Most guys click "Haircut" when booking online and hope it covers what they want. Sometimes it does. Sometimes they need a skin fade and booked the wrong service, or they wanted beard work included and it's not.
Understanding what each service includes before you book saves time, prevents confusion when you sit down, and ensures you get exactly what you need without paying for extras you don't want.
Here's the complete breakdown of what Toronto barbershops offer and how to choose the right service for your situation.
The Core Haircut Services
Classic Haircut ($50, 35 minutes)
This is the standard men's haircut. Clippers on the sides with a taper or low fade, scissors on top, neck cleanup with clippers or razor.
What's included: Consultation about what you want, shampoo if needed, the cut itself, styling, and product application to show you the final look.
What's NOT included: Skin fades that blend to bare skin, beard trimming, extended services like hot towels beyond basic neck cleanup.
Who should book this: Guys getting regular maintenance cuts, anyone with a standard short to medium style, people who don't need their beard touched or who trim it themselves.
The reality: This service handles 70% of what most guys need. If you're not sure what to book and you don't have a beard or need a skin fade, start here.
Skin Fade ($55, 45 minutes)
A haircut where the sides and back blend all the way down to bare skin. This requires more precision and time than a standard taper.
What's included: Everything from the classic haircut plus the detailed blending work to take the hair from length on top down to skin on the sides. This involves multiple guard sizes and careful blending between each level.
What's NOT included: Beard work. If you want both a skin fade and beard trimming, you need to book "Skin Fade & Beard Trim."
Who should book this: Guys who specifically want that clean, blended-to-skin look. Anyone maintaining a high-contrast style between top and sides. People who want maximum sharpness and don't mind booking every 2-3 weeks to maintain it.
The reality: Skin fades grow out faster and show regrowth more obviously than standard tapers. Budget for more frequent appointments if you're maintaining this look.
Long to Short Restyle ($60, 50 minutes)
For guys going from longer hair to a short cut or fade. This isn't just a trim, it's a complete transformation.
What's included: Extended consultation about what style will work, significantly more cutting time because there's more hair to remove, shaping and texturizing to create the new style, detailed finishing work.
What's NOT included: Beard trimming unless you book a combination service.
Who should book this: Anyone who hasn't cut their hair in 3+ months and wants to go significantly shorter. Guys changing from one style to a completely different one. People growing out pandemic hair or post-summer length who want to reset.
The reality: This takes longer because your barber is building a new style from scratch, not maintaining an existing one. The extra time is necessary, not padding.
Haircut + Beard Combinations
Haircut & Beard Trim ($70, 60 minutes)
Standard haircut plus beard shaping and trimming.
What's included: Everything from the classic haircut plus beard trimming with clippers and/or scissors, neckline cleanup on the beard, cheek line definition, styling the beard to complement your haircut.
What's NOT included: Straight razor beard shaves, detailed sculpting of complex beard styles, mustache waxing or elaborate shaping.
Who should book this: Anyone with a beard who wants both their hair and beard maintained in the same appointment. This is the most common combination service.
The reality: Having the same barber handle both your hair and beard ensures they work together visually. Doing them separately with different people often leads to mismatched results.
Skin Fade & Beard Trim ($75, 70 minutes)
Skin fade haircut plus beard work. The most time-intensive combination of standard services.
What's included: Detailed skin fade on sides and back, haircut on top, full beard trimming and shaping.
What's NOT included: Hot towel shaves, extended grooming services.
Who should book this: Guys maintaining sharp, polished looks with both skin fade haircuts and well-groomed beards. Anyone who wants maximum definition and contrast in both hair and facial hair.
The reality: This is 70 minutes because both elements require precision. Rushing either part compromises the result.
Specialized Services
Grooming Package ($95, 70 minutes)
The complete package: haircut, beard trim, nose and ear wax, eyebrow threading.
What's included: Full haircut, beard shaping, hot wax removal of nose and ear hair, eyebrow grooming with threading for clean shape.
What's NOT included: Skin fades (though you can request one), hot towel shaves, color services.
Who should book this: Guys preparing for important events, anyone who wants complete grooming in one appointment, people who normally skip the detail work like nose hair and eyebrows but know they should address it.
The reality: This is the "I have a wedding/interview/important meeting" service. It covers everything most guys need to look completely dialed in.
Scissor Cut ($55, 45 minutes)
Classic haircut using only scissors, no clippers. The sides and back are cut with scissors instead of buzzed with guards.
What's included: Consultation, scissor work on all parts of your head, texturizing and shaping, styling.
What's NOT included: Clippers at all. If you want any clipper work, this isn't the service.
Who should book this: Guys with longer styles, anyone growing their hair out who wants shape without losing length, people who prefer the softer look of scissor cuts over the sharp lines of clipper work.
The reality: Scissor cuts grow out more gradually and look natural longer, but they don't give you the sharp definition of clipper fades.
Beard-Only Services
Beard Trim - Razor Blade ($35, 25 minutes)
Beard trimming and shaping using straight razor for detailed line work and definition.
What's included: Beard shaping with clippers or scissors, straight razor work on cheek lines and neckline for sharp definition, styling.
Who should book this: Guys who cut their own hair but want professional beard maintenance, anyone between haircuts who needs beard cleanup, people with detailed beard styles that need precision edges.
Beard Trim - Machine Only ($30, 20 minutes)
Beard trimming using clippers and scissors, no straight razor work.
What's included: Beard length adjustment, shaping, basic neckline and cheek line cleanup with clippers.
Who should book this: Quick maintenance between full haircut appointments, guys on tighter budgets who don't need razor-sharp edges, anyone with simpler beard styles.
The reality: The $5 difference between machine and razor is the time and precision of straight razor line work. If you want sharp definition, pay for the razor service.
Quick Services
Buzz Cut ($35, 25 minutes)
One guard length all over your head. Simple, fast, clean.
What's included: Clippers set to your chosen length, buzzed evenly across entire head, neckline cleanup.
What's NOT included: Any variation in length, fades, detailed work, beard trimming.
Who should book this: Guys who keep it simple, anyone dealing with thinning hair who wants to embrace a short look, people with minimal time or budget.
Buzz Cut & Beard Trim ($50, 20 minutes)
Buzz cut plus beard maintenance.
Who should book this: Same as above but with a beard. This is the fastest full-service option.
Shaving Services
Traditional Head Shave ($50, 45 minutes)
Complete head shave using straight razor, hot towels, and premium products.
What's included: Multiple hot towel applications, pre-shave oil, straight razor shaving, post-shave balm, head massage.
Who should book this: Guys who shave their heads and want professional results, anyone preparing for an event where a perfectly smooth head matters, people who want the experience of a traditional shave.
The reality: This lasts 2-3 days before stubble appears. It's maintenance, not permanent.
Hot Towel Head Shave & Beard Trim ($70, 70 minutes)
Complete head shave plus beard grooming.
Who should book this: Bald guys with beards who want both professionally maintained in one appointment.
Traditional Beard Hot Towel Shave ($45, 35 minutes)
Full beard removal using straight razor for clean-shaven look.
Who should book this: Guys who normally have beards but need to be clean-shaven for specific events, anyone who wants the experience of a professional shave.
Kids Services
Little Chaps - Regular Haircut ($40, 35 minutes)
Standard boys haircut for ages 14 and under.
What's included: Same quality as adult cuts, adjusted for kids' needs and attention spans.
Little Chaps - Skin Fade ($40, 45 minutes)
Skin fade for kids who want the same sharp styles as adults.
Color and Styling Services
Hair Bleach & Toner ($150, 45 minutes)
Lightening hair with bleach, then toning to achieve desired color.
Who should book this: Guys going significantly lighter, anyone wanting platinum or ash blonde tones, people covering grey with lighter colors.
The reality: This is the most intensive color service and requires the most skill. The price reflects that.
Hair Color - No Bleach ($40, 30 minutes)
Applying color without pre-lightening. For going darker or matching natural tones.
Who should book this: Grey coverage, going darker, adding subtle dimension without dramatic lightening.
Blow Dry & Styling ($20, 15 minutes)
Wash, condition, blow dry, and style without a haircut.
Who should book this: Guys with longer hair preparing for events, anyone who wants professional styling without cutting.
Grooming Add-Ons
These services can be added to haircuts or booked standalone.
Ear Wax ($30, 20 minutes): Hot wax removal of ear hair. More thorough than trimming.
Eyebrow Threading ($10, 10 minutes): Shaping eyebrows by removing stray hairs with thread. More precise than waxing.
Nose Waxing ($10, 10 minutes): Hot wax removal of nose hair. Quick and more effective than trimming.
Black Peel Off Mask ($25, 15 minutes): Deep cleaning mask for removing blackheads and clearing pores.
How to Choose the Right Service
If you're getting regular maintenance and don't have a beard: Classic Haircut ($50).
If you want a skin fade but no beard work: Skin Fade ($55).
If you haven't cut your hair in months and want to go short: Long to Short Restyle ($60).
If you have a beard and want both maintained: Haircut & Beard Trim ($70) or Skin Fade & Beard Trim ($75).
If you have an important event coming up: Grooming Package ($95).
If you keep your head shaved: Traditional Head Shave ($50) or Hot Towel Head Shave & Beard Trim ($70) if you have a beard.
If you just need beard work between haircuts: Beard Trim - Razor Blade ($35) or Machine Only ($30).
If you're adding color: Hair Color ($40) for coverage, Bleach & Toner ($150) for going significantly lighter.
Still not sure? Book a Classic Haircut and mention during consultation that you're unsure what you need. Your barber will assess and recommend, and you can adjust for next time.
What Happens If You Book Wrong
If you book a Classic Haircut but realize you need a Skin Fade once you sit down, most shops will adjust and charge the difference. Just mention it at the start of your consultation, not halfway through the cut.
If you booked 35 minutes but need 60 because you want beard work added, your barber might accommodate if their schedule allows. But don't expect this during peak hours when someone else is waiting for that time slot.
If you're genuinely unsure what you need, call the shop before booking or add notes to your online booking explaining your situation. Better to clarify beforehand than discover mid-appointment that you booked wrong.
The Real Point
Service names exist to help you book the right amount of time and set clear expectations. A "Haircut" is different from a "Skin Fade" which is different from a "Grooming Package."
Understanding what each service includes means you book correctly, your barber has the right amount of time allocated, and you get exactly what you need without confusion or disappointment.
When in doubt, start with the Classic Haircut and adjust from there. Most guys need that service, and your barber can recommend upgrades or additions based on what they see when you sit down.
Book your appointment today at any Rendezvous location. Our online booking system lists every service with clear descriptions. Pick what matches your needs, or call if you're unsure and we'll guide you to the right option.
