Shave and save - how to scrub up and trim costs
The mainstays of male grooming needn't be an expensive extravagance. Looking your best on a budget is a little luxury everyone can afford
Two things men can count on to scrub up well are a shave and the haircut - but the rise in men's grooming has seen many stores turn what used to be a daily ritual into sheer extravagance. So where can a man get a shave and a trim that won't break the bank?
If you'd prefer something even more affordable, Hong Kong's long-established Shanghai barbers are slowly fading away, but there are still a few scattered around the city. One of the most popular is the Shanghai Kiu Kwun Barber Shop in North Point, where a haircut or a shave comes in at under HK$100.
Similarly, numerous street-side Shanghai barbers are located around hidden alleyways - for example, the one on the corner of Hollywood Road and Shing Wong Street will give you a cut for just HK$50. But be warned: while the decor at many barber shops boasts a cool, retro-1970s vibe, there's no guarantee you won't walk out resembling that era as well.
In that regard, you might be better off visiting one of the many QB House stores, a popular chain of barbers with over 30 outlets around the city. They promise to give you a decent haircut for just HK$50 in under 10 minutes.
Many men prefer to do it themselves, but the major shaving brands are expensive, so try a cheaper variety: Watson's sells its own-brand five-blade razors at just HK$50 for a four-pack - almost half the price of the bigger names and just as good, in this writer's opinion.
Next, you'll need a shaving brush to build up a good lather. Most stores sell badger hair brushes for around HK$1,000, but in Chungking Mansions they cost as little as HK$200, although there's no guarantee they're made from real badger hair.
Finally, there's shaving soap, which gives you a closer cut than any new-fangled gel. Fanda Pharmacy in Worldwide House in Central is a favourite among traditional shavers for their affordable prices and variety of gentlemen's products, with names like Taylor, Brut and Tabac.
Their shaving soap is a bargain - most grooming stores sell different varieties for up to HK$400, but Fanda offers Kent's variety for a one-time purchase of HK$225 with a shaving bowl and just HK$100 for each soap refill.