Fresh Cuts & Fresh Ink: Holy Ghost Co.

Meet Jameson Shaw, the owner and one of the barbers at Holy Ghost Co. Located in the heart of Old East Village at 724 Dundas, this combo shop is serving up fresh fades and tattoos. “It was always a dream of mine to open a barber shop,” Shaw says. “It just worked out to be like you could run a tattoo shop and a barber shop the same way, they both go together really well.” Holy Ghost Co. has been open for the last five years, with a roster of four tattoo artists and three barbers. 

Shaw has lived in London for more than a decade, calling the east end of the city his home. He says that the opportunity arose when a family friend told him of the spot available for rent. “He was hounding me for the better part of two years while it was under renovations to just do it,” Shaw says “If he didn't push so hard, I don't think I would have done it at that time, but I'm glad I did.”

When you walk into Holy Ghost Co., you’re greeted by a shop full of pop culture. The walls are full of everything from traditional tattoo art, skateboards, and classical works. Each barber station is customised with their own flair, showing off everyone’s unique style. “[Customers] love the environment, they like coming in, they feel welcomed,” Shaw says. “As soon as you walk in through the door, the three of us up here in the barber's side greet you with a smile and say, ‘How's it going?’ Little things like that, I think go a long way.” Shaw highlighted OEV’s tight-knit community as a major factor in their growth as a business.

Running a small business is not without its challenges; one of the biggest is how to stand out amongst a crowd, something that’s especially true in OEV, where tattoo shops are abundant. One way Holy Ghost has done just that is through its social media presence. They keep it simple: post whatever they want, when they want. “I don’t think it’s any rocket science with social media, whatever’s happening in a day, post about it, if it’s well received, it’s well received,” Shaw says.  “I don't want to seem super commercial or anything like that. We're all individuals, we just take photos of cuts, tattoos and stuff going on.”

For Shaw, the best part of Holy Ghost Co. isn’t just in the artistry, but in the everyday moments that fill the shop with life. “The different conversations we'll have with different people every day, from music, weather, just life in general,” Shaw says. I get to come to work, cut hair, shoot the breeze, and work alongside all my friends. And I don't know if it gets better than that.” 

Holy Ghost Co. is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

📍 724 Dundas Street

☎️ (226) 663-6366

🌐 https://holyghostldn.ca/