I just went to Sharp's on Charlotte St in London. I'm from NYC but found myself wandering London in desperate need of a haircut. My review:

1) Initial impression: place tries to have the old school, masculine feel with a motorcycle in the front window and antique-looking barber chairs. However, there are also nods to present with each chair having its own television and the offer of a beverage.

2) Stylist: my stylist was a hipster from Toulouse sporting a Guns 'n Roses t-shirt and skinny black jeans. He was not very talkative socially, which I don't mind. I'd rather watch TV or read while the stylist concentrates on my hair. However, I wish he would have walked me through what he was doing procedurally, and my options - for example, I had to ask for a shampoo at the end of the haircut instead of being offered.

3) Haircut: ah, the important stuff. They offer a full menu of men's services, but I opted for a haircut and shampoo. I have simple, thin & straight hair. I like to leave it long with a bit of hair hanging over the top of my ears. He achieved that objective but made it a little too "school-boyish" with a pronounced part on the side. I prefer the messy look, but it shouldn't be hard to fix with a bit of wax.

4) Misc.: a) you get a complimentary beverage at the beginning and a hot towel for your face at the end; b) they don't take American Express. Debit card machine was broken, so I walked up the street to hit up a cash point. c) the haircut is £21, shampoo was £5 and I tipped £5. decent value. d) the location is great - central, cute street and plenty of bars to show off your new haircut afterwards. e) they also offer shaves but seem a bit pricey at £31.

5) Overall: I would go back, but I'd like a more attentive stylist (perhaps I need to be more assertive), and some of the kinks need to be worked out (e.g. broken credit card machine; no business cards).