that offers a punk-rock vibe with a specialty in the straight-razor shave and a focus on customer service.
Dark Heart Barber Collective, co-owned and operated by barbers Tito Nuñez and Shane Flauding, officially opened Aug. 15 at 5401 6th Ave. 300, Studio No. 26 in Tacoma.
Nuñez and Flauding both worked at Supernova Barber Shop and Hair Salon off Division Avenue for about five years before taking the leap to start their own barber shop, Flauding said. The pair plan to find a larger location in the future and expand with more barbers once they get more comfortable as owners, he said.
Both Nuñez and Flauding are in the Tacoma music scene – Flauding as lead singer of local punk rock group The Jet City Fix and Nuñez as the vocalist of hardcore band Bad Influence. Their love of rock ‘n’ roll is evident in the band posters around the shop and music playing on the speakers.
Nuñez and Flauding said they want to focus on customer service, something they say sets them apart from others in the barbering industry who “get this reputation of being kind of snobby,” Nuñez said.
“Since we got out of barber school, Shane and I have always been kind of customer service freaks,” Nuñez said. “[It’s] definitely a trust thing, right? Right when somebody comes in, especially if they’ve never been to our shop before, a warm greeting makes people feel immediately welcome.”
Flauding added, “If you asked our existing client base about the vibe when they walk in here … it sounds kind of cheesy or cliche, but it does kind of feel like a family. That’s the vibe that we’re trying to create, where it’s a fun place to be. There’s people who don’t want to leave after their haircut.”
Although they’ve only been open three weeks, customers seem to agree. Dark Heart Barber Collective has already received an average five star rating, with 94 reviews on Google.
Every haircut comes with a straight-razor finish shave around the ears and the neck, Flauding said. Both barbers said they do a variety of haircuts at any hair length in a variety of styles, whether it’s a traditional gentleman’s cut or something with more texture or a unique style.
“[We do] a lot of straight razor work, which for some reason nowadays is kind of lost in the barbering industry,” Nuñez said. “There’s a lot of barber shops that don’t really offer any straight-razor work, like full shaves and shaves with hot towels, hot lather, you know, oils and stuff like that. So I think that us centering around the traditional method of barbering, which is how we were taught … just seals the haircut in.”
Nuñez said he’s a very social person who loves to talk with his clients and make them feel good, regardless of who they are or what their style is.
“We have so many different walks of life that come in here, and barbering for me is special because we are with our clients through every major event in their life,” he said. “They’ll come in before their wedding, before you know, major events, friends visiting from out of town … it’s just a really cool relationship that’s established.”
Flauding said he’s cut some clients’ hair for years and enjoys watching them get older, especially kids.
“I love the artistic creativity that I get to put out with barbering. Every haircut is a challenge, something different, because nobody has the same head or hair texture,” he said. “I used to be in bands and that was, and it still is to a degree, my creative outlet, but barbering definitely is a daily creative outlet that I love.”
The barbers will cut anyone above the age of 6. Most haircuts take 30 minutes, but clients have an hour carved out, they said. The shop is now open for appointments.
Haircuts are $45, beard trims are $45 and a haircut and beard trim is $70. Straight-razor face shaves are $55. A haircut and a shave is $80 and straight-razor head shaves are $57, Nuñez said.
If you go
▪ Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment
▪ Website and booking: https://darkheartbarber.com/
▪ Address: 5401 6th Ave. 300, Studio No. 26, Tacoma
This story was originally published September 6, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
