Architect Hair Design

For the past month or so, you may have seen photographer and retired journalist Wayne MacPhail around the shop taking photos of everyone and everything around the barbershop. Wayne has spent the past few years documenting the OG businesses in downtown Hamilton, with the goal of capturing all the character and energy of James Street North. Now we are proud to present an IRL photobook of those moments here in the shop for you to flip through!

Between all the haircuts, drinks around the bar, or setting up for weekly Karaoke, Wayne somehow managed to capture everything that makes this place feel like us. It was truly a gift for us to see our world through the eyes, (and lens) of this talented man!

Next time you’re in, take a look through the book. You might even spot yourself immortalised forever in our little meeting place.

Thanks for having us back this week to cut the crews for and ! Always happy to style it Any Way You Want It, and help everyone look and feel Forever Young before the show!

It was an absolute pleasure to clean up the touring crew backstage at earlier this week! Huge props to and all the staff and crew at TD Coliseum for the opportunity and a big thank you for bringing this new energy to the Hammer!

We know inflation is the unavoidable bane of enjoyment as each year passes, but if there’s one thing that stays tried and true here at Architect and Hendrys, it’s the price of that first beer as you sit down in the chair, or at the bar. Maybe you’ve come early to beat the traffic, stopped by for a walk-in, or maybe you just want to hang out with one of the many (mustached or not) staff behind the bar and catch up on the latest and greatest around Hamilton. Either way, we’ve got you. So come grab a $3.50 Lager, Purple, or even a 6.8% Ransack for less than the price of a cup of coffee when you get any haircut.

“A good pint has magical powers. It can solve the simplest of problems, heal surface wounds, and cement minor friendships, all in one evening.”

Cheers!

This the Season! Make sure to get your appointment in at and while there is still space!

See you in the shop! 🎄

Thanks Quinton for stopping by before the last show of tour tonight at 💪

Earlier this week celebrated his third karaoke anniversary at the barbershop.

By this point everyone knows that Elliott is kind of a musical guy, and might have a bit of a special affinity for karaoke in particular. While starting up a karaoke night at the barbershop, in hindsight*, might “seem” obvious now - what might not be as obvious is why he actually decided to try and get something going, and when. First of all, Winter, on a Tuesday - when absolutely nothing is going on and nobody wants to leave their house; which was kind of the point. It wasn’t just about karaoke, and definitely wasn’t about business, it was about an opprontity to provide a space in a void for a new community of folks to connect and build something from nothing, around the idea of being comfortable being uncomfortable, together. That’s a pretty cool aspiration for anyone to have, especially when it’s genuine as this was for Elliott. It’s even cooler to have seen, and to see what he’s built this little community into; as cheesy as it is to throw around the “Family” word, it really, truly, is one, and it’s pretty special. I think the sentiment this past Tuesday from the regular Tuesday Barbershop Karaoke crew said it all: Elliott, you’re a one of a kind guy, you do a lot for others, and it’s noticed and appreciated in everything you do, by a lot of folks - I think maybe even by those that you don’t let sing “My Way”.

Congratulations to you on this three year milestone with this family, and I think we’re all very excited to see you thrive in building the next.

Cheers to you, Elliott.

Meet JM, the newest face to the Architect team!

JM has been cutting since 2019, and has been making name for himself in Hamilton over the past few years. We are excited to have him join the crew here in downtown Hamilton, so book your next haircut, beard trim, or hot towel shave with him and help us give him a warm welcome to the shop!

—->

We’d like to introduce you to Fiona!

You may have seen her around the shop this past month learning the ropes of all things Architect. Hailing from the Marca College Hairstyling Program, Fiona is joining us here on James to complete her co-op here at Architect.

She’ll be offering Apprentice Haircuts on Wednesdays (5–8pm) and Sundays (12–6pm). So book in today to freshen up your look before the holidays and help her sharpen her skills behind the chair.

Come by, show some support, and welcome Fiona to the team! 💈

Come celebrate our 10 year anniversary with us and all of our neighbours and friends on our block of James North (of Barton).

Hope to see you all Saturday!

Come celebrate with us on Saturday October 18th! We will be closing down James St. from Barton to Murray to celebrate with friends, neighbours and our fellow small businesses on our small but mighty block of ol’ James North ( )! More details to come in a separate post but here’s a few things you can count on:

- Lots of free live music.
- a free hotdog for all barbershop customers, past, present, and future (book a haircut, and you’re a future customer).
- $5 dogs all day and night for everyone else, or for your seconds.
- As customary, since Day 1, and as will be forever and always until the end of time (or until death do us part) your beer is and has been $3.50 with any haircut - although, for this day *all* of your beers, regardless of any hair service or not, will be $3.50 for all barbershop customers, past, present, and future (same as above, book a haircut and you’re in).
- I haven’t asked them yet but I guess this is it; Hey and , what would you two think about coming out to do some street cuts out front, for old times sake!? I’ll leave this here and see what happens ❤️
- and more.

Hamilton, you’re the best, and we are so grateful and fortunate to have made it this far, especially over the past decade. There have been so, so many amazing memories, so many ridiculous and stupid things we’ve tried and often failed at over the years, but have had fun doing it - for the most part. Thousands and thousands of folks have been through these doors and a lot of life has happened here. As expressed in the flip through slides above, the stories are endless. A big part of what we’re hoping from the day is an opportunity to hang out with all of our friends, family, customers, past customers, and basically anyone who’s been a part of this space in one way or another over the past 10 years. A big theme for the day we’re hoping for is “story telling”, so hopefully you’ll join us with some stories from the past, some great conversation, lots of laughs, maybe a few tears, but mostly laughs with old and likely some new friends alike ❤️.

We hope to see you then.

Architect Hair Design.