The 7 best places in Hong Kong for men's grooming
Male grooming has grown into a multibillion dollar industry and Hong Kong has seen the proliferation of male-focused grooming salons and services
Soap and water no longer cut it. These days guys have to look good, their skin glowing as much as is humanly possible. Blame the likes of David Beckham, George Clooney and Daniel Wu, who are constantly on our screens imploring us to buy products as well as surreptitiously making it OK to go for a facial every now and again. Men’s grooming, always eclipsed by women’s beauty and cosmetics, has experienced massive growth over the past decade and is now worth billions of dollars. The hipster beard trend and all that back-to-nature masculinity might suggest we have regressed somewhat to rougher and hairier times but the reality is that hipsters love a good moisturiser and are quite fond of facial toners and well-kept beards.
The growth in male grooming products and services over the last decade has led to the return of the humble gentleman’s barber. Grooming, by which we mean the use of toners, moisturisers and exfoliators, is no longer something for the rich and the vain. Here are the seven best places in the city for men to get some pampering.
Gentleman’s Tonic
Gentleman’s Tonic began life in Mayfair, London and is now a fully-fledged international chain. Gentleman’s Tonic is somewhere between an old-time barber and a spa. The Wellington Street branch is a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong where you can sit on the comfy leather chairs and enjoy a drink while you wait. As well as offering wet shaves (HK$375) and haircuts (HK$585), Gentleman’s Tonic has specialist services such as waxing (everything if you’re feeling brave), eyebrow shaping, massages and incredibly involved facials. There are several package deals with rugged names like The Shackleton (haircut, beard trim or wet shave for HK$910) and the hangover cure that is The Hemingway (HK$1,700, aromatherapy facial, neck, shoulder and scalp massage, with a Bloody Mary) making this an ideal pre-stag party venue (for guys who can’t abide drinking in Lan Kwai Fong). Gentleman’s Tonic also sells items from fancy shaving kits to its more high-end Advanced Derma-Care range.
43-49 Wellington Street, Central, tel: 2525 2455