Services & Pricing

On San Mateo's Third Avenue, Lion's Den Shave Parlor offers clients a full treatment experience of a haircut, hot towel shave and facial. The barbershop is designed to create a welcoming space for men to get pampered, breaking the stigma of femininity in male grooming.

San Mateo native Henry Cruz Alvarez opened Lion's Den Shave Parlor in May of 2023 and started out as the only barber in the shop. Since then, he has added two more skilled and licensed barbers to his team — but Alvarez said this is only the beginning.

The idea for the name, Lion's Den, comes from the emblematic strength and power of lions and Alvarez's ideas of transforming the location into a place where people can lounge. With black leather seats trimmed with gold, walls painted black and lion decor, the barbershop offers a masculine feel for customers as they enter.

“We accept every walk of life. It's a community-based place that's for everyone to share and experience.”

Alvarez is a big supporter of the community, with posters on his storefront for local events, high school plays and small businesses. He also welcomes a local busker to play music for his store offering him free haircuts in exchange. As a business owner, he acknowledges the hardships of not having support when launching a business and pays that forward to others in the community.

The Lion's Den team upholds the fundamentals of building relationships with clients. Everyone is guaranteed to be greeted at the door and, for those who are curious about getting a cut, the door is open to welcome anyone who passes by.

“You're not just getting a haircut, you're getting an experience. Very rarely do you find a place locally where you find something like that.” — Andre Thomas, creative partner and client

The Lion's Den Shave Parlor continues to develop its signature look with future plans to add plants, leather couches and televisions to resemble the feel of a cigar bar. Alvarez is passionate about creating a space that feels masculine, where men can feel comfortable and walk out feeling confident about themselves.

The Lion's Den breaks down the stigma behind the femininity of spa treatments for men. As barbering has become a trend over the past couple years, Alvarez reminds others that the art of cutting hair used to be viewed as a feminine trade, especially within the Latino community.

“A good haircut is expected, but what I love are the different interactions with people, just talking, vibing and listening to music.”

As a Latino barber, he hopes to inspire others, especially in the Latino community, spreading the message that, “if you work hard, you can be good at what you do.”