Historical hair day: 1900s Driskill Barbershop reviving in new pop-up

Old Austin may be gone but “the finest hotel in the South” is still offering residents a shave, cut and style from yesteryear.

The Driskill Hotel, 604 Brazos St., will host Finley’s Pop-up Barber Shop, featuring old-timey grooming services, from May 19-29 as part of the hotel’s initiative to “reimagine” its past historic events.

The hotel previously revived its afternoon tea time and self-guided art tour in its pursuit of celebrating the building’s history.

Finley’s is meant to emulate The Driskill Barbershop, director of events Ashley Famalette told Austin, the hotel’s immensely popular men’s barbershop that opened in 1909 but closed shortly after due to changes at the hotel.

The barbershop opened in 1909 and was extremely popular among businessmen and politicians. (The Driskill)

“Really, The Driskill was the spot to stay if you were coming to Austin for politics or business,” Famalette said. “So (The Driskill Barbershop) was very, very popular because of its location in The Driskill.”

The concept of Finley’s was created by friends Darren Peterson and Scott Finley, who wanted to bring back luxurious vintage grooming.

From the hotel’s Chisholm Trail Room, Finley’s will offer six different services that are geared toward men but welcome all:

• The Driskill Haircut, $50, with a hot lather neck trim and shoulder massage.
• The Driskill Beard and Mustache Trim, $25
• The Driskill Clean Head, $50, with a straight razor, oils and moisterizers.
• The Driskill Clean Shave, $60, with cold and hot towels, essential oils and a facial moisterizer.
• The Driskill Electric Fade, $60, a skin taper fade cut with all the same treatments as a haircut.
• The Driskill Razor Fade, $65, a “military reg” with all the same treatments as a haircut.