“It’s an incredibly personal thing that we do here,” says barber Josh Pridgen with emotion in his voice. “We touch people’s lives, and they touch ours.” That may seem a little deep for men who cut hair, but it gives you a glimpse into the soul behind Dallas Jones Barber Shop in Fairhope. In a modern world where people yearn for real connection and comfort, they offer both. “Authentic,” “genuine,” and “welcoming” are the words that barbers Dallas Jones, Josh Pridgen, and Alex Dove use to describe their “dream come true that we didn’t know we had.”

Great barbers have three key traits: masters of their craft, perfectionists with their work, and great conversationalists. Men spend more time with their barbers than any other personal service; more than their doctors (hopefully), more than their dentists, even more than their chiropractors. Especially in a world with fewer male-only “safe spaces,” these barbers recognize how important the relationships with their customers can be.

“Some guys, I’m 100% their therapy,” says Alex. “I’m flattered that I get to share moments in people’s lives,” adds Dallas, “Plenty of guys have started as clients and become friends.” It’s that close connection to their customers and each other, along with a cool, unique vibe that makes Dallas Jones Barber Shop special.

Though they offer traditional services, Dallas, Josh, and Alex don’t look like traditional barbers. They wouldn’t look out of place riding Harleys or in a rock band. Except for the barber chairs, the shop could look like a vintage sign store, an art gallery, or a tattoo parlor. However, the description that kept coming up in discussions with the barbers and customers was “man-cave”.

Colorful skateboard decks, old barber and beer signs, original artwork (more on that later), Saints jerseys, and vintage whiskey bottles festoon the walls and rafters. It’s a feast for the eyes. It’s cool. As you open the front door, the blues of Robert Johnson and Lightnin’ Hopkins drift toward you. The minty smell of pomade wafts through the waiting room on the sun porch. The sound of clippers buzzing, layered with conversation, is interrupted by a loud guffaw from Dallas, followed by his joyous laugh that fills the space with its volume.

“I knew I liked talking to people, and I figured this was the only way I could make a living with my voice.” With that humorous insight, Dallas decided to start his own barber shop in 2012. He attended barber school at Pensacola State College and apprenticed in Foley before going it alone with a $600 lease in a tiny strip mall on North Section Street. Within a few years, he added Josh and Alex, first as apprentices, then as licensed barbers. “They’re fantastic guys. I think of them as brothers,” Dallas says under his breath, as if afraid they might hear.

You may be familiar with Dallas’s father, owner and operator of Tom Jones Pottery, but it took a while for the younger Jones to find his niche. He went to chef school, then worked at Target and a towing company before looking at a local barber shop and thinking, “I could do that.” If Buddy Holly survived the plane crash and grew a bushy beard, he’d probably look a lot like Dallas. Always smiling, tall, lanky, outgoing, and loud, Dallas’s jovial nature makes him the welcoming face of the business. He “always liked the old-school places with junk on the walls,” which inspired the décor.

Blonde with a short, stubbly beard, Josh Pridgen is the yin to Dallas’s yang. He’s more reserved and quieter; his personality isn't gregarious, but it has depth. Introduced to traditional barber shops by watching the “Andy Griffith Show” as a kid, Josh became enamored with barber shop culture and visited as many different establishments as he could. After years commuting and working behind a desk, he got “the opportunity to do what I love and pursue my interests” when Dallas brought him on as an apprentice in 2013.

“They really like the vibe in here, and they get a genuine experience,” says Josh when asked about customer feedback. “We keep it a simple, old-timey barber shop.” He talks about being a part of people’s lives in all stages, through good and bad, and it reveals what makes him special - he cares about what’s inside your head, not just what’s growing on top. After all, most important life moments (christenings, graduations, new jobs, weddings, and funerals) are preceded by a haircut.

The final member of the barbering trio, Alex Dove, is described by his scissor-wielding mates as cool, laid-back, and a “true artist”. Sporting a manicured beard crowned by a thick mustache, tattooed sleeves, and a deep, sonorous voice, Alex greets you with a sideways grin and an extended hand. “I enjoy cutting it up with people all day,” Alex explains. He also likes the hands-on work and the instant gratification both he and his customers feel after a trim. “It Pays to Look Well” declares an old hand-painted sign behind his chair.

Having a hometown barber in Grove Hill, AL, with an “insane personality” who was always getting into mischief and pulling pranks made barbering “look like fun” to Alex. In 2014, when a tattoo parlor where he was apprenticing suddenly closed, he wasn’t sure what to do. That’s when his wife (who knew Josh’s wife from church) told him Dallas was looking for someone to work at the shop. He met Dallas, hit it off, and accepted a barber apprenticeship.

Among the eye-catching items on the walls surrounding Alex’s station, you’ll spot his original artwork. He creates faces from junk and old household items, which he collects for that purpose. They’re unique, fun, and display powerful creativity. Where most people see trash, Alex sees how a cart’s wheel could be an eye, an oil funnel a nose, a measuring stick broken into eyebrows, a bent can lid a mouth, and rusted chicken wire a head of hair.

After outgrowing their original location on North Section Street, Dallas purchased a new location on Middle Street earlier this year. The building was originally moved from Point Clear in 1992 and most recently served as a physical therapy office. “This is way nicer than your old place,” a customer compliments as Dallas laughs, not sure if that says more about their old place or their new one. One thing is certain: the new shop is roomier and filled with natural light. “I love it. It’s a lot more open, bright, and the vibes are positive,” opines Dallas.

From toddlers getting their first haircuts to seniors without much hair to cut, all ages are welcome at Dallas Jones Barber Shop. Everyone is made comfortable and treated with patience and kindness. It is also appointment-only, and booking online is simple and convenient.

Defining a “modern traditional” barber shop is difficult, but you know it when you experience it. It retains the quality, skill, and personal feel of an old-school shop with the cool atmosphere, youth, and sense of fun that make it modern. Dallas Jones Barber Shop offers so much more than a haircut or beard trim. It’s a place of belonging, positivity, and friendship.