My little Italy in Washington DC

by Elias Shams
Having lived and worked in Washington, DC, Spain, France, Germany, India, Iran, and regretfully UK, I finally found my favorite little cozy hair salon that every man regularly loves to visit for a haircut -  Diego’s Hair Salon one block North of Dupont Circle.

The shop is owned by a seventy something years old Italian guy named Diego D’Ambrosio for the past forty something years. Diego established the joint around 1961 when he had just moved to the US with a one way ticket from Italy around the same time as the JFK Presidential Inauguration. 

I discovered the place four years ago when I had just moved back to DC after years of living in  Europe.

I don’t think  I have ever seen Diego sitting.  He is always bouncing between customers, taking reservations, chatting and greeting those who enter his shop with a passionate, “Ciao, Bella.”

I’ve always seen him in a pretty nice crisp shirts, silk ties and slacks that rarely show a trace of hair. He always hums Italian folk music or sings along with some Italian song as clients visit.

What’s so noticeable and different in Diego’s shop compare to other hair salons, is the photographs of famous and honored ones adorn all over the walls from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,  to DC Council members, high ranking military officials, international politicians, and the entire Italian Mafia 

I don’t mean to sound like an old fart, but what I also like about Diego’s place is the old character of the shop he has kept all these years.

DC government loves him so much that even the short stretch of Q St  between 19 and Connecticut Ave where his shop is, named Diego D’Ambrosio way

Here is the other best part – a very nice and professional haircut for men only $20. From what I remember, it has always stayed $20.

Those of you into Italians or enjoy Italian music, you just have to try the place. It is not just getting a haircut. They constantly play old and classic Italian music as you are getting the haircut – mostly the clips below called “Felicita” that I grew up with during my childhood and teenage years in Tehran and Shiraz.

I am looking forward to take my two awesome boys to Diego’s this summer for the first time with a Moby Dick follow up.

Have your glass of Red Shiraz wine ready, blast the volume and enjoy the clips:

Same song – the 1982 version:

Same song again – the 1990 version