2020 belongs to Thirty30: The barber shop for your New Year glow-up

The new decade is here, and I’ll be damned if this isn’t my most handsome one yet. It’s going to be self-care every day, and nobody does self-care like me. However, even I know I need some help to make this happen, and it all starts with the hair, baby.

2020 belongs to a new generation of barbers in Columbus, and the best of them are at Thirty30 Barber Shop in Clintonville. Thirty30 was founded in 2017 when four barbers (Alec, Dave, Paul, and Patrick) from the nationally renowned Short North barber shop, Turner’s, took their talents to Clintonville and set up their own shop at 3030 N. High Street. Despite their young age and rebellious nature, they made sure not to cut ties with the traditional Columbus barber culture by securing a business partner in the owner of the city’s oldest barber shop, Longview, which has been serving Columbus residents for over 100 years.

Nonetheless, as their mural on the back wall will tell you, there are “NO KINGS and NO MASTERS” at Thirty30. These guys are just as tired as I am of the traditional boss/employee business model. They get it. Traditional bosses stifle creativity and individuality of employees that could be used to drive the business forward. My barber, Alec Hill, describes his model as, “Every chair is each guy’s space. Everyone is their own boss”.

You can tell before they even say anything that Thirty30 is about freedom of expression. Each barber’s space is radically different than the others. Some are decorated with large flags while others are adorned with works of art done by the barber himself or a friend. My favorite piece is an Outkast painting with Andre 3000 and Big Boi staring menacingly at any customer that dares to look their way. This is a barber shop that you will not find anywhere else. This is a barber shop run by and for artists.

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However, their artistry and rebellious attitudes are not the only things that make this barber shop special. They are wizards with the clippers and scissors. The fame of their former home, Turner’s Barber Shop, had a lot to do with the fact that these guys were doing the cuts which made the shop famous. They take their time, working with the customer to ensure you get exactly what you want and know how to keep it that way between cuts. Each barber in this joint is a perfectionist.

Hill knows these skills are no accident, as he explains “We all did 1,800 hours of barber school and took it really seriously. Most police departments require 600 hours of training, and we only have razors.”

Because of their training and business style, Hill goes on to say that versatility is Thirty30’s greatest strength. He adds, “We can do traditional, but we also like to push the limits and incorporate modern styles.”

This versatility was bred from the belief that a barber shop can be more than just a fade and shave. Thirty30 places an emphasis on self-care.

“You don’t see most barber shops with sink stations and steamers. We also offer black mask facials,” Hill explains.

Really, Thirty30 is doing more than just questioning what a barber shop can be, they also want to question what a man can be. This is the place to be if you are looking for a barbershop that interacts with the community and can give you a fresh cut.

Haircuts start at $28 with the option to add on other services. Each barber has their own prices that you can check online and schedule appointments for at www.thirty30barbershop.com. They also accept walk-ins.

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