Generations of Hair Cut at Shear Perfection

For 25 years, Julie Riccardi and Kin Windt have had the rare opportunity to cut generations of hair at Shear Perfection Hair Salon for Men on 8 Mount Vernon Street. “We have fathers bring their kids in, grandfathers bringing their grandkids in,” Riccardi said. “Someone asked me to take a picture with them: I cut grandpa’s, dad’s, and the son’s hair.”

For Windt, hair cutting seems to run in the family. “My cousin was an instructor at the barber school and she got me into it after my sister went there. Then my cousins went.”

“Men’s salons seem to be popping up all over the place,” Riccardi said. “I guess men are going back to the salons. In some salons, you could $50 for a haircut. It’s almost like a retreat.” While Shear Perfection keeps things more simple and friendlier on the wallet, they are looking to expand into the more high-end aspect of hair cuttings, shaving, and facial work.

The going rate for a standard haircut at Shear Perfection is $28, $23 for kids. “People are often surprised that we offer children’s cuts,” Riccardi said. “Some salons are either not kid friendly or have an age limit. I don’t really understand it. Hair is hair.”

The shop has been at 8 Mount Vernon Street for two and a half years, after moving from directly across the street in what is now a part of Lucia. The walls are covered in Celtics, Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins memorabilia. There are autographed pictures, balls, framed front pages and posters. 

Riccardi and Windt both said that events in town feed their business more than any ads have. “We love to see people walking around the town center,” Riccardi said. “Things like the farmer’s market and other community events bring people out and they see our shop.”