Anyone with shorter hair knows how hard it is to find a go-to place. Ray’s is a go-to place, and Ray is the go-to guy. Best haircut and barbershop experience I’ve had in a decade, and I will absolutely be back!

Did a walk-in today and got a great haircut. Shawn cut my hair and I couldnt be more pleased. I told him what I had in mind, which was much shorter than what I walked in with. He had a good sense of how to make the look completely appropriate for me and my type of hair. And a thoroughly pleasant guy. I will definitely be using Rays from here on.

I brought my toddler here a couple years ago. Hes not the easiest head of hair to cut. I started going to Ray more recently. Awesome haircut. Good conversation. Make a reservation and you shouldnt have any issues. Very happy with the outcome!

So I used to go to Ray’s a lot. It used to be friendly people cutting hair and a great neighborhood spot. The last two times I’ve gone though I feel that’s changed. Last time I got skipped in the walk in line due to the complexity of my haircut, service was less then friendly, and while I liked the haircut I ended up with, I didn’t feel it was worth the wait, cost and general lack of friendliness shown. Today I went to go sign up as a walk in and was rudely told walk ins were done. There was no attempt to tell me when to come back, how to make an appointment or any concern for me as a customer. The feel was very dismissive despite getting my haircut there for years and always tipping above the industry standard. I’m giving it three stars for my past good experiences but will be going to Gotham downtown for now on. I don’t expect a red carpet, but I do expect to be treated in a friendly way when accessing services.

Our first experience was getting my 2 year olds first haircut ever. Ray was great, knew exactly how to manage my son, and we were in and out fast. Decided to go back for it own haircut and walked away just as happy.

The gifted barber with black hair, cut and groomed my hair to perfection. He was very fast, efficient and focused, as he performed his craft like a Maestro. Bravo!

A neighborhood gem. Friendly staff and environment. Quality haircuts at a fair price. And they are good with small kids.

Always a great cut, no matter who takes care of you.

Great cut. Very happy customer.

I have to say, out 30 years of getting hair cuts, Ray’s place is by far my favorite. I have medium length hair and Ray does an awesome job every time. If you have medium to long hair, you can’t go wrong with Ray. I highly recommend him.

Ray is an outstanding person. His son took over the establishment and we are getting the same level of excellence. We have established such a great relationship. I have been coming here for many, many years. Great cuts, great shaves, great atmosphere! This place brings back the good old memories of when my dad owned his own barber shop. I highly recommend Rays! Keep up the greatness and thank you for being awesome!Your long time customer and friend,Isaac

Best prices in the city with fantastically skilled barbers. A nice neighborhood atmosphere. Book your appointments online to avoid wait times.

A great experience on my nyc visit! Great quick haircut in a classic setting and affordable

Ive been going to Rays for about four years and it is consistently the best haircut Ive ever gotten at a barbershop or a salon. Ive paid $60 for haircuts that werent even close to as good. Ray is kind, and he learns his customers names. He cares about making you feel comfortable and hes incredibly accommodating. Ever since I started going to Rays, anytime Ive had to get a haircut somewhere else its been a drag. I really cant recommend it enough. No matter where I live in Manhattan, Ray will always be my barber. (And because hes so good and cares so much, the other folks he hires to cut hair at his barbershop are also fantastic. Its hard to go wrong.)

My hair cut was on point. I recommend José because he’s the one I used but all are probably just as good.

First haircut since this pandemic started! Jose does amazing work and always leaves me feeling like a new man! Along with everyone else there they are taking all precautions to keep people safe. They are barbacide certified. They have partitions up between chairs. They are also not doing beards which I found relieving. Who wants to get rid of their immaculate facial identity.

I called to get my hair colored, they said they do it.. when my turn came, they said no sorry we dont do colors 😒 so as i crossed a long distance based on the 5 stars of the shop, i wanted to get a haircut too. it was good but not extraordinary as expected or as the comments below say.. they are cool guys but surely can find better and more professional .. you have to wait for more than 50 minutes and its a small salon !! They mention that in September they ll work on reservations.. so maybe will be better

Had a great first experience here! Was a walk-in appointment, left my number and they texted me to come back when they had an opening. Will definitely take advantage of their online appointment for my next cut!

Great place, great service, and unlike some of the other places around, they follow covid19 precautions. Highly recommended!

Go here if you like a friendly, small-town feel barbershop, where they greet you by name, and always deliver excellent service. Ray and Kris are the best barbers Ive ever had. I will miss them dearly, as I have sadly moved out of the area.

I got my haircut on 8/1/20. One of the best first time experiences Ive ever had in the US.They were following all the necessary safety guidelines which added more value to the overall experience. Highly recommended!

Old-school barber, friendly staff. Works out best if you call ahead and make and appointment.

Best haircut I’ve had in years.Ray is supper friendly, was quick but made sure I got exactly what I asked for.Absolute legend.

For most of my life, I would usually go(in a barbershop) with little to no context on how the service was provided. What I did understand was that they did a sufficient job. One of my biggest issues as an adult was that I was a busy person and as a result not a fan of walk-ins. They were not organized and the wait times were undefined(usually 2-hour experience). In the worst case, there was a misconstruing over what service I wanted them to provide for me.After doing some research I found that this barbershop books appointment which is an ultra-convenient feature that mitigates stress. Lastly, although I wasnt able to make the first session they were flexible enough to accommodate me which was commendable.When I had my session on the second appointment the barber Ray was friendly and approachable. He walked me through the service and provided me the insight I had not been aware of for most of my life. I can tell that he and Kristopher have good intentions. The service itself lasted for no more than half hour. If you want exemplary service that the neighborhood provides, then this barbershop is the perfect example of that criteria.

Best place in town to get your haircut.

An Inwood institution.

Ray is easily the best barber in NYC.

Ive been coming to Rays for years since moving to the neighborhood. The prices are reasonable and the service is excellent. I really have no complaints, this is a top notch family owned establishment, and Im going to miss coming here when I move!

Great! Great establishment in this neighborhood. My partner and I love coming here for our hair cut. They are very professional, especially my guy Jose is the best!!! The owner, Ray is an awesome guy just to be around.

Three years ago, I moved back to NYC and couldn’t find a barber who could give me a skin fade exactly the way I wanted. Kristopher Shane from Ray’s Barber Shop reached out to me and wanted to give it a try. From that day on, Kris has been the only person who has touched my hair. I won’t go to anyone else! Also, Ray is usually on-site and takes care of his own fan base of clients. Ray offers the clients and me a beer whenever he has some. Kris and Ray are the best!

Very skilled barbers, great service. Insane value for money in Manhattan.

I love this place! Everyone is lovely and personable. I got a great haircut. This is primarily a barber shop for guys, but Im a less is more kind of gal and wanted to try it. I want it trimmed and thats it - and they do a quality job for a quick shaping and trim.

Always have a great experience when I come to Rays. I always feel so welcome and get a great cut every time. I would absolutely recommend him to any of my friends and family. The price is great, the environment is comfortable, and I always leave with the cut I wanted!

Love this place! Open super early if you need to try to squeeze in a haircut before going to work. Reasonable pricing. Really casual vibe and tv going to keep everything relaxed. You might want to bring something to read... Theyll try to get you in as quickly as possible but wait time can vary greatly. Just depends on the day and time. Go onto their website and you can make an appointment for Fridays and Saturdays if you dont want to wait. Best barbershop in Inwood!

These are weird times for barber shops is what Ray told me when he called me to personally handle a technical issue I had when trying to book an appointment last week. The brand new website that Ray had constructed to take online appointments during the ongoing pandemic still had some bugs (which were fixed the very next day), so when I wrote to the sites webmaster to report this problem I was surprised to hear directly from the proprietor.This brand of all-too-rare accountability to customers is part of what makes Rays Barber Shop the Inwood mainstay it is. Chances are the reputation Rays has is what brought you to read this extra-long review, and theres more than one good reason for that kind of notoriety.In light of the recent adjustments to the citys health code, Ray had protective plexiglass barriers recently installed between the chairs. For the safety of all of this customers, everyone is required to wear a mask while inside. There is no indoor waiting area. Instead, customers make their appointments through Rays website and show up at their appointed time, or they try their luck as a walk-in. With sanitizing gels, disinfecting towels, and antimicrobial measures taken everywhere, I felt safe and out of harms way while getting six months worth of the hair I had grown in isolation buzzed off.A multigenerational establishment, Rays has been serving the Inwood community for decades. Although this review was written by someone who moved to the neighborhood only two years ago, I quickly sensed the respect this venerable spot has among the locals. Like so many proud barber shops with a long history, Rays is the place patrons go for top quality haircuts in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. The fun and honest banter tossed across the room has made every one of my visits a memorable occasion.No matter how you look walking in, youll walk out looking good. More importantly, you walk away feeling like a king.

Great place to grab a haircut at an affordable price. The staff are skilled with scissors/razors and are very friendly too. Highly recommended!

Ive been going to Rays for 5+ years now, and itt the only barbershop I trust for a cut. Ray is the man, has excellent hands, and is a genuinely good dude. Great with kids, too!

I’ve been going to Ray’s Barber Shop for five years and I’ve never had anything less than a great haircut. Whether it’s Ray or one of the other master barbers, you’ll get the look you want because they they never rush and they always make sure that you’re getting what you want. I’ve lived in NYC for 12 years and Ray’s is the best barber shop I’ve ever been to.

Stopped here for a fade. It’s a good Barber Shop!

This is THE BEST barbershop in Inwood and we have quite a number of them. Ive been a client for approximately 35 years. Friendly, professional and courteous service ALWAYS and they have the best prices!!! First Ray (the father)🙏🙏 NOW Ray (the son) and Kris!!!💖💖💖💖 They are excellent!!

Had my beard trimmed and shaped. Barber (Chris?) Did a real good job. Rays uncle Frank used to cut my hair when I was a boy. The shop was on Broadway then. Its a well established family owned business, and always family friendly. Lots of children got their hair cut when I was there. Some for the first time. Its busy, so if you dont have time to wait, make an appointment.

I heard about this place and was excited to have a haircut and shave my beard. I arrived 20 minutes before the shop opened and parked in front. It was cold and it had already started to snow. Im disabled so I remained in the car patiently for the shop to open. The owner opened up and as i was removing my walker and locking up the car someone walked in and jumped in to the barbers chair. I didnt complain. I sat in the rear and waited patiently for about an hour. The barber called me over when he was ready. I noticed that the barber chairs were antiques and the arms did not move upward and didnt allow for me to slide in. The barber only showed concern was when he thought I may damage the chair because of my gerth and walker. I asked the barber if we would perform his duty in the waiting area where I was seated because it was a banquette. He stated without hesitation....NO. The barber didnt offer any apologies for the inconvenience or lack of accommodation. I walked away embarrassed and disappointed. Many establishments in this city treat the disabled the same. TOO BAD. I am known to tip very well. His loss.......Update as of 4/1/2019. I am a God fearing man and everyone deserves a second chance. I have abandonment issues and I was very upset and embarrassed. The owner replied immediately to this review. He answered all open questions and concerns that I had and even offered to make a house visit due to my disability. I thank him truly for that. I only wish him the best.

I had a close friend recommend I go to Ray’s, and I am so glad he did. I have found my new barber. Shaun cut my hair, and did an amazing job. He is clearly a master barber. I will be coming here from now on, NO QUESTION!

Just got my haircut here for the first time and I will say this is the best place I have ever been to. They are professional and very good at what they do. Couldnt give more praise to Chris and the rest for the warm welcome. Will be going here from now on. Price is great and the people are great. Highly recommended it!!!!

Great cut from Zack. My new go to spot

A true old school barber shop. Everyone is friendly and Ray always cuts my hair just right. Love this place. Real nice neighborhood vibe.

Great service

Ray is a great guy. Always keeps me looking well groomed, and entertained.

Ray is a great guy and barber. I usually get my cut from Shawn and he’s a master.

Rays Barbershop is a family owned business that has been in operation for years. Following in the footsteps of his father, Ray not only provides a comfortable neighborhood place to get your haircut, but he had also updated the place. Fresh stain, nicer bench to sit on in the back, glassy screen on three wall with sports. Love getting a shave from here. Nothing beats a straight edge when trying to get a very close shave. Early hours as well are greatly appreciated. Just be aware there may be a wait on certain times of the day, especially if you want a particular person to cut your hair. Love that they note take credit cards. Side note: Samsung pay works here too. 😉

A great neighborhood spot with consistently good haircuts. Ray Jr. and his staff are super friendly. The recently remodelled shop is clean and inviting. Also now offering the option to book haircuts online. An Inwood staple!

Excellent neighborhood barbershop, quality work, friendly atmosphere. Ask for Kris if you want a beard trim. He is practically a surgeon in his attention to detail when shaping up your beard, and I see him roughly once a week for a quick beard trim. Great people and quality work at this place all around.

Great neighborhood spot, very friendly, good barbers. Bring some time and patience there will probably be a long wait. Very popular spot.

Went in for a quick trim. Left looking sharp and ready for business. Super friendly staff, a great haircut, and great pricing. All you can ask for in a barber shop. Would 100% recommend.

Great

Rays is one of my absolute favorite places in NYC. It is a gem. I NEVER get my hair cut anywhere else. Priceless gem. Love it and the guys who work there.

Great service, quality work, hard-working and friendly staff. Overall, this place is one of the best place to get a haircut at an affordable price.

Best barbershop in a neighborhood full of barbershops. Ray is fantastic and everyone that works there does great work.

Rays a really funny guy and gives the best haircuts with reasonable prices!

Best barber Ive had in years! Ray Jnr gave me exactly what I wanted and more... great service and an amazing cut. After visiting many different barbers and being disappointed with their styling, rays Is now my go-to barber.

This is the only place in the neighborhood I would consider getting a haircut at. Always great services.

This place is great. They do straight razor shaves and edging. Ive seen all sorts of different hairstyles get done here as well as beards. Sean is my guy, but most everyone Ive seen is really good at what they do.

Great place!

Very good hot shave with very personable barbers. Ray is the best and he knows what hes doing.

Went to get my Beard trimmed by Chris and loved how it came out. Must make an appointment

Ray’s barber isn’t just a place to get a haircut, but a place for the community to come together and hang out. The cuts are always clean and it’s affordable. I always look forward to getting my cut at Ray’s.

Lived in the area a decade, and usually get my hair cut at a place in Morningside Heights... but always dread it. So I kept putting off the hair cut, and was dangerously close to pony-tail length (nothing against pony-tails, but Im not a pony-tail guy). My husband suggested Rays, so I went, and it was fairly awesome. Everyone was nice, the atmosphere was great, with an even better soundtrack. My barber cut my hair exactly as I wanted. Being legally blind, it is always a scary thing to remove my glasses and hope for the best, but the barber was smart enough to make sure he wasnt over-cutting (which always happens) by using his fingers to show where hed be cutting rather than taking a general about an inch or so direction as a suggestion rather than permission. As with Penthouse magazine, I never thought Id write a review of a business, but my experience was so delightful I want to get out the word. Rays is a great place to go for a no-nonsense cut with friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere.

This is my 2nd poor experience with Ray’s Barber Shop. The first time I tried to walk in on a Saturday, the shop was closed even though it was listed as open on Google and the website. Silly me, I thought. I’ll make an appointment next time. I made an appointment, showed up today, and the barber “assigned to my appointment” didn’t show up for work, and no chance to take a walk in. No courtesy notification. NYC is a competitive market for a good barber, and these are two big misses. I’m sensitive to the challenges of small businesses, but hope that this serves as a call to action to improve the customer experience. There aren’t many people who will give a 2nd chance in this competitive of a market.

Experienced cutters and relaxed atmosphere

Great place for a cut and to maintain. Very friendly people who handle kids extremely well.

Good barber shop. There can be a bit of a wait but its worth it since they do a good job.

Great group of guys and nice cuts.

Been coming here for a year now, tremendous service and very talented barbers.

As you can read in the past reviews, it is a classic barbershop where they care a lot about customer service, and as a business guy I love that, also they are very experienced and know how to make a great haircut, always! Recommended!

This place has a great vibe, and Ray and all his barbers are terrific.

Ray is great. Wouldnt go anywhere else.

Simple. Fast, elegant

Awesome cuts at super reasonable prices, these guys are the real deal.

Ray is the real deal, a neighborhood barber in a real retro barbershop. He knows everyone and is a good conversationalist. Great cuts, fair prices.DanInwood resident

Really bad experience. Long wait for nothing.

Best cut Ive had in NYC. I throw the barbers a curveball too, when I walk in: I have alopecia, so I usually just get a skin fade, hard part; thats all I need to say. They know what theyre doing . Doesnt hurt that its only a block away from me. #SupportLocal

Went to the father now I go to the Son.... Only place in the neighborhood I would consider getting a haircut at....

This spot is amazing, they cut my hair right and I was completely happy with the results. Also, I was a walkin on a Saturday and they were still able to get me in within and hour, they even have a bench in the back to wait it out.

Great barbers. Awesome vibe. Super friendly.

Ray is the man. Also, the price is right. Make an appointment on Friday or Saturday if you want to have the boss

I haven’t had a bad experience here. All of the barbers do a tremendous job and it is clear they take pride in their work.

Went into this barber shop on a whim after 4 months without a haircut due to alopecia areata. Had a wedding to go to and Ray Jr. did a fantastic job giving me a good cut while still blending in to cover my thinning and alopecia spots. I would highly recommend this shop to anyone looking for a quality cut at an extremely affordable price. I will be making Rays my go to hair spot.

Always great and relaxing. Old school. Been going for over 35 years plus

I have lived in the neighborhood for 16 plus years. I accidently stumbled apon Rays while heading to Inwood Hillpark. Back then it was run by Ray Sr. A few years ago his son took over seamlessly. It is a wonderful place that serves the whole community. Mens Barber shops in this neighborhood are a dime a dozen and many barbers in the area cut without proper credentials and tons of attitude if you are not part of the crew. Everyone at Rays are professionals. I have had my hair cut by pretty much everyone and never had a bad cut. My young boy is a regular as well. I come here knowing there will be no BS, a friendly atmosphere and that my needs will be met.

Friendly staff, great prices, and great cuts.

This is a place where you actually know the people.

Really great people and a very welcoming family oriented place.

Ray and Chris are great, good cuts, straightforward atmosphere, good price. Highly recommend it

Guy called Sean cut my hair. Left with cuts all over the back of my neck. Wont be returning.

Reminds me of Cheers. This is the little classic neighborhood barber shop everyone goes to for straight forward old fashion hair cuts for a fair price.

They know how to do their job.

Got a high quality scissor cut for $17.

Voted best barbershop in nyc _ ny daily news

Great traditional barber shop.

Great and friendly place to get a haircut in Inwood!