Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Get Your Hair Cut And A Bourbon Neat At Otis & Finn

With the opening of their second barber shop in Long Island City, we thought it would be a good time to chat with Shawn Dixon and Kirk Riley, the co founders of Otis & Finn about spring haircuts, beard maintenance, and bourbon.

You just opened your second store in Long Island City. What kind of style inspiration do you take from the neighborhood?

Recommended Videos

With both shops it was very important for us to become part of the neighborhood, as it existed as opposed to trying to change the neighborhood. We have been in Queens for over 10 years and have been hanging out in LIC for just as long.  Queens has a unique character and sense of community and the people that live here understand it, appreciate it and celebrate it – including us. Our goal has always been to build upon that sense of community with our shops.

otis-and-finn
Image used with permission by copyright holder

 LIC is very industrial and there is a lot of great art and artists in the neighborhood. In fact, the first thing that drew us to start spending time here was MoMA PS1, which is now our neighbor at Court Square.  In keeping with that vibe, we tried to make our shop designs industrial, but also a creative expression of us so the clients can feel comfortable and get a sense of who we are just by walking in the door.  One of our clients coined the phrase “flamboyant industrial” to describe our shops. I love that phrase and think it describes us perfectly.

We’re looking forward to spring. What kind of cuts should our guys be asking for this season?

In general men’s hairstyles have moved away from the slick, perfectly coiffed hair that had been dominating the scene for a while.  Now guys should be asking for more texture in their hair.  In fact we are doing a lot of textured bangs and fringe.  Guys shouldn’t be afraid to wear their hair a little on the loose/messier side now instead of the sculpted rockabilly look.

In general, how often should guys be visiting their barber? 

It really depends on the cut. As a general rule, however, our barbers recommend every guy see his barber at least every 4-6 weeks no matter what kind of cut he has. Even with long hair that is enough time that your hair will need to be maintained and shaped. For short hair, guys will need to visit more frequently. If you keep a fade you probably will need to come every 2-3 weeks depending on how fast your hair grows and how tight you keep your fade.  We have several guys who keep a tight skin fade and so they come every week.  People sometimes forget that your hair is part of every single first impression you make, so it’s important that it’s well groomed and projects the image you want.

otis-and-finn-2
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you were limited to using just one styling product, what would it be and why?

 Right now we would go with Uppercut Matte Pomade. The great thing about this product is that it’s malleable, but it doesn’t give you the high shine of regular pomade. You don’t want shine with the textured look and this product is great at enhancing the texture without leaving your hair looking glossy. We’ve been carrying it since it came out two months ago and our clients love it.

Do you recommend any kind of spring pruning or conditioning for bearded guys?

When you have a beard, conditioning and pruning is a year round job. Guys sometimes think they can just let their beards grow out without any sort maintenance and that just leads to a sloppy unkempt look. If you regularly get your beard trimmed and shaped, you can keep a great professional look no matter how big the beard – and it’s a great look. Just like in winter, you need to condition and moisturize your beard and the skin under it. A lot of our barbers like Argan Oil for beard and skin maintenance, but no matter what you use you have to keep it moisturized and healthy.

Rumor has it, that you guys have a generous bourbon cart. Why bourbon? 

I am from Kentucky and that’s where most of the world’s bourbon is made, and it is my drink of choice.  There has of course been a bourbon renaissance in the past decade and now it’s distilled all over. That said, when it comes to bourbon we stick to our roots and we give our clients a sip of Four Roses. It’s distilled in Kentucky and is a fantastic and surprisingly smooth bourbon, especially for its price point.

Jennifer Ryan Jones
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Jennifer Ryan Jones is a fashion and grooming expert who contributed regularly to The Manual and AskMen.com. Her past…
Topics
Montblanc’s new fragrance is made for the outdoorsman
Montblanc announces new woodsy fragrance
new montblanc scent

While the summer tends to bring a flurry of citrusy and airy fragrances for men, that doesn’t mean you have to wait for fall to get a woodsy scent. Although darker and woodier fragrances pair well with the colder months, there are still summer colognes out there that are perfect for the everyday outdoorsman. One of the more recent fragrances to follow this path comes from the luxury brand, Montblanc. Known for their luxurious approach to the outdoors and timeless watches, the brand is also home to many must-have scents. As part of their Explorer series, the new Montblanc fragrance is richer and poignant, making it a statement addition to their cologne lineup. While the series was only released in 2019, this latest iteration feels unlike anything they’ve developed before. 

Go on a journey with a new Montblanc scent

Read more
Is hard water ruining your hair? Try these expert-backed fixes
What is hard water, and is it ruining your locks? Hair experts share the hard truth
large shot of rippled water

Showering is essential to grooming — and hygiene, really. You also likely know to wash your scalp and locks with a shampoo and conditioner that helps you meet your goals. However, you can follow all the "good pair day" best practices, like not heat styling too much, and still find that your mane feels gunky, dull, and brittle.

There's a chance hard water is raining on your parade and making bad hair days a daily event. Luckily, some hard water hair care tips can help you treat — and better yet, prevent — hard water. Yet, backing up, you may not think of water as "hard" or "soft." If you do think about it, you might consider the essential liquid "soft." Having a baseline for what hard water even means is the first step to determining whether or not it's an issue for your hair.

Read more
Dermatologists say this is the only sunscreen rule that really matters
What's the best sunscreen for men? We asked dermatologists
man relaxing in sun sunbathing

Baz Luhrmann's song and speech reminded us to "always wear sunscreen." While the drumbeat around safe sun protection (and enjoyment) reaches a fever pitch in the spring and summer months — a time of more daylight and outdoor fun — dermatologists share that slathering on SPF is a year-round must. The grocery store and pharmacy have many options from brands you may have used in childhood.

The best sunscreen can vary, but ultimately, the rule of thumb is that "the best sunscreen is the one you’ll actually use," said Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, MD, Ph.D.,  a dermatologist.

Read more