Scoop: The Evolution of Style

Valentine’s salon in Greenwood grows up with a remodel and luxe grooming services

Thaddeus Valentine, long known simply as Valentine to his loyal clientele, has come a long way since 1993 when, at 22, he opened his first one-chair “hip-hop barbershop” in Ballard. Back then, the cut was “the fade” (think Arsenio Hall) but like Valentine—a self-taught hairdresser who used to beg friends to let him cut their hair for free so he could study patterns and textures—his space (7912 Greenwood Ave. N; 206.706.6303; valentinesseattle.com) has evolved, into a refined, eight-chair men’s luxe grooming salon.

In May, Valentine completed a three-year-long renovation of the shop. Gauzy curtains accentuate high ceilings and cream-colored walls, and dark wood and chocolate brown touches lend the feel of an old Havana dance club. A former storage closet houses a waxing and facial room with a surround-sound stereo system, and the old break room is now a private VIP retreat with reclining leather chairs.

Valentine’s inspiration for the remodel came from the changing needs of his male clientele—and changes in himself. “I grew up,” he explains, adding that relaxation is a priority in the new space. “Cell phones, PDAs and laptops have smothered our lives, and many of us have simply forgotten how to relax.” True to the salon’s laid-back, humble roots, services don’t stray far from a haircut ($35), shave (starting at $45) and nail care (starting at $35), though men can also indulge with packages like the King of Kings Treatment (shampoo, haircut, scalp massage, mini-facial, hand massage, manicure, classic straightedge shave; $155).