Brothers Open Men's Shop At Salon

Brothers Adir and Ben Aharon are bringing a high-end barbershop to their established salon in Huntington village. Long Islander News photo/Sophia Ricco

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

Get the feeling of being in barbershop while experiencing the quality of service of a salon at Salon Mayan’s newest expansion, a Men’s Shop.

Brothers, Adir and Ben Aharon, opened Salon Mayan five years ago in Huntington and were welcomed into the community with open arms, so much so that they moved locations two years ago to a larger salon. This space offers them more room in the front of the shop, that they used to display their retail products until demand came to create a space that was solely for men.

“As things progressed, we figured we’d open a barbershop because we had the space and we had clientele who wanted it,” Adir said. “Upscale clientele who really wanted something separate from the women’s area but still not a barbershop, more like a salon type feel for men.”

Adir, Ben, and their newest addition to the salon, Master Barber Emmanuel Davidovkaykov are able to offer this higher end experience to their male customers. All three are trained hair stylists:  Adir attended Ferrara’s Beauty School; Ben attended Long Island Beauty School; and Davidovkaykov went to Tribeca Barber School. But it’s not just their training that will draw men in. The atmosphere they have created is masculine, rugged, and “almost like a cigar shop but it’s not”.

“We were ready for something different and thought instead of trying to work around it, we should just strip this room completely naked, which is what we did,” Ben said. “We didn’t know what our plan was yet and where the barbershop would go. But once we teared it out, we took out the walls and took out the floors, we said, ‘Y’know what this would be such a cool space for the barbershop.’”

The Men’s Shop has exposed brick and a black and gold color scheme that is still refined but manly. The salon’s floor to ceiling windows is what they hope will draw in male customers.

“From the front window, it’s a huge room so you couldn’t really see inside the salon,” Adir said. “But now that have a barber chair and mirror in the front, people can look more and figure out what’s inside the salon so we’ve been getting more exposure that way.”

The shop offers all types of services to help a man look his best, from fades, layers, and color to shaves and facials. Since the brothers come from a hairstylist background they are able work with any hair. Davidovkaykov can handle any buzzer or shaver, while Adir focuses on fades and Ben specializes in scissor work to clean up the hair.

“I feel like we’re more specific to each man and what he needs,” Adir said. “A barbershop is usually more general. But I feel like we have a lot more options over here to take care of yourself, your skin, your hair, your beard, it’s not your average barbershop.” Before opening the Men’s Shop, the salon’s only male clientele came in for haircuts. Once the brothers saw the demand for attention-to-detail barber work, they knew their salon could take on the challenge.

“We’re able to really combine the two space of giving the same exact service and attention of a hair salon but being able to do it in a barbershop setting,” Ben said. “Every man wants to get treated just as good, it’s just the feeling of being inside a hair salon that’s still a little feminine for today’s men.”

Recent trends show men taking a liking to groomed hair and the “fresh” look of a stylish cut.

The Men’s Shop has a masculine feel with exposed masonry walls, grey accents and new leather and steel barber chairs.

“The main haircut I’ve seen so far is the comb over, it’s classy haircut,” Davidovkaykov said.

Many want to stay professional with clean, shaved sides but still showing their style with a long top.

“There’s not really a way to do it,” Davidovkaykov said. “Every barber has their own way of cutting hair so it’s whatever is comfortable for them.”

No appointments are necessary at The Men’s Shop; men are welcome to come in and get a fresh cut anytime at the salon, Tuesday through Sunday. No matter which barber you get, it is sure to be deluxe experience.

The tools of the trade.

Salon Mayan
27 Wall St, Huntington
631-683-5757

Salonmayan.com