5 of Hong Kong’s newest and hippest barbershops
If you’re looking for a beard trim, or a decent wet shave and a haircut with a bit of old-school charm and refinement, here are a handful of winners
How did the barbershop ever die out? Sure, there was a long period when clean-shaven was the look of choice for many a groomed man, but beards and other modes of facial hair never really went away. We can’t exactly work out what happened, but we’re happy to say the classic barbershop has returned.
A combination of epic beards and an affinity for all things old-fashioned has seen many a modern man these days style themselves like something out the 19th century – which in turn, led wily entrepreneurs to tap in via era-appropriate barbershops. You might know about the age-old Mandarin Barber or possibly the last of the few Shanghai barbers – but here we round up some of Hong Kong’s newest and best, the freshest places for hairy gents to get a proper shave and a cut.
Fox and the Barber
41-43 Graham Street, Central, tel: 2405 6880, foxandthebarber.com
Crow’s Nest Barbershop
27 Haven Street, Causeway Bay, tel: 2320 9976, crowsnestbarbershop.com
ERA Barbers
Being a man can be confusing these days: do you go full metrosexual and embrace your feminine side, or would you rather throw caution to the wind, anger a bunch of feminists and load up on pure, unadulterated machismo? We’re not ones to judge, but if you’re part of the latter group, Era Barbers can help you. An offshoot of the Paul Gerrard salon, it’s based heavily on the owner’s fascination with all things 1950s, and the looks are pure rockabilly – think full wet shaves with hot towels, faded back-and-sides and other slick favourites. A cut is HK$550 and a shave HK$390.
36 Pottinger Street, Central, tel: 2577 3080, erabarbers.com
The Duke’s
Hong Kong’s limited space and astronomical rents mean that most guys never get the chance to build their long-envisaged “man cave” – you know, a place where whisky, tobacco, sports and other manly pastimes meet in perfect harmony. Get the next best thing down at The Duke’s, a three-storey spot in Central where fellas can get their dude fixes. With rare spirits and cigars served up, sports blasting all day on their many big-screen TVs and even a dartboard, it’s the perfect escape. Oh yeah, they also do haircuts, everything from hot towel shaves (HK$350) to beard trims (HK$300) and even permanent colour (HK$700), if you so wish.
6-8/F, 60 Wellington Street, Central, thedukes.com.hk
Hair House
2/F, 20 D’Aguilar Street, Central, tel: 6255 5450, facebook.com/hairhousebyadamchan