Columbia South Carolina’s Top 10 Barbershops & Barbers

The Profile

Southern Gentleman's Barbering Co. operates three Columbia-area locations: Five Points, a Lexington shop on Sunset Boulevard and a Chapin address on Amick’s Ferry Road. The business lists separate local phone numbers for each site and publishes distinct opening times for weekday and weekend customers, making it straightforward to choose the most convenient branch for your schedule.

Their published service menu covers a broad set of classic barbering treatments: dry classic haircuts, deluxe skin fades, head shaves, gentleman’s shaves with hot towels and lather, beard trims and short children’s cuts, with durations listed between 15 and 45 minutes and prices shown on the site for each service category.

The shop emphasises finishing rituals across its team of named master barbers, including hot towels, straight‑razor neck shaves and targeted aftercare products. Staff lists on the website show many trained barbers across locations which supports consistent technical standards and helps explain why clients seeking precise neck, beard or skin‑fade finishing commonly return.

Why It Made the List and Why It’s Our Top Pick

Southern Gentleman's takes the top spot because its multi‑site model pairs consistently described services with a large roster of master barbers, readily available finishing rituals such as hot‑towel straight‑razor neck shaves and clear published durations and prices that make appointment choices reliable and repeatable for a wide range of customers.

Good to Know

Each location publishes its own hours and phone number and accepts appointments through the website; Five Points, Lexington and Chapin have slightly different weekday and weekend opening patterns, so check the specific branch’s posted hours before booking or calling to confirm availability.

The Profile

Soda City Barbers is known locally for delivering sharp fades and carefully tidy finishes that emphasise a polished, natural look. The business places attention on matching final styling to each client’s features, producing results that read clean from multiple angles and stay wearable after the appointment.

The shop projects a relaxed yet professional atmosphere where the appointment flow is described as considered and calm rather than rushed, and barbers focus on consultation and suitability as much as the purely visual outcome. That combination creates consistently neat finishes that many clients describe as both flattering and low‑maintenance over time.

Why It Made the List

Soda City Barbers stands out for the way it balances technical precision with an unhurried, personable shop environment: the focus on tidy fades, attentive consultation and a steady, consistent appointment rhythm gives clients confidence that the haircut will suit their lifestyle as well as their look.

Good to Know

Soda City Barbers prioritises clear consultation and considered finishing, so arrive prepared to describe desired length, fade depth and beard shaping; brief conversations about suitability and maintenance help the barber replicate the tidy, low‑maintenance result the shop is known for.

The Profile

Gentleman’s Quarters was founded by Dominic Peterson, a Master Barber who relocated from New York, and the shop presents a deliberately elevated men’s grooming environment. The team emphasises continuous education, a curated service menu and an energetic, stylish interior, and arrivals are greeted with a complimentary drink during appointments.

Services range from the signature Gentleman’s Deluxe haircut, which includes a hot‑towel straight‑razor neck shave, to the Executive experience that adds shampoo, a scalp massage and a steam‑enhanced facial; the site lists clear pricing bands (for example $50–$75 for standard cuts) and asks clients to select hair‑length options when booking so the correct time is reserved.

Why It Made the List

Gentleman’s Quarters stands out for pairing technically exacting barbercraft with a higher‑end client ritual: in a single appointment patrons can receive precision cutting, hot‑towel straight‑razor work, scalp treatments and facial steam, supported by barbers who list specialties and social handles so clients can match skillsets to their needs.

Good to Know

After booking, the shop requests that you select the service matching your hair length so the correct duration is reserved; the website also lists individual specialists, their areas of expertise and social handles, which helps when choosing a barber for fades, beard sculpting or long‑length scissor work.

The Profile

Regal Lounge operates as a combined barber shop and day‑spa where every haircut includes a relaxing shampoo, scalp massage, hot towel and straight‑razor finish; the venue extends beyond cuts to offer pedicures, shiatsu and deep‑tissue massages and facials, providing a single location for grooming and restorative treatments.

The published menu includes student pricing and a King’s Cut that pairs a personalized facial cleansing, steam and massage with comprehensive beard care; the shop also lists coloring and locs services, retails premium beard oils and pomades, and posts weekday hours of 9am–7pm Tuesday through Friday and 9am–5pm on Saturday.

Why It Made the List

What sets Regal Lounge apart is the ability to combine precision barbering and spa work in one appointment: clients can pair a carefully cut, shampooed and straight‑razor finished haircut with a pedicure, shiatsu or facial, or purchase grooming products on site, which suits those wanting a full grooming and relaxation session.

Good to Know

Regal Lounge publishes set opening hours and enforces a 24‑hour cancellation policy; cancellations or no‑shows made with less than 24 hours’ notice are subject to a 50% fee, and late arrivals beyond about 15 minutes may reduce your service time or require a reschedule.

The Profile

Devine Street Barbers frames itself as a collective of artists where the haircut comes first and the shop’s decor blends eclectic art and a studio or tattoo‑shop feel. The business describes a refusal of gimmicks in favour of service where quality is prioritised over quantity, aiming to give every client unhurried attention and a technically sound result.

Located near Five Points and Old Shandon, the barbershop asks that appointments be made through Booksy while also accepting walk‑ins when chairs are available. That booking approach lets individual barbers manage schedules and helps ensure services are not rushed, supporting the shop’s claim that service quality is preferred over sheer throughput.

Why It Made the List

Devine Street Barbers distinguishes itself by putting the haircut first and cultivating an art‑forward interior alongside a collective of barbers committed to paced, appointment‑driven service; the Booksy booking system and walk‑in policy when chairs are free underline that focus on measured, craft‑centric cuts rather than quick turnarounds.

Good to Know

Appointments are preferred and handled via the Booksy scheduling app; walk‑ins are accepted when a chair is available, so booking ahead is recommended for specific barbers or for services that require more time.

The Profile

The.Laboratory presents its booking flow through an online platform and lists individual staff availability on that system; the site snapshot shows named team members and availability statuses, which indicates clients pick barbers by real‑time booking slots rather than a static walk‑in roster. Photographs and gallery placeholders further signal a studio that curates visual examples of work for clients to review before selecting a slot.

The business encourages customers to choose either a professional or a service first when booking and operates with a small-team dynamic where particular barbers may be unavailable at times. That approach suits clients who prefer to book specific barbers or who want to check live availability in advance rather than relying on walk‑in timing.

Why It Made the List

The.Laboratory’s distinct merit is its online, platform‑based availability model and transparent staff scheduling, which helps clients secure specific barbers when they need them and reduces uncertainty about who will perform the service at any given appointment time.

Good to Know

Bookings are handled through the platform shown on the business page, so check the online calendar for exact professional availability; the site occasionally lists specific barbers as unavailable, making it important to book the named professional or choose an open slot.

The Profile

Frank’s Gentlemen’s Salon is owner‑run by Ariana, who lists more than 19 years of experience and presents the barbershop as a luxury men’s grooming destination. The website emphasises a progressive hair care program for staff, curated product choices from vetted suppliers and a client‑focused appointment flow that starts with a formal consultation.

The published service list includes hot‑lather head shaves, traditional straight‑razor shaves, beard trims and tiered haircuts with clear price points such as a standard men’s haircut and military rates; services explicitly include scalp massage, shampoo and hot towel facial wraps to support a full grooming ritual rather than a simple trim.

Why It Made the List

Frank’s Gentlemen’s Salon stands out for its owner‑led approach and the emphasis on staff training through a progressive program, combining experienced oversight with a luxury treatment list that includes hot‑lather shaves, scalp massage and carefully staged finishing rituals for clients who want a premium service.

Good to Know

The salon lists its Main Street address and provides specific shave and haircut pricing on the site; many of the featured services include hot towels and scalp treatments, so expect the full ritual rather than a quick clip when you book.

The Profile

Circa Barbershop was founded in Columbia in 2014 and has expanded into multiple markets while keeping a local, barber‑owned identity; the company emphasises consistent haircut experiences across its shops and a culture of service that allows clients to choose any barber with confidence in the outcome.

Circa’s model favours compact, often inconspicuous locations, occasionally tucked inside other businesses, and an appointment‑first booking flow handled through the company website, though some shops will take walk‑ins if a chair becomes available. The brand also publishes specialized service bookings for skin fades and scissor transformations separate from its general haircut menu.

Why It Made the List

Circa’s merit is practical consistency: a regional chain that preserves local barber ownership, clear service categories for fades and scissor work, and a website‑driven booking system that helps clients secure the right barber and service level while allowing opportunistic walk‑in fittings when chairs open.

Good to Know

All bookings are handled via Circa’s website and services distinguish skin fades and scissor transformations as separate bookings; shops often operate on appointments but may accept walk‑ins if a chair is free, so booking ahead secures the right service length.

The Profile

Carolina Barber Shop traces its origins to 1937 and bills itself as Columbia’s classic barber; after years in Five Points the business relocated to inside the Arcade Mall, where it continues traditional services such as straight‑razor shaves and hot‑lather preparation consistent with vintage barbering methods.

The shop’s current address is Suite 110, inside the Arcade Mall and its public notes emphasise that patrons may choose walk‑ins or make appointments; the mall location puts the barbershop in a central indoor retail setting with nearby short‑term street parking for quick visits.

Why It Made the List

Carolina Barber Shop’s defining quality is its long local continuity and commitment to traditional barbering: operating since 1937 and now sited within the Arcade Mall, the shop maintains straight‑razor and hot‑lather services that appeal to customers seeking a straightforward, historic barbershop experience.

Good to Know

The business accepts walk‑ins and appointments and is listed Suite 110 inside the Arcade Mall; consider checking the shop’s posted opening hours before visiting and note that gift cards are available for purchase from the site.

The Profile

Smoke’s Barber Shop is presented as a neighbourhood barbershop that delivers the tidy finishes and sharp fades many local clients expect. Descriptions emphasise a friendly, professional approach where attention to detail and a relaxed chairside manner create a dependable result for routine haircuts and beard maintenance.

The shop’s public descriptions stress an appointment experience that still feels personal rather than corporate, with staff delivering measured, clean finishes and practical styling advice designed to be easy to maintain between visits; that steady, no‑frills approach appeals to regulars seeking a familiar, well‑executed haircut.

Why It Made the List

Smoke’s Barber Shop merits inclusion for providing reliable, well‑executed haircuts in a comfortable neighbourhood setting where barbers focus on tidy fades and practical finishing; the shop’s steady, approachable service model appeals to customers who prioritise predictability and clean results.

Good to Know

Expect a neighbourhood shop rhythm where consultation and suitability matter; contacting the barbershop ahead of your visit to check chair availability or to request a specific barber will help avoid waits and ensure the tidy, predictable finish the business emphasises.