Six Barbershops That Make the Cut

2175. Cut: $20. Beard trim: $12.

Westover Barber Shop

Westover is a spot for celebrities, former owner Fares Abi-Najm says. "Ollie North comes in here, and John comes here," he says, motioning toward longtime customer John Horton, who admits he's not a celebrity outside the barbershop. North, however, does indeed come here, and for a time the "Ollie Cut" was on the price list.

"The thing about this place," Horton says, "is when most people walk in the door [the barbers] know their names." That's pretty uncommon, even at a small neighborhood shop, and Abi-Najm is glad the new owner, Annie Tran, is continuing the tradition.

Although Abi-Najm, 58, sold the Arlington business in 2002 to manage the Lebanese Taverna in Tysons Corner, he still works Saturdays "to be with the guys." In addition to the regulars, "the guys" are barber Roger Nasr, 47, who like Abi-Najm is originally from Lebanon, and the new owners, Hong and Annie Tran, both from Vietnam. They've placed a smiling golden Buddha beside the cash register, but a good-luck statue won't be necessary if the barbers stick to the basics: Be kind to the customers and give good haircuts.

"There's something special about a barbershop," says Tom Mirga, a steady customer since 1988. "It engenders loyalty."

5910 Washington Blvd., Arlington, 703-241-9312. Cut: $14, seniors and children $12. Shave: $9. Beard trim: $5. Facial massage with hot towel: $16.

Westwood Barber Shop

"Nothing fancy," a customer tells Nick Santini after taking a seat for a cut. He's surely just saying that out of habit -- the Santini brothers don't do fancy haircuts, and their shop reflects that. Everything in this Bethesda strip-mall barbershop is classic: The chairs are decades old but well maintained, the super-clean floor has the traditional black and white square tiles, and the barbers are wearing matching light blue barber jackets.

On a recent visit, customers ranged from old men with canes to hip teenagers to boys who needed a booster for the chair. (One poor kid apparently had played barber and lost).

The Santini brothers -- Dominic, Nick and Joe -- emigrated from Italy's Abruzzo region and bought the Westwood shop in the 1960s. Unfortunately, the entire Westwood Shopping Center is slated for demolition, date uncertain, and the Santinis will have to retire or work part time somewhere else. They've ruled out trying to open another place because "the rent is sky high," says Dominic, who at 67 is the youngest of the three brothers. "You can't make it [cutting men's hair alone]; that's why they open unisex places."

This isn't good news for Mitch Corbett, who wasn't particular about where he got his hair cut until he started getting trims at the Santinis' shop. If the brothers stopped cutting hair, he says, "I don't know where I'd go."

5430 Westbard Ave., Bethesda, 301-654-9788. Cut: $15. Razor haircut: $19. Facial massage: $11. Scalp treatment: $6.