The barbershop is booming again in New York, both in its classic form and in a wave of upscale newcomers offering hot-towel shaves and craft cocktails. After years of chain salons, men are returning to the neighborhood chair and the conversation that comes with it.

The fictional shop Kingsman & Sons in Astoria keeps a vintage look but books through an app, blending old ritual with new convenience. Its owner says regulars come as much for the community as the cut, lingering long after the clippers stop.

Higher-end shops have pushed prices up, adding grooming products and membership plans. But across the spectrum, the barbershop's revival points to the same thing: a demand for a good haircut and a familiar face.