Reform Barbershop on Broadway Avenue in Palmerston North's CBD is built around a simple idea: to 'reform' is to make changes in something in order to improve it. The shop re-creates that classic barber shop community feel while providing a quality service and a solid men's haircut — a place where good yarns are as much a part of the visit as the cut itself.
The service list covers the everyday essentials of barbering: men's cuts and fades, buzz cuts, beard grooming with cut-throat razor lining, cut-and-beard combos, school cuts for children and a seniors' cut for ages 65 and above with Gold Card. Everyone and anyone — all ages — are welcome, and in-shop products let you take the finish home with you.
The shop is led by owner and manager Aaron Mitchell (Level 4 qualified, over 12 years' experience) alongside Tom Grapes (L4 qualified, 5+ years). Walk-ins are welcome and bookings can be made online. Regulars rave about the fades — including on curly African hair — the good tunes, the comfy couches and the friendly, professional crew. Open Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:30pm and Sat 8:30am–3:00pm.
Step into Reform Barbershop on Broadway Avenue and the thinking behind the name is right there on the wall. To 'reform' is to make changes in something in order to improve it — and that is exactly what this Palmerston North shop set out to do: recreate the classic barber shop community feel and pair it with a quality service that leaves every man with a solid haircut.
It's a simple philosophy, but it has clearly landed. Reviews from locals consistently mention the same things: a warm, clean shop, good tunes, friendly barbers who love a chat, and cuts sharp enough to bring people back every time they're home in Palmy.
'To reform is to make changes in something in order to improve it.' That line anchors everything the shop does. Reform describes itself as a space that re-creates that classic barber shop community feel while providing a quality service to give a solid men's hair cut. Community focus is stated plainly on the shop's own pages: everyone and anyone — all ages — are welcome. That openness runs right through the service list, from school cuts for children to a seniors' cut for ages 65 and above with a Gold Card, alongside the core work of men's cuts, fades, buzz cuts and beard grooming. The result is a shop built for the whole neighbourhood, not just one type of customer.
The service board covers the full range of everyday barbering. The standard men's cut is a clipper and scissor cut for any style and trend, while the men's fade is the shop's most praised offering. A buzz cut is exactly what it should be — one clipper length around the whole head. Beards get their own attention: beard grooming covers sculpting, shaping and trimming, with cut-throat razors used for lining and making edges look sharp. For those wanting the full reset, combos pair any clipper and scissor cut with beard grooming. Younger customers are catered for with school cuts (including a fade version), and seniors aged 65 and above have their own cut with Gold Card. There are also in-shop products, so you can take a bit of the finish home with you.
If one service has put Reform on the map, it is the fade. 'For the best fade in town, go to Reform Barber,' writes one regular, who also praises the friendly, professional team and the relaxed atmosphere. Another reviewer with curly African hair calls it the best place in Palmy for a fade, noting the barbers 'know exactly what to ask and how to fade'. The word-of-mouth extends well beyond the cutting itself. One customer sums it up as 'nothing like a fresh cut and good yarns to brighten up ya day', while another highlights how the team made her brother and son — and another single mum and her boy — feel genuinely comfortable. A returning local calls it his go-to spot whenever he's back home in Palmy.
Reform is led by Aaron Mitchell, the owner and manager, who holds a Level 4 barbering qualification and brings more than twelve years of experience to the chair. He describes himself as someone who loves the craft of barbering and being able to connect with so many different people — a rugby fan and a family man, married with two kids and involved with a local church in Palmy. Alongside him is Tom Grapes, also L4 qualified, with five years in the industry. Tom found his passion for cutting hair — and for 'good yarns with people' — at barber college, and balances shop life with hockey and gaming.
Reform runs on both walk-ins and bookings. If you're not fond of waiting, the online booking system through the shop's website works well, according to regulars; if you'd rather rock on in, the couches are reportedly 'comfy as' while you enjoy the vibe. Hours are straightforward: Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Saturday from 8:30am to 3:00pm, and closed on Sundays. You'll find the shop at 109 Broadway Avenue in Palmerston North Central, and the team can be reached on 06 355 4908. Between the fresh cuts posted on Instagram and Facebook and the occasional weekday giveaway, the socials are worth a follow too.
That combination — skilled, qualified barbers, a community-minded welcome for every age, and a shop where a haircut comes with good conversation — is what Reform is about. The name promises change for the better; by the sound of its regulars, it delivers exactly that.