The newest business on West Merchant Street offers contemporary hair styling in a throwback atmosphere.
By Matt Skoufalos | March 13, 2018
Eric and Ariel Brigandi outside Brigandi’s Barbering Company in Audubon. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Sometimes, on a street with five hair salons, the only way to stand out is to open up a barber shop.
Ariel Brigandi is betting that a combination of throwback style and contemporary hair design will help Brigandi’s Barbering Company of Audubon distinguish itself from the pack.
Brigandi spent five years at MirAno’s Barber Shop in Haddonfield before deciding to branch out on her own.
She spent some time flipping the former Steampunk Works space at 117 West Merchant Street with her husband, Eric.
The couple cites a Brooklyn influence in its vintage-industrial feel, from its refurbished 1920s chairs, to its black-and-white barber pole, to the neon interior sign.
“My biggest things were that this place is going to be convenient, that it is going to be comfortable, that people felt welcomed,” Ariel Brigandi said.
“A lot of this job is very personal,” she said. “I’m able to connect with people, and they open up to me, and it makes me feel valued.”
The interior of Brigandi’s Barbering Co. features vintage barber chairs, white subway tiles, and hard wood as part of a vintage revival aesthetic. Credit: Matt Skoufalos.
Brigandi’s offers classic clippers-and-scissors haircuts, contemporary skin fades, and discounted trims and clean-ups for customers who prefer more frequent visits in between styles.
Shampoo services, an increasing rarity in many barber shops, are also available, as are Neptune hair products, which originate in Cherry Hill.
Ariel Brigandi said her work follows closely a lot of European trends, with an emphasis on short hairstyles for men and women.
“There’s a lot of new style in the industry; a lot more with the clipper work than you would see in a salon,” she said.
“There’s a resurgence of men’s product lines and they’re really interested in styling their hair moreso than ever before.”
After having opened up shop in February, Brigandi’s will be adding a second stylist by the end of March. The shop accepts walk-in customers as well as appointments; credit cards as well as cash.
Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
