Wilmington’s Top 10 Barbershops & Barbers

The Profile

Queen Street Barbershop was founded by Hayden Mingus in 2019 and occupies a laid-back, creative space on 615 S 16th St, Suite 130. The shop emphasises a full barbershop experience that pairs haircut craft with conversation, creating a strong sense of belonging for returning clients.

Queen Street Barbershop lists a diverse roster of barbers with clear specialties ranging from fades and pompadours to razor neck shaves and longer styles; the business runs by appointment, shows available openings via its First Available booking button, and keeps both weekday and Sunday appointments on the schedule.

Queen Street Barbershop also operates a second location in Surf City and offers hot-towel neck shaves alongside regular cuts, plus an upstairs private studio used by some staff. The shop provides easy neighborhood street parking and a local contact phone and email for enquiries and booking adjustments.

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

Queen Street Barbershop stands out as Wilmington’s top pick because its founder-led identity and full-service approach combine consistent technical care with an intentionally social experience; the mix of hot-towel shaves, a wide range of specialist barbers, and a reliable appointment system produces a dependable, polished finish that suits repeat clients.

Good to Know

Queen Street Barbershop primarily works by appointment and shows live openings through its booking widget; services and which barbers offer them can vary, kids’ cuts are available, and parking around the 615 S 16th St shop is free and usually easy to find.

The Profile

Locals Barber Co. emphasises individuality and consultation-led appointments from its unit, unit 105. The business philosophy on the website highlights a collaborative approach with clients, taking time to understand each person’s style goals before starting a haircut to ensure the result feels personalised and appropriate.

Locals Barber Co. lists standard opening hours and a visible phone contact and the site promotes a sharp, polished finish combined with dependable service. The setting is presented as approachable yet professional, with a focus on consistency and client relationships as part of the neighbourhood experience.

Why It Made the List

Locals Barber Co. is notable for bringing considered consultation into everyday appointments: the team’s emphasis on talking through desired looks helps produce tailored cuts that wear well beyond the chair, creating a reliable, repeatable outcome for people who value a personalised barbering experience.

Good to Know

Locals Barber Co. publishes hours and a direct booking contact on its site; or visit the Oleander Drive shop during business hours to reserve a specific barber or discuss the look you want.

The Profile

Tads Barber Shop Wilmington is identified locally for producing sharp fades and tidy finishes, presenting a professional but friendly appointment experience. The shop’s approach favours careful attention to detail from consultation through to the final line-up, so results tend to look polished and easy to live with in daily wear.

Tads Barber Shop Wilmington focuses on consistency and a polished final appearance in each visit, blending a relaxed atmosphere with clearly professional technique. That balance helps the shop deliver cuts that suit the client’s hair type and lifestyle while maintaining clean edges and well-managed fades.

Why It Made the List

Tads Barber Shop Wilmington’s defining merit is its steady emphasis on precision and durability; by prioritising tidy finishes and considered consultation, the barbers deliver results that remain flattering and manageable after the appointment, making the shop a dependable local option for clean, wearable styles.

Good to Know

Tads Barber Shop maintains a social presence on Facebook for updates; check their page or call ahead to confirm current opening hours and appointment availability before travelling to the shop.

The Profile

Phu’s Cuts LLC. operates Suite D in Wilmington and lists an appointments page showing an open-until-6pm schedule. The site displays a detailed service menu with kids’ cuts, regular men’s razor-finish haircuts, beard trims and a combined haircut-and-beard option, each showing estimated durations and prices.

Phu’s Cuts lists a phone number and an email on its appointments page and uses Square for booking and checkout. The site accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, CashApp and major cards and the published menu specifies surcharges such as a $5 charge for skin fades and a $5 extra for razor beard work.

Why It Made the List

Phu’s Cuts pairs a focused razor-finish haircut offering with coordinated beard services so clients can book a single appointment for head and facial grooming. The clear service descriptions, posted durations and visible surcharges make it straightforward to choose between a standalone razor haircut, a beard line-up or the combined complete haircut-and-beard option.

Good to Know

The appointments page lists and asks clients to book online; note a $5 surcharge applies to skin fades and a $5 extra applies to razor beard work and appointment lengths are shown on the service menu.

The Profile

Coastal Barbershop positions itself in the heart of Wilmington as a barbershop blending traditional techniques with contemporary styles, and highlights a bilingual roster that includes barbers from Chile alongside local specialists. The team advertises skills across fades, long-hair shear work and custom designs to suit varied client requests.

Coastal Barbershop’s booking area lists named barbers and short bios that identify specialisms such as precision cuts, detailed line work and one-of-a-kind custom designs. The shop frames itself as a community-focused destination where experienced barbers tailor services to facial structure and individual taste.

Why It Made the List

Coastal Barbershop’s defining strength is the breadth of its team and the ability to offer custom designs alongside classic barbering; bilingual barbers and barbers with both long-hair shear and sharp-line skill sets give clients practical options for contemporary or traditional looks tailored to their preference.

Good to Know

Coastal Barbershop invites clients to book with individual barbers via its online booking links so you can pick a specialist whose listed skills match the haircut or design you want to try.

The Profile

True Story Barbershop in Wilmington operates Unit 4 and publishes a service menu with specific prices, student and military discounts and a designated first-time client visit option. The shop frames its work around honesty, craft and a desire to deliver consistently strong results for returning customers.

True Story Barbershop lists a staffed team led by owner Wladimir and several barbers with distinct styles and experience levels; the shop’s stated hours and pricing structure show an organised service model with separate categories for seniors, college students and active military members.

Why It Made the List

True Story Barbershop’s distinct quality is its clearly structured client rules and pricing tiers: a mandatory first-time client selection, defined discounts for students and service rates for different age groups and an owner-led team that emphasises craft and steady improvement in every appointment.

Good to Know

True Story Barbershop requires first-time clients to select the specific First Time Client Visit option and only accepts clients aged 13 and up, so make that selection when booking to avoid scheduling friction.

The Profile

Tame The Mane has operated in Wilmington since 2015 and now runs multiple neighbourhood locations, including Ogden and Masonboro Loop. The brand emphasizes a comfortable, plant-filled environment and positions itself as a neighbourhood barbershop that has grown by adding a second site to serve different parts of the city.

Tame The Mane’s services include regular haircuts, skin fades and beard trims, and the company highlights both family-friendly appointments and quick turnarounds that keep regular clients returning. The shop sells e-gift cards for each location and promotes bookings specific to each address to manage local demand.

Why It Made the List

Tame The Mane’s appeal comes from its neighbourhood footprint: two Wilmington locations let clients choose the most convenient branch, and the chain-like but local approach provides consistent service standards, a family-friendly atmosphere and reliability for those seeking repeat appointments.

Good to Know

Tame The Mane operates separate booking pages for each location and sells e-gift cards; choose Ogden or Masonboro Loop when booking to ensure you’re scheduled at the preferred shop.

The Profile

42nd Street Barbershop sits at 1417 S 42nd St and advertises a lively in-shop atmosphere where clients can enjoy music, arcade games and a cold beer after a haircut. The shop’s presentation focuses on inclusivity and a relaxed vibe while maintaining professional barbering across a range of textures and styles.

42nd Street Barbershop publishes hours showing it closed on Mondays and open most other days, and it names multiple barbers on staff. The location sits next to Reggie’s and aims to combine technical training with a social environment that encourages clients to linger after appointments.

Why It Made the List

42nd Street Barbershop distinguishes itself by offering an energetic social environment alongside competent cutting: the presence of in-shop arcade games and cold beverages complements a team trained to work with all hair textures, making it a practical pick for clients who want social atmosphere with their grooming.

Good to Know

42nd Street Barbershop is closed on Mondays and open midweek and weekends with published daytime hours; or visit 1417 S 42nd St to check barber availability before visiting.

The Profile

The Man Cave operates inside Phenix Salon Suites and publishes distinct service prices and a robust booking policy; its schedule includes early-morning weekday slots with varying closing times and a clear list of service prices for haircuts, beard work and combined shampoo options.

The Man Cave’s owner emphasises scheduling efficiency and fairness, which is reflected in policies such as a strict 24-hour cancellation requirement, potential prepayment for repeated late cancellations, and a removal of the five-minute grace period for late arrivals to protect booked appointment slots.

Why It Made the List

The Man Cave’s operational strength is its firm scheduling policy designed to keep appointments running on time: 24-hour notice for cancellations, strong no-show fees and tightened late rules protect both clients and the barber’s schedule while ensuring booked times are respected and appointments start punctually.

Good to Know

The Man Cave requires 24 hours’ notice to reschedule or cancel and can charge for no-shows; repeated last-minute cancellations may require prepayment, so follow the shop’s scheduling policy when booking morning appointments.

The Profile

The Barber’s Chair keeps early weekday openings, with doors typically opening at 7am Monday through Friday and shorter Saturday hours. The shop promotes quick, commuter-friendly start times so clients can fit a haircut into morning routines before work.

The Barber’s Chair highlights direct booking via phone and a social presence across Instagram, Facebook and TikTok; the published hours show weekday availability from early morning through late afternoon and a shorter Saturday schedule, making it a practical choice for early risers.

Why It Made the List

The Barber’s Chair’s distinguishing feature is its very early weekday schedule: opening at 7am on workdays caters to commuters and anyone needing a pre-work appointment, which sets it apart from many local shops with later opening times or more limited early slots.

Good to Know

The Barber’s Chair lists phone booking at 910-399-3067, weekday openings at 7am and shorter Saturday hours, so call ahead to reserve an early slot, especially on weekday mornings.