Loyalty Barbershop brings throwback vibes to Old Town

Much like the namesake, Dominguez said he hopes to create a loyal customer base and legacy in the years to come. He said his mission is to become a fixture in Lansing, similar to other classic barbershops with longstanding legacies.

Walking into Loyalty Barbershop, you’d think the business had been there for decades. There are vintage dressers, retro wooden theater seats, ornate antique mirrors and an assortment of throwback velvet paintings. It’s a time warp.   

But while the brick building itself is historic, Loyalty Barbershop has only occupied the space since January 2022. It’s located in the heart of Old Town at 1219 Turner St., formerly Thrift Witch. 

Owner and barber Alexander Dominguez, 27, went to the Lansing Barber College and started cutting hair professionally in 2016. After spending time in other shops outside of Detroit and in Grand Rapids, the St. Johns native decided it was time to open up his own shop. He began looking at spaces on the east side of the state but found the market was saturated.  

“I thought, ‘Well, what about Lansing,’” Dominguez said. “My thought was that Lansing is the next biggest city. I know it’s going to take some time, but I think Lansing is going to be a very nice place.” 

Much like the namesake, Dominguez said he hopes to create a loyal customer base and legacy in the years to come. He said his mission is to become a fixture in Lansing, similar to other classic barbershops with longstanding legacies.  

“I always hear these stories of people saying, ‘I’ve been seeing the same barber for 10, 20, 30 years.’ I thought that type of dedication was absolutely amazing, and I wanted to put that in the name,” he said. “We’re going to be just as dedicated as a client who continues to go see the same barber for 10, 20, 30 years.” 

To not compete with REO Town’s Cuttin Up, Dominguez turned toward the Old Town neighborhood.  

“The shop has a traditional Americana vibe, it looks like an old-school barbershop that’s been here for a while,” he said. “We’re a traditional barbershop. We do barber-style haircuts. What I mean by that is, I try to be inclusive — meaning we don’t just do men’s haircuts. When I say barber-style haircuts, it means shorter style haircuts and undercuts. We also do beard trims, and straight razor shaves. Right now, we’re keeping it basic with those three services.” 

Dominguez said what sets Loyalty apart from other shops is its extended hours of service, and being open six days a week. The shop is open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for appointments and Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for walk-ins. 

“We’re one of the only local barbershops that’s open past 5 p.m.,” he said. “We get a lot of that late-night crowd.”