The other day when David and I were leaving Ink Tattoo Parlor On Rufe Snow we were pulling out of the parking lot. I saw a barber Shop. I asked David to pull back into the parking lot because I wanted to ask them a question.
Sometimes you find exactly what you need when you weren’t even looking for it. Which is a Godwink for my family. That is how we found Domi DR Barber Shop in North Richland Hills. And honestly, I think God may have had a little something to do with it.
Yes, you read that right. We were actually on our way to stop by an ink and tattoo shop to get some information about the nose piercing Charlie wanted. Because as a mom I was picking my battles again.
David and I had gone out to research and see what Tattoo and Barber Shops we could find because Charlie wanted to get his nose pierced and a fade. David needed to go to Walmart and everything we needed was on one Street allowing us to get all of our errands done at once.
Yes, you read that right. We were actually on our way to stop by an ink and tattoo shop to get some information about the nose piercing Charlie wanted. But it was a #teachingmoment for me as I was able to ask question.
As we were pulling out, I turned around and looked behind me. And there it was. Hangry Joe’s a new place Charlie would enjoy checking out. Cat Stop a radio place Charlie had been looking for and the barbershop.
I immediately thought, Wait a minute. Charlie needs his hair cut, too and he wanted a haircut—specifically, a fade. So I decided to go inside to make sure they could do a fade and get the prices for Charlie.
One of the things I missed about this place right away was that there wasn’t a check-in booth or kiosk. You walked in and talked to the people who were actually cutting hair. I kind of miss a check in booth because I felt like I was bothering the barbers.
I miss walking into a business and simply being able to talk to somebody. and looking at the walls for photos or what Charlie was wanting and there weren’t any hair magazines either which I missed. But I’m old school these are the things I grew up with and things are changing.
There were people in the chairs getting their hair cut, so I asked if I could ask a question. I explained that my son wanted a haircut and asked whether they did fades. They said yes. Then I asked how much it cost, and when we went, I was quoted $35 for the fade. That sounded reasonable to me and cheaper than some places I had checked into.
So we left, I called Charlie, and he was going to come meet us. Then he decided to wait until the next day because he was afraid he might be late to work if he got his hair cut and his noise pieced and that’s when our little adventure really began.
The next day, Charlie came with us. We walked in and were asked: “Do you have an appointment?” Nope. We didn’t. I explained that we hadn’t known we needed one because I had simply happened to find the shop the day before while we were already in Shopping Mall.
The barber said he had an appointment coming in about ten minutes and told us we could come back in about an hour. So that’s what we did. Well… Charlie was hungry. Which wasn’t a surprise to me.
So we left, went to get something to eat, and ended up on Denton Highway at Joe’s Coffee Shop then we came back. By the time we returned, the first barber was working on someone else.
But instead of making us sit around waiting, he had another barber take Charlie. And that’s where the next part of the story gets interesting. The second barber primarily spoke Spanish.
I don’t speak Spanish. He didn’t really speak English. But we figured it out. I had the information about what Charlie wanted on my phone, so I showed it to another barber who explained what Charlie was wanting.
He read it and communicated what we were looking for to the other barber. Another customer helped us too when it came time to pay because we was using Charlie’s card and they charge a fee so I suggest bringing cash if you come here.
Between the three of us, somehow we got the message across. And you know what? It worked. Charlie got exactly what he was there for and he didn’t let the language barrier stop him from getting his haircut.
Which surprised David and I because in the past Charlie would have walked out and had a attitude because they didn’t speak English. Through all this Charlie has even said he would go back.
The Haircut Took Forever… Or at least that’s what it felt like to me! Because we was on a time limit with Charlie needing to get to work and David and I had errands to run and dinner to make at home.
The barber was very careful. He took his time. He paid close attention to what he was doing. And I swear, I felt like I was sitting there for two hours. I’m sure it wasn’t actually two hours because, remember, we still had time afterward to go get Charlie’s nose pierced.
But when you’re sitting and watching someone take their time with every detail, it sure can feel like forever. And honestly? I’d rather have someone take too long because they’re being careful than rush through a haircut.
When Charlie was finally finished, I thought his hair looked wonderful and Granny Sherry and Charlie also liked the fade which is something totally different from Charlie. But it fit his face perfectly.
One of the things that stood out to me most was how clean the establishment was. Including the restrooms which I pay attention to things like that. It was busy, but it wasn’t chaotic.
People were coming in who clearly knew the barbers. You could tell there was a regular clientele. People were coming back over and over again. That tells me something ands it makes my family want to go back.
A business doesn’t build that kind of repeat clientele without doing something right. The barbers seemed serious about their work, and I appreciated the professionalism. It felt like people cared about what they were doing.
Our biggest lesson? Make an appointment. Could you possibly walk in? Probably. But after our experience, I would absolutely recommend calling or booking ahead, especially if you want a particular barber or have somewhere you need to be afterward.
The shop is currently listed online and offers booking through Booksy. Current listings identify Domi DR Barber Shop at 5224 Rufe Snow Dr., North Richland Hills, Texas 76180. The current online listings can also help you verify hours and services before you go, since business information can change.
So, after all of that, would Charlie go back? Yes. He did say that the $35 price is fair and it is something he doesn’t mind paying for a good haircut. But David said it is more than he’d really like to spend on a haircut. And I get that.
When you’re watching your money, every dollar matters. But I also told him something I believe: Sometimes you deserve to be pampered, too. Because David works hard. He takes pride in how he looks just like Charlie does.
And he deserves to sit in a barber’s chair every once in a while and have somebody take their time making sure his haircut looks good and his beard. So yes, $35 may be a little more than he wants to spend every time.
But for a really good haircut from someone who takes pride in their work? Sometimes it’s worth it. Especially knowing they also can shape his beard which needs it.
Would We Go Back? I think so. We found the shop completely by accident. We didn’t have an appointment. We had a language barrier. We had to explain what Charlie wanted with a phone, a little patience, and some help from another barber and even a customer at the end. And somehow, it all worked out.
Charlie left with a fade he loved. I left impressed by how clean and professional the shop was. And perhaps most importantly, we found another local business we might never have discovered if I hadn’t happened to turn around and look behind me that day.
That’s the part I keep thinking about. We weren’t looking for a barbershop. We were looking for information about a nose piercing. Yet there it was. Right behind us. Maybe it was just luck. Maybe it was God. I know which one I choose to believe.
So if you’re in North Richland Hills and looking for a barbershop for a men’s or boys’ haircut, especially a fade, Domi DR Barber Shop is a place we discovered by accident and were glad we stopped to check out.
Just learn from our experience: Make an appointment first. And David? He may grumble about the price. But I think he deserves to go get his hair cut when Charlie goes back for a haircut. Because sometimes a haircut isn’t just a haircut.
Sometimes it’s a little confidence boost, a little pampering, and a reminder that you deserve to take care of yourself, too. If you know of a gentleman or child needing a haircut you can find them at 5224 Rufe Snow Dr., North Richland Hills, TX 76180.
Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates