I had the world’s greatest
haircut at the world’s oldest barbershop.
Just hyperbole? Nope. Men, I have to tell you Truefitt & Hill,
of which I have previously written, is a man’s world of tonsorial artistry.
Yes, T & H has served the
grand and the famous for over two hundred years, including British royalty who
still have their grooming needs cared for here.
Truefitt & Hill also sell
magnificent shaving products. As a
matter of fact, I used Truefitt’s Sandalwood shaving cream this morning, as I
do every morning. And just over a week
ago I experienced a Truefitt & Hill haircut.
If you’re used to a hop in the
chair, hop out and think to yourself, “Well, I guess it looks OK,” you haven’t
experienced Truefitt & Hill’s barbershop.
I’ll tell you upfront it’s not inexpensive, but then neither is it
a normal haircut.
I know you’re skeptical. How
much better could a £45 (approx. $60) haircut be? In my case and my friend’s case, a lot
better. But, before I explain why, let’s
put things in perspective. Number one, you generously shell out over $100 for
your wife to get her hair styled, snipped and colored, right? Why not just send her to Simple Sally’s Beauty
Salon and Dog Grooming Parlor, for a $15 cut and $15 coloring? Easy answers. You’re a husband and used to
saying, “Yes, dear,” Answer number two, you are a wonderful man and generous to
a fault when it comes to the needs of others.
And, finally, you know it’s important to your wife that she look her
best in front of her friends whom you can barely tolerate. Doesn’t matter if
you have to put off buying that new Porsche.
Yes, you are a selfless and jolly fellow.
But, think of yourself for
once. Don’t overdo the selfless bit. You
need to look sharp too and you need the confidence builder that a great haircut
brings.
So, here’s my experience and
one I will again relive every time I come to London.
I walk into the small, blue
fronted shop on 71 St James Street and into a man’s world of shaving
paraphernalia. The shopkeepers, men and
women, greet me with genuine smiles and ask if they may assist me. “Yes,” I
say, I give them my name and say I have
a barber’s appointment for ten o’clock.
Two clerks give the scheduling
book a rapid search, see my name and usher me into a barbershop reminiscent of the men’s club of Sherlock Holmes’ London
days. There are barber’s chairs, but also generously opulent leather arm
chairs, both of which I would gladly whisk away to the comfort of my living
room. “Please have a seat, sir, and
Michael will be with you in a moment.” I
happily do as I’m told and moments later, a well groomed man appears, tells me
his name and escorts me to his station.
In a normal barbershop, the
haircut would begin pronto. Not
here. When Michael asks me how I would
like my hair cut, it’s the beginning of a discussion about length and part and
style. Meanwhile, as he listens, he also
examines my hair, my scalp, and the shape of my head. He asks questions to clarify what I want.
What I’ve just told you is the
crux of a fabulous haircut and what is so rare in American barbershops. Michael listens. My haircut is important to him. He seeks to understand.
It is only then that the
cutting can begin. This is no ordinary
barber, this is a tonsorial artist and his canvas is my hair. If you think I’m overstating the case, think
again. After a light spray of water, he combs and measures, holding up a strand
of hair for me to see the length he has gotten from our conversation. “Yes,” I say, “Exactly that much.”
The haircut goes on with calm
and careful assurance. A snip here and there, a re-combing to this side and
that. The artist chats along, as only a
man who knows his business can do. He’s
not imparting information as much as he is reassuring his customer. We talk about his Cypriot background, his wife and kids. He does the calming part well. I’m as relaxed
as a man can be, but also intensely curious.
I don’t want to miss a clip a snip, or an instant of the experience.
When the cutting is finished,
I lean over a basin and he washes my hair.
After a toweling, he puts a splash or two of Athenian Water on my hair
and massages it into my scalp. It
tingles and Michael tells me it invigorates the scalp and helps with healing
any naturally occurring abrasions.
Dried and combed, I’m ready to
hop out of the chair. As I stand, he
lightly brushes any stray hairs off my shoulders, then helps me on with my
coat. “Is there anything else I can do
for you, sir?”
“As a matter of fact, I’m
short of some shaving products and I want a bottle of Athenian Water also.”
So, what’s the final word on
my haircut? The final word is that after
a little over a week, the haircut is still wondrous. With only a touch of a
brush, my hair falls perfectly. I can
barely believe that even the part falls perfectly. That’s never happened
before.
And finally, for $40 less than
my wife pays, I exude so much confidence that I’ve even won a few matrimonial
discussions. Michael, you have achieved
the impossible!
 |
| A Royal Warrant |
Truefitt & Hill, you are
not only the world’s oldest barbershop, but also the best!
