Neighbourhood Barber Shop Best In Class

Barber Ha’s back to basics barbering technique is a gentlemen’s leisure experience

WORDS BY KAREN MEURER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACHARY AYOTTE

Located in the King Edward Park neighbourhood is the quintessential barber shop. Since opening in 2011, Barber Ha has established itself as Edmonton’s go-to barber shop where gentlemen can relax and enjoy a modern yet classic experience. Barber Ha offers traditional straight shaves, clean cuts, and beard and moustache shaping, skillfully performed by accomplished barbers. All this comes from owner Linda Ha’s passion for men's grooming.

Now with 25 years of experience in the hairstyling business, Ha looks back at her beginnings growing up in Edmonton and then working as a hairstylist on cruise ships. There she quickly found out that she had to perfect the art of the “shave and a haircut” for the male passengers. And that’s when she found her love of men’s grooming. She decided to take further training in England and loved the culture and tradition of barber techniques. When she returned to Edmonton, Ha brought that love with her and wanted to share it - thus Barber Ha was born.

Ha is happy to be the neighbourhood barber shop - cutting hair, clipping beards, and generally enjoying each client’s experience with them. Ha explains that in men’s grooming, most gentlemen come in every 3-4 weeks to get a haircut, and over the years she has formed close relationships with many. “It’s not just ‘plop in my chair and I’ll cut your hair’, you really get to know people well. There’s a high level of trust here and you talk about everything on a personal level.” She knows her chair is a safe zone and whatever happens in the barber shop - stays in the barber shop.

Many of Ha’s clients who came that first day in 2011 still sit in her chair today. Last year when Covid struck, Ha used the down time to reset and come back stronger. Her many established clients supported her by coming back as soon as they could and brought more happy clients with them. Ha plans to open a second single chair location just down the street in March. There she will be able to go back to basics by providing one on one client time for a more relaxing and pampered experience. An appointment at Barber Ha is something every gentleman deserves to experience firsthand. www.barberha.com