Ocean Beach · Black-owned · Since La Mesa
The shop behind
the sign
The barber
Naz cut his first fade in La Mesa.
His day-ones followed him to OB.
That's the only resume that matters.
Uppercuts is Naz's shop and his crew. A Black-owned, fighter-energy barbershop on a locals' beach where the chair is a third place, every fade is a knockout, and Black, Mexican, and white regulars all sit in the same five chairs.
He built a clientele at Grossmont Center in La Mesa strong enough that when he moved 20 miles west to OB, his day-ones followed him. That's who's at the chair. That's who's worth the drive.
Ocean Beach is 67% white on paper. On Newport Ave, it's working-class beach. Black families, Mexican-American families, military, contractors, surfers, dog walkers. Uppercuts is the first Black-owned barbershop on this strip. There is no other shop on Newport Ave that carries this tradition.
“Another KO” — Naz's caption on his first post from the old shop. The boxing register isn't decoration. It's the culture.
The “TAKING ALL THE FADES” tagline + clipper-in-fist mark declare something specific: this shop fights for the cut. The boxing register has a deep cultural lineage in Black barbershops — the wall of Ali / Sugar Ray Robinson / Roy Jones Jr. posters is canon, not a costume. Naz's brand lives in that lineage.
[Content gate]
Full story — founding year, La Mesa years, why OB, boxing theme origin — confirmed at Naz interview. This copy is provisional.
Quick facts
The wall
Champions of the chair
In every Black barbershop worth its salt, the wall tells you who threw the best combinations. At Uppercuts, these are the guys on the wall. Boxing × barber is not a costume. It's canon.
Find us
4932 Newport Ave
Ocean Beach
Hours
Open daily. 10 to 8. Cash.
Walk-ins welcome. Five chairs. Call ahead if you hate waiting.
Phone
(619) 649-1338About parking
Newport Ave parking is a nightmare. Walk if you can. Free 2-hour on Sunset Cliffs Blvd, one block south.
4932 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107 · Ocean Beach