I grew up getting haircuts from our friendly, neighborhood barber. Every two weeks my Dad and I would walk to the barbershop a couple of blocks away from our house to get a regular trim. We would be sitting on adjacent barber chairs, a small wooden stool propped on my seat to add height of course, as I would watch grown men getting their hair styled, having their beard shaved or even getting a massage. To this day, as much as I’ve grown to appreciate getting an edgy new hairstyle from swanky salons, there’s something about getting a haircut from a barbershop that just makes the man I am feel extremely dapper.
With the revival of the pompadour and the rise in popularity of facial hair among men in their twenties and thirties, there has been a demand for barbering not just for straightforward and no-frills haircuts and shaves, but for a more refined approach to the typical services you would find in a regular barbershop.
Bespoke is all about custom-made products and services that appeal to the male market and offer a certain air of luxury. As our economy continues to grow, Filipino men have cultivated a certain taste for the finer things in life, which in turn also translates to a more sophisticated approach to grooming. Here are two gems that can be found in the metro that truly embody this spirit:
FELIPE & SONS
Mezzanine A, LPL Mansions, 122 San Agustin Street, Salcedo Village, Makati
IG: @felipeandsons
Established in 2013 by partners Marco Katigbak, Martin Warner and Paolo Canivel, Felipe & Sons is described as a “barberdashery.” To quote their website: “Felipe & Sons was borne out of a desire to find an establishment that caters to all the grooming and styling needs of the modern gentlemen. A place where a man could get a proper shave and a clean hair cut, fit a well tailored suit and a crisp white shirt, and maybe enjoy a glass of fine whiskey, or if too early, a cup of freshly brewed coffee. A place where a man can relax as a man.”
And that’s exactly how I felt as I entered the shop. An array of grooming, shaving and men’s accessories can be purchased at the reception desk on the ground floor. Pomades from Layrite and popular local brand, Eight Wolves, are also available. On the mezzanine level you can find the haberdashery area where you can get custom suits and other essentials made from a choice of in-house fabrics. They also offer made-to-order bespoke shoes from Sapatero Manila. The barbering floor is laid out with nine vintage barber chairs sourced from around the world, with a staff of 12 barbers. Haircuts start at an awesome P280. Their special service called “The Felipe,” which is a cut and a shave with a drink (beer or wine), is P590. I opted for their “beard sculpting” service since I had just gotten a trim from days before. The staff looked über cool in their tailored outfits as they went about their business. If you’re looking for a hip place to relax and look your best, then this place is definitely for you.
THE JOHN BARBERS GROOMERS
Somerset Millennium Makati, 104 Aguirre St., Legaspi Village, Makati
IG: @johnbarbers
For the young professional or the established CEO who is looking for a place to get groomed and pampered in the middle of the central business district, The John Barbers Groomers is the perfect sanctuary to their fast-paced lifestyle. I noticed the awesome interiors and attention to detail as I walked into the barbershop. What makes John Barbers unique are the small things that matter to a person who just wants to relax while making sure he looks his best. There are six custom barber chairs, each with its own electric outlets, USB chargers, shampoo bowl and a mirror with a built-in TV for each client.
If you’d like to feel refreshed before heading for a night out or evening meeting, they also have a nap room, a shower room as well as steaming and pressing services for suits. As managing partner George Salud (businessman and owner of men’s retail stores Tie Line and Merger) describes, “John Barbers is for the man who wants to take his time to be relaxed and get pampered.” I had a shave, treatment, massage, facial and a foot spa and I have to say I felt like a million bucks after spending a couple of hours at John Barbers.
Pretty soon they will be offering custom, bespoke suits and shirts from tailors in Hong Kong. Measurements are to be taken at the shop, styled to the customer’s liking and the suits are flown in to Manila two weeks from the date they are ordered. Hair products from men’s grooming brands such as Suavecito and Teddy Boy are also available for purchase. Truly a luxurious experience in men’s grooming with reasonable prices as haircuts start at P280 and a beard/mustache trim is only P200.
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