Ernest Barber

On East Tuscaloosa Street in Florence’s Seven Points area of downtown, Ernest Barber operates as a small, appointment-only shop built around craftsmanship rather than walk-in volume. The shop was founded in 2021 by Daniel Crisler, a Shoals native and Master Barber who had already been working in Florence before opening his own space, and it relocated to its current downtown Florence location in the summer of 2026.

Crisler named the shop after his grandfather, Dr. Ernest West, a physician who served as the only doctor in Hackleburg, Alabama through the 1950s and 1960s. That legacy shapes the shop’s stated mission directly: Crisler has described wanting to build “a truly inclusive, positive, and open-minded barbershop based on traditional barber techniques,” carrying forward his grandfather’s approach of caring for every member of the community without exception. The shop describes itself as welcoming “anyone and everyone, no matter what,” regardless of age, race, gender, or background, and calls itself a business “built by the community for the community.”

Three master barbers work out of the shop, handling a service menu that includes classic haircuts with modern styling touches, high and tight cuts, scissor cuts, and beard trims. The shop’s focus on classic technique paired with current styling trends gives clients a barbershop experience that leans traditional without feeling dated, and the shop holds itself to what it calls the highest standards of cleanliness, professionalism, sanitation, and design aesthetic.

The shop’s interior reflects that same blend of old and new, mixing American Traditional tattoo-style artwork with vintage wrestling magazines and plants, along with Scottish Terrier motifs worked into the decor as a tribute to Crisler’s late dog, Simon. Ernest Barber is open Tuesday through Saturday, by appointment only, a scheduling model that lets the shop’s barbers give each client focused, unrushed attention rather than working through a walk-in line. That structure tends to appeal to clients who want a predictable time slot and a specific barber they can build a relationship with over repeat visits, rather than taking whichever chair opens up first.

Client reviews consistently point to the shop’s atmosphere as a defining feature, describing it as warm and welcoming alongside professional, skilled service, with one review calling out the “fantastic vibe and great skill” and another noting the “super chill environment” where “you won’t feel out of place.” That combination, a comfortable space paired with technically sound barbering, has helped the shop build a loyal client base in a downtown Florence corridor that has seen a steady mix of new small businesses move in over recent years.

The shop’s location in Seven Points puts it within walking distance of other downtown Florence businesses, making it a convenient stop for people already spending time in the area for shopping, dining, or work. Because Ernest Barber operates strictly by appointment, prospective clients are encouraged to reach out ahead of a visit through the shop’s Instagram, @ernestbarber_, or its Facebook page, Ernest Barber Shop, rather than dropping in and hoping for an open chair. No public phone number is listed for the shop, so social media remains the most direct way to check availability or ask a question before a first visit.

For Florence residents looking for a barbershop that treats haircuts as a deliberate craft rather than a quick transaction, Ernest Barber offers a smaller-scale, appointment-driven alternative to the area’s larger or more walk-in-oriented shops. Between Daniel Crisler’s founding story rooted in his grandfather’s legacy of community care, the shop’s team of three master barbers, and its steady focus on classic technique paired with the kind of decor that gives the space real personality, Ernest Barber has settled into a distinct role in Florence’s barbering scene since its founding in 2021.