How to get the most from your visit to the barber

telegraph.co.uk:

Truefitt & Hill, is expanding.‘Traditionally alpha-male credentials required spending less than a fiver on your haircut,’ says Tom Chamberlin, editor-in-chief of style magazine The Rake. ‘Grooming as a whole is riding the wave of a less inhibited masculinity that allows for downing a pint with well-moisturised hands.’The numbers reflect this: the British Beauty Council reports that the number of barber shops grew by 28 per cent between 2017 and 2021.A group of beautifully coiffed men in the public eye has added to this trend: think Daniel Craig, Ben Whishaw and Andrew Garfield.

Lockdown (while initially difficult) also helped long-term.‘The moment men are reduced to cutting their own hair, they value their barber more,’ says Bill Prince, former deputy editor of GQ. ‘And as the world shrank to a tiny headshot, they realised that good grooming accounts for a great deal.’In the summer of 2020, as men emerged with unkempt beards and locks, there were queues outside barber shops.

Barber Stefan Avanzato advises that good haircare by brands like Philip Kingsley goes a long way, adding: ‘Halve the amount – most men use too much product – and go to the barber every four to six weeks.’See it as a time to relax. ‘An ability to avoid the banalities of everyday conversation is a real boon,’ says Prince, ‘together with discretion and a willingness to engage in the necessary “housekeeping” that comes with ageing eyebrows etc.‘Think: therapist meets personal tailor, with a dash of trusted barman.’The barber Stefan Avantazo shares his advice     To find a good barber, it’s essential to go to someone with consistently good reviews, so research online before booking.