Tucked away in Town and Country Village, 18|8 Palo Alto defines itself as a “modern barbershop for the modern gentleman.” Semi-private styling chairs play host to a wide variety of high-end grooming services, signature Executive haircuts and straight-razor shaves to more indulgent scalp, face and nail treatments. 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
Hometown barber Christopher Eliares (aka Cream the Barber) finally opened a salon in Walnut Creek. Eliares and his co-barbers have true range: They’ll take a little off the top or whip up pompadours, fades, undercuts, lineups, portraits and freestyle designs, plus shaves and beard trims. The cuts are meticulous and the vibe unpretentious. 1829 Mount Diablo Blvd., Ste. C, Walnut Creek
Both classic and modern cuts are the name of the game at Santa Teresa Barber Shop. With decades of experience under his belt, head honcho Steven Chan has been transforming the hairstyles of plenty of Bay Area A-listers, including the tresses of San Jose Shark’s head coaches. 7038 Santa Teresa Blvd., San Jose