Father's Day Gift Ideas

Looking for some Father’s Day gift ideas and need some inspiration? Well, Pall Mall Barbers have a range of gifts and vouchers to suit each and every dad this Father’s Day. From our capsule collection of shave products to classic razors, shave sets and accessories – we’ve got it covered at Pall Mall Barbers. Just some of the Father’s Day gift ideas for the man who has everything include treating him to a luxury wet shave, getting his beard trimmed professionally or perhaps having a really good hair cut by some of the best barbers in London.

Here are some other Father’s Day gift ideas from the professional team at London’s favourite barber shop.

Sandalwood and Clove Shave System

The unique three-step shave system is based on our signature scent of Sandalwood & Clove. The products have been expertly crafted to prep, shave and soothe the skin for a razor sharp look. With natural extracts of Prickly pear, Guarana, Cocoa Butter, Jojoba, Coconut Oil and Shea Butter the range is invigorating and hydrating, providing a close shave. Using only a small amount at a time, these quality shaving products will last a long time. £67.50 BUY ONLINE

Fitzrovia Safety Razor Shaving Set

The epitome of style, this iconic shaving set with safety razor that encapsulates the very spirit of Fitzrovia in its simple lines, classic shape and smart monochrome colour scheme.  Made of high grade resin with chrome finishes and chrome-plated stand it features a handmade shaving brush with silver tip badger bristle and safety razor. £127.50 BUY ONLINE

Mayfair Shaving Brush

This beautifully crafted Mayfair shaving brush is renowned for absorbing water, creating a superior lather and gently lifting the hair on the face. Badger hair is renowned for its durability – unlike horse hair or synthetic material – and will gently massage the skin, leaving it looking fresh and renewed. £45 BUY ONLINE

Gift voucher

Not quite sure whether these Father’s Day gift ideas are really what you’re looking for? How about a gift voucher then? For the well-groomed male who has everything, Pall Mall Barbers offer vouchers for every service on the treatment menu, so treat dad to a wet shave, shave lesson or haircut.

The quality vouchers are sent in high quality card case that looks classic, masculine and stylish in keeping with the Pall Mall brand that stands for style and excellence making a perfect gift for any occasion. From £25. BUY ONLINE

We do hope some of our suggestions and Father’s Day gift ideas have inspired you to treat the main man in your life to something really special this year.  You can buy them all online or in any of our Pall Mall Barbers Central London barber shops.

Mens Grooming Goody Bags

Are you looking for some ideas for mens grooming goody bags?  Perhaps for a corporate event you’re organising or maybe a wedding? At Pall Mall Barbers we work with a lot of event companies and organisers when they want quality gifts aimed specifically at men.

When we developed our range of eponymous shaving products and hair styling products, we drew on years of experience and direct feedback from our clients. That’s why everything uses only the best ingredients like prickly pear seed oil and jojoba oil and our shaving range is fragranced with the masculine scent of sandalwood and clove with its heady, musky tones. It’s also why everything works well on male skin.

So what would we suggest for mens grooming goody bags? If you’re looking for something small, why not try our beard oil? It’s one of our most popular products and surprisingly not just with our hairier faced customers. The rich oil moisturises the skin as well as any facial hair – whether that’s a little bit of stubble or a full on bushy growth, as it contains three different oils to leave both skin and beard hair in unparalleled condition – sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E oils.  It’s also a great product to add a few drops of into shaving cream (that’s a little barber shop secret) for those that prefer a clean shaven look. It’s also something that many men might not yet use, so you’re introducing them to a luxurious product and improving their grooming all at the same time.  Beard oil is definitely a product that would make a great addition to any mens grooming goody bag.

Most men nowadays use a product to style their hair, so why not treat them to a Pall Mall Barbers hair styling product designed specifically for men, in your mens grooming goody bag?  All our hair styling products come in 2 sizes – a 50ml and a 100ml, and although we have something for every different style of hair from a rugged, messed up look to a slicked back quiff, we can help you choose the product that would appeal to most.  For example our Pliable Clay is a great all round product, ideal for a matt finish on shorter hair.

From our range of mens hair styling products, shampoos, conditioners and combs to the full range of mens shaving products we’ve got lots of suggestions for mens grooming goody bags.  So why not give us a ring or drop us an email and just get some general advice, or call into any of our 4 central London barber shops and try some of the products yourself?

Include some Pall Mall Barbers delights in your mens grooming goody bags, and the men will be leaving your event very happy indeed!

Barber Shop Pop Up

Ok, so you probably know that we’ve got 4 barber shops in central London, but did you know that Pall Mall Barbers also has a barber shop pop up?

It’s a fully functioning barber shop too and whatever sort of event you’re having, our team of barbers can provide gentlemen’s haircuts, luxury wet shaves, amazing beard trims and an array of express treatments.

You don’t necessarily need to be holding a barber event, a shaving event or even a male grooming one – although obviously a barber shop pop up would be ideal in those situations. Any event where you have men who’d appreciate a bit of male grooming, a real shave, beard shaping or even just a quality hair cut would be a great place to feature a barber shop pop up.

Hiring a barber shop for your event is an effective way of creating a great focal attraction and adding extra value for those that attend, ensuring that your event is the talk of the town.

The PMB barber shop pop up has featured at some major events around Europe, has always been well received and well attended, adding a little bit more interest and something a bit different to these events. Whether you are launching a new product or brand, or want to create a new buzz about something that’s already quite well established, our barber shop events team are very experienced and can offer advice and help on the set up, layout and services to offer. We will work tirelessly alongside event organisers to ensure that your event no matter how big or small will get you maximum social media coverage and client satisfaction.  It really is a great way of attracting attention for your brand.

Some of the brands that we have worked with in the past include Club Wembley, Wasps RFC, Jack Daniels, Boisdales, Oliver Sweeney, Charles Tyrwhitt, Bottega Veneta, Movember, Tiger of Sweden, London Coffee Festival, Google and many more. Whatever your brand’s specific needs, we can accommodate.

When you’re hiring a barber shop pop from Pall Mall Barbers, you can be assured that you are getting some of the most experienced and respected barbers in London. They are enthralling  to watch as they ply their trade, demonstrating the best barber skills around. The service that they offer your attendees will be of a very high standard using quality products.

If you think that a barber shop pop up is just the thing for your next event, please contact Daniel Davies, the Pall Mall Barbers General Manager via email on dan@pallmallbarbers.com and he will be delighted to help.

The Pall Mall Barbers pop up team are ready!

Best Spa Treatments for Men in London

Think of spa treatments and you probably think of women walking around in dressing gowns, whispering in hush tones whilst getting facials and manicures.

Well, no longer.  Men too are waking up to the benefits of a bit of pampering, relaxation and general male maintenance. Good spas have been offering their male customers spa treatments for men, specially tailored to their own hair and skin needs for ages.  But barber shops have been doing just that for centuries!

After all, our customers are solely men. Every day we look at and treat the skin and hair of men, so we know exactly how to get them looking their best and the most effective products to do the job.

And now we’ve been recognised for offering one of the best spa treatments for men in London. In Men’s Fitness, Pall Mall Barbers are top of the list for a traditional wet shave and haircut.  Our luxury wet shave features the traditional open blade of a cutthroat razor, after hot towels open the pores on your face and get the bristles standing up to enable a really close shave.  As one of the oldest and most respected barbers in London, you’ll be in safe hands at Pall Mall Barbers… and that’s a promise.

Offering one of the best spa treatments for men in London, means that we use the best products too.  We’ve developed the 3 stage shaving system to apply our vast knowledge of men’s skin and the shaving process. It involves a pre-shave scrub, a luxury shaving cream and a soothing post-shave balm. All the Pall Mall Barbers shaving products contain prickly pair seed oil to moisturise the skin and smell of the masculine scents to sandalwood and clove.

After the best shave of your life, you’ll be treated to a deep scalp massage, haircut and finish by some of the best barbers in London.

So, go on treat yourself to one of the best spa treatments for men in London. Book online or call any of our four central London barber shops.

New Barber Shop in Liverpool Street

We’re very excited to announce that Pall Mall Barbers is finally coming to the city! We’re just about to open a brand new barber shop in Liverpool Street. With all the usual styling of a traditional barber shop, our new one in the city is the fourth Pall Mall Barbers in central London with our other locations at Trafalgar Square, Fitzrovia and Westminster.

Customers have been asking for a while when we were going to venture a little further east into the city of London, but for us it was all about finding the right location. And we’re delighted to say that at last we have.  The new barber shop is going to be at 123 Houndsditch, Bishopsgate. You can see exactly where we are here.  Within a few minutes walk of Liverpool Street, Aldgate and Moorgate stations, we’re right in the heart of the city so all you city gents no longer have to come west to get your hair cut at the best barbers in London!  We’ve come to you.

At the new barber shop in Liverpool Street we’ll be offering the full range of men’s hairdressing and traditional barbers services including luxury wet shaves, beard trims, men’s haircuts and restyles as well of course as having all the Pall Mall Barbers hair care and shaving products for sale.

Our barber shops in London are known for their classic interiors with the traditional features of old school barber shops – the wood paneling, ceramic tiles, front facing sinks. But staying true to the history of barber shops also means delivering the sharpest haircuts and closest shaves in London. And of course, not forgetting being surrounded by good old barber shop humour and banter! And as quoted in one of the UK’s leading mens magazines, at Pall Mall Barbers we have “the best mix of old school service and razor sharp haircuts!”

So it was only natural that we should now be opening in the city, an area full of history and tradition that is also at the cutting edge of big business, with areas likes Brick Lane, Spitalfields  and Leadenhall sitting comfortably next to the Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie building. We love that mix of old and new.

For all your men’s hairdressing and barber shop services in the city, we’ll be open Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm so come in, say hello and get the best haircut or shave available in London today.

You can book your appointments online through our booking system, or give us a ring on 020 7626 0123, we look forward to seeing you at our new barber shop in Liverpool Street.

How to Use Moustache Wax

Moustache Wax.  What exactly is it, do I need it and how do I use it?  These are the questions we frequently get asked by our hairier faced customers.

Well, to start with, moustache wax is a stiff pomade usually made from beeswax, oil and fragrance. At Pall Mall Barbers we’ve developed our own moustache wax using essential oils and fragranced with sandalwood and clove. It comes in a solid format, so taking a little bit on the tip of your finger nail and warming it between your fingers will soften the wax turning it a bit tacky which can easily be applied to the hairs on your face.  The key here is really to only use a very small amount.  Too much and your moustache will look heavy and the wax may clump onto the hairs.

Using a moustache wax will help style your moustache, helping the hairs lie flat in the direction you want them to and ensuring they stay in place.  Whether you prefer a more natural look to your facial hair or you want to shape it into a real style statement, we’d recommend that you buy and learn how to use moustache wax properly.

Our shaving expert, Erin can show you exactly how to use moustache wax as she applies it to the model in our moustache wax video – we love the handlebar look he’s sporting at the end, styled to perfection by Erin!  You can also ask any of our barbers for their advice too next time you’re in any of our central London barber shops. Book an appointment online or call in next time you’re passing, we’ve got three barbershops – Trafalgar Square, Fitzrovia and Westminster.  And we’re soon opening a third barbershop in the city, near Liverpool Street.

For the well groomed gent, moustache wax is a must.

Beard Trimming in the City

Looking to keep your beard in tip top condition and have it trimmed to perfection? Then look no further, because luckily for you, Pall Mall Barbers are the beard experts!

And with 3 barber shops in Central London and another about to open near Liverpool Street,  beard trimming in the city is going to become very convenient.

Whatever the length of your beard, whether you’re just starting to grow it or it’s a full on bushy mass of facial hair, the most important thing is to keep it in good condition. Regular beard maintenance is crucial.  Washing and conditioning your hairy face, as well as regular beard trimming to keep it in shape and applying a really good beard oil to keep it soft and tamed and the regular things that you should be doing.  No-one wants to look at a musty, scruffy looking beard that may contain all manner of things from crumbs from your lunch to toothpaste to drops of your favourite tipple. And image all that sitting right under your nose.  Not good!

So, here are some tips on not only getting your beard in good condition and shaped well, but for on going beard maintenance.

Firstly, we’ve got a  great beard shaping video from Pall Mall Barbers if you’ve got a bit of growth started and don’t quite know how to shape it. Erin’s tips will help you make your beard look a lot thicker and more even overall. If you’re not that confident, or you’re a first time beard grower, make an appointment for beard trimming in the city and one of our experienced barbers will not only shape and trim your beard for you, but can also show you exactly how to do it at home yourself.

As it grows, it’s important to wash and condition your beard just as you would your hair. So every time you’re applying shampoo to the top of your head, do the bottom of your face too. It will only add seconds to your showering routine.  We’ve developed our own range of shampoos and conditioners for men that are ideal for your facial hair too. If you’ve got drier hair, go for the Argan Oil range, or if your hair is finer, greasier or your have a sensitive scalp then the Tea Tree Oil range would be a better choice. You can buy all our men's shampoos and conditioners online or instore.

So, you’ve got to the stage where your beard is looking pretty impressive. What now? Facial hair can get unruly quite quickly as it tends to grow in all different directions. Trim it regularly.. and carefully!  We’ve seen many a wonky moustache that needs rescuing! Come along for beard trimming in the city and then keep it looking as good as possible by using a quality beard oil.  It can be used for styling – it’ll look healthier and shinier and the hairs will sit in place better. But also, beard oil is a great deep conditioner for your facial hair applied when it’s wet. This will help you to style your beard as the hair becomes softer and more pliable. If you want to see exactly how to do this, here’s  another video featuring the top beard skills of Erin!

So don’t forget, wash and condition your beard, get it trimmed regularly and use a beard oil.  Easy! And for beard trimming in the city, book an appointment online or call one of our Central London Barber shops.

Male Barbers in London

From what we see every day, men in London generally take pride in their appearance. Whether they work in the city and need a professional, well groomed appearance or prefer the more relaxed hipster look of a well shaped, busy beard and a slicked back quiff.

We see it all at our male barbers in London and with three (soon to be 4…) barber shops in central London, we’ve got some of the best barbers in the capital so can cater for all tastes.  And it’s not just hair cutting and styling that we do in our male barbers in London. We offer the full range of barber services such as luxury wet shaves, beard trimming, even shaving lessons.

With all this experience of mens hair and mens shaving, we created our own Pall Mall Barbers YouTube channel full of shaving advice, grooming tips and hair product recommendations.  So here are some clips and links from just some of the most popular ones from one of the most popular male barbers in London!

How to Use Beard Oil Properly
See how Erin, the Manager of our Trafalgar Square barber shop demonstrates how to apply beard oil to tame and shape your beard, plus advice on how to condition your beard from the skin to the tips. Watch that and then get some of the excellent Pall Mall Barbers Sandalwood and Clove Beard Oil from our online shop.

Which Hair Product to Use for a Matt Look
If you don’t like a shiny finish to your hair but still want something that will hold it in shape, then Pall Mall Barbers Pliable Clay is the hair product for you. We sell a lot of this hair styling gem in all our male barbers in London, and this is Dan, our General Manager demonstrating how much to use and how to apply it.

3 Step Shaving System for a Professional Wet Shave at Home
If you’ve ever been treated to a luxury wet shave at one of our male barber shops in London, you’ll know just how smooth your face feels afterwards.  And now that we’ve launched the Pall Mall Barbers unique 3 Step Shaving System, there’s no reason why you can’t get such a close shave at home now too. To show you how to use these products and get the most out of them, watch this video. 

Just a few of our helpful video with advice and tips from our male barbers in London.  Have a browse through the rest of them on our YouTube channel and if there is anything you would really like to know or need some help with any aspect of men’s hairdressing or barbershop services, drop us a line – we’d be happy to help.

Pall Mall Barbers in the City of London

Our ever loyal customers have been asking us to open a Pall Mall Barbers in the City of London for a very L-O-N-G time.  Well, guess what?  We’re just about to.

Yep, that right, Pall Mall Barbers is opening a brand new salon to the City of London in the next few weeks, in the vicinity of Liverpool Street. With our usual old school barber shop styling – ceramic sinks, wood paneling and the traditional red and white barbers pole along with the witty barber shop banter and of course the modern razor sharp haircuts and wet shaves that we’re known for.  You’ll get all that and more at our barbers in the City of London.

The City of London is a magnet for smart, professional men who need to look sharp.  It instills confidence. And there really is no better place than a professional men’s barbershop to get all the advice and tips a man could want. You may want to know how to get the smoothest closest shave, a haircut that suits you/your hair/your job and is easy to manage even some general grooming advice?  When we open our barbers in Liverpool Street, you’ll be able to get all that from the best barbers in London (we may be a bit biased, but if you don’t believe us, see some of our credentials in another blog article we’ve written.)

Offering the full range of men’s hairdressing and barber services at the new barber shop in the City of London, you’ll be able to nip in during your lunchtime – although we would advise making an appointment to secure a set time, so perhaps on your way out after a long day in the office? Once we open and have updated the Pall Mall Barbers website, you’ll be able to book on line, but as soon as we open we’ll publicise the telephone number so you can always call us to book.barbers in the city of london

Don’t forget, in the next few weeks you’ll see our brand new barbers in the City of London, but until then, why not visit one of our other Central London barber shops – we’ve got salons in Trafalgar Square, Fitzrovia and Westminster where the full range of barbers and mens hairdressing services are offered, alongside quality men’s shaving and hair styling products.

We look forward to seeing you!

Barber Shop in Westminster

Did you know that we’ve opened a new barber shop in Westminster?

Fitted out to the usual high standards of Pall Mall Barbers, the new salon in Central London has all the traditional barber shop features whilst still offering all the modern men’s hairdressing and shaving services you’d expect.  You can also get the full range of Pall Mall Barbers eponymous hair styling and shaving products, featuring the masculine scents of sandalwood and clove.

The new barber shop in Westminster has been featured in Professional Hairdressers latest news and we’re really proud of the new addition to the Pall Mall Barbers family.  If you live or work in the area, you can now get a first rate haircut or luxury wet shave without having to travel far.  And we’re easy to find – right next to the Palmer Street exit of St James’ Park tube station.

With the new barber shop in Westminster being the 3rd salon – our other barber shops are at Trafalgar Square and in Fitzrovia, Pall Mall Barbers is growing due to the increased demand for quality men’s hairdressing services in the capital.  No doubt, you’ll be seeing more of our barber shops opening around the city in the near future too.

You can call the PMB barber shop in Westminster to make an appointment on 020 3267 0001 or via our online booking service, and as we’re open later each day during the week – until 7pm, we hope you’ll find it convenient to come and see us at a time to suit you and enjoy the usual barber shop skills, services and banter!

We look forward to seeing you at our barber shop in Westminster.

Best Barber in London

We know many claim to be the best barber in London, but who really holds that accolade?

Maybe we’re a little biased, but we’ve got lots of reasons to think we are in with a really good chance of claiming that title.. and it’s not just our egos talking.

So what would constitute being the best barber in London? Well, firstly, how about experience, knowledge and expertise?  At Pall Mall Barbers, we’ve definitely got those in bucketfuls.  With 3 barbershops in Central London – Westminster, Trafalgar Square and Fitzrovia, our barbers have over 300 years of collective barbering experience between them, in London, the UK and internationally. We’re often inundated with applicants from fellow barbers wanting the chance to come and work at Pall Mall Barbers, such is our reputation in the industry and amongst our peers.

It’s that reputation that leads to us often being asked for advice, tips or opinions from some of the leading media companies in the UK. We did a live shave off of Tim Lovejoy’s beard on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, one of our barbers had a part shaving Mr Selfridge on the ITV show when an actor couldn’t quite manage the bare blade shave required and the BBC have filmed numerous shows and interviews in our salons whilst the presenter enjoys a luxury wet shave.

We really seem to be the barber of choice for these companies.

And it’s not only filmed media, it’s the printed media too where Pall Mall Barbers are featured – we’ve been written about in Esquire, The Independent, The Telegraph, Men’s Health and even the New York Times, to name just a few. All features that were independently written by journalists and weren’t paid for articles.

Some of the media companies where we’ve been featured:

So the industry, our peers and the media seem to think we’re pretty good but really without customers there wouldn’t be a Pall Mall Barbers. Having recently opened our third barber shop in London, and a fourth on the way, our expansion has been bought about by demand. As we get busier and busier and word seems to spread, we’re looking to open more barber shops to meet our growing numbers of customers.

So, the best barber in London? We think we might just be.  To see what all the fuss is about, why not book an appointment and try us out for yourself? We offer the full range of men’s hairdressing, shaving services and products and you can book online.

Mens Grooming Tips to Survive Festival Season

Mens grooming tips to help you look your best throughout festival season.

That’s right festival season is upon us once more and the only thing the Pall Mall Barbers like more than cutting hair is listening to great music. The team at Pall Mall Barbers have been known to go to quite a few gigs and festivals in our time and here are our mens grooming tips to looking great during a festival. It is important for a Pall Mall Gentleman to look great in all scenarios (you never know who could be checking you out). So read on guys and let us know what look you are going for, at what festival and let us know where you would like our amazing pop up barber shop to visit next.

Check us out on Instagram and Twitter  or email dan@pallmallbarbers.com

Use Talc to Refresh and Cleanse
Ok, our first mens grooming tips is to rub a small amount of talc in a circular motion onto your hair. This will gather the product up into a small ball. This is also a great way of getting oil based products out of the hair. Start with a small amount - the last thing you want to do is look like a festival going ghost.

Always Wear Protection... on your beard!
Gentlemen with beards are prone to getting lucky at festivals (.. in our experience),  so make sure that you are protected with Pall Mall Barbers beard oil. It stops the beard from going fly away from any moisture in the air and leaves the beard smelling fantastic too. Our beard oil is in a handy “fit in your pocket” tube making more space in your bag for other essentials.

Like these mens grooming tips? Here are a few more..

Use Soft Non-Setting Products
Use a lighter product that does not leave a residue such as Pall Mall Barbers Pliable Clay, or Light Dressing Cream. Why? Well for one there are amazing products that have been formulated by the boffins at Pall Mall Barbers towers. But the main reason is that you can shake out a light product and style again in the morning, this is a great mens grooming tip because it gives you a massive advantage in looking fresher than the other guys there.

Wet Wipes and Moisturiser
A quick once over with non-scented wet wipes will keep you fresh as a daisy but lads it is so important to moisturise if you’re out in the elements all day. Try using our post shave balm, it is a double duty moisturiser and skin protector, so not only will your skin be moisturised it will be protected from the sun’s harmful rays.

Smell Good & Get the Girls
Different fragrances have different lasting factors. A good way of remembering this is
• Aftershave – fades the soonest
• Eau de Toilette – fades after a few hours
• Eau de parfum– Last the longest

The Pall Mall Barbers recommend our Sandalwood and Clove fragrance. It lasts for a nice amount of time and is not overbearing. Most of all the female Pall Mall Barbers find the smell attractive (needless to say the male side of PMB are now all applying it).

Freshen Up the Day Before
Our last bit of advice would be to visit the barbershop as close to your festival visit as possible. A good barber will give you a shave closer than what you will get at home with minimum irritation. Therefore your shave will last longer keeping you looking sharp throughout the entire festival. In regards to your hair cut there are no mirrors or hairdryers in a field so ensure that you have a style that is easy to style and wear. It may be time for a restyle Sir.

So there you have our mens grooming tips to help you survive the festival season.  Enjoy!

Gents Hairdressers in London

Are you looking for a gents hairdressers in London? Perhaps you’re new to the city, moved jobs to a different area or just had a nightmare experience at your usual barbers?

It can be quite a daunting task.  We understand that.  But how do you go about finding a good gents hairdressers that won’t rip you off or make a real hash of your hair? We can be a bit precious about our crowning glories, us men, so it’s worth taking some advice and ensuring you find the right gents hairdressers for you – one that not only makes your hair look good, but where you feel comfortable and welcomed.

If you’re new to an area, why not just have a stroll around it one lunchtime?  Gents hairdressers in London are not always located on the busiest streets, so have a wander and see what you find. Note the name of some places you see and then go online.  Check out their website, see what people are saying on social media about them and read online reviews.  If you’re active on social media, you could just pose a question out to your network. One of the great uses of Twitter or Facebook is to get recommendations from people you trust, whether that’s for a plumber, a restaurant or a gents hairdressers in London.

Most good gents hairdressers should have a chat to you before they start to cut your hair.  They’ll have a a look at your hair and will advise whether the style you want will actually work and give you tips on the products to use to get the look you want.  If you don’t feel comfortable at that stage with the person who’s going to cut your hair, make your excuses and leave! Seriously. Might be a bit awkward, but if you’re feeling uneasy at the very beginning, imagine how you feel when you’ve not the got the haircut you want.  Anyway, you never have to see them again!

This advice applies whether your looking for a gents hairdressers in London or elsewhere, but if you are in London and near any of the Pall Mall Barbers 3 central London barber shops, you should come and try us.  But take our own advice first – see what people are saying about us on social media.  We’re very active on twitter and facebook.  You can check out the rest of our website and see our barbers and mens hairdressers before you come in. And on top of all that we’ve got many, many endorsements in some of the most respected mens media in the UK including Esquire and GQ.  With some of the best barbers in the business, we’ve even been demonstrating our mens hairdressing skills on Sunday Brunch, the Politics Show and Mr Selfridge.

Maybe you should be booking an appointment and seeing what all the fuss is about with some of the best gents hairdressing in London.

Men's Razors

Men’s razors come in all shapes and sizes – a bit like men really.

But what’s the “best” one? Well, that really depends on you and how you like to shave.

Take the electric razor. As men’s razors go, it’s not one we’d recommend.  Yes, we know they make shaving easier and quicker – you don’t need any of the usual shaving gear like shaving cream, gels or even water and you can use them anywhere (even on the London tube – believe us, we’ve seen it!) But they won’t give you a great shave. With this particular type of men’s razor, you won’t get a very close or smooth shave even if it means your daily shave is less hassle for you in the morning.

Moving onto cartridge men’s razors. These are the Gillette Mach 3 type of blades. Cartridge men’s razors were developed to encourage men to make repeat purchases – Mr Gillette recognised that a blade that stayed sharp for a very long time wouldn’t make him much money, so he developed a more disposable one. And anyone who uses these types of men’s razors will know how much money that probably do make the manufacturers – these things are not cheap! But they’re easily available with every corner shop seeming to stock them and they’re very portable, even if they do cost a fortune!  And regardless of what the marketing hype tells you, the more blades there are does not mean the closer the shave. What it does mean though is probably more chance of skin irritation and surface cuts.

So, moving onto the men’s razors that we do recommend. It’s the safety razor… and we’re not just saying it because we sell them.  We use them, day in, day out.  Why?  Because they really do give the best, closest, smoothest shave.

The initial investment with this type of men’s razor can seem high, but over time that investment and the new blades required for it, pale into insignificance when compared to the cost of cartridge blades and disposable men’s razors. So, a better shave and less cost.  What’s not to love?

If you’ve not used this type of men’s razor before, it might take a bit of getting used to so you’ll need to find one that is comfortable to hold and easy to use – they do differ slightly.  Why not book in for a shaving lesson with one of our professional barbers (reputed to be the best in London). They’ll help you choose the right men’s razor for you, give you a proper wet shave with loads of advice and tips on getting the best shave and will demonstrate how to use shaving products to get the best out of them (like adding a bit of shaving oil to your shaving cream.)

You can book an appointment for a shaving lesson online for any of our central London barber shops or call in the next time you’re passing for some helpful advice.

Pall Mall Barbers and Barbering on the BBC

Pall Mall Barbers was the backdrop for a recent programme filmed for the BBC on the History of Barbering. With our salons styled in the traditional barber shop style with wood panelling, retro tiles and front facing sinks, they are the perfect location for a programme about barbers and how the barber shop developed.

Dr Alun Withey, one of the BBC’s New Generation Thinker was doing a feature for the broadcaster about barbering in the 18th century and decided to use one of our barber shops in Central London to film in.  The team were there for most of the day and we have some great shots of them filming.

Sporting his own impressive growth of facial hair, Alun took the plunge and went for a luxury wet shave when he came into Pall Mall Barbers in Fitzrovia after deciding to experience all the joys of a professional shave for himself.  So with Michael, a very experienced and skillful barber he was in safe hands and ended up with a smooth, hairfree face and soft moisturised skin. If you want to see the before and after pictures and learn a little more about the history of barbering, the programme is now on the BBC Arts website.You can also see the steps Michael goes through when he gives a luxury wet shave.

Or if you want to read more about the fascinating history of barber shops and their tradition of surgical services through the ages, then Alun’s got a longer feature on his blog.

And if you fancy enjoying the barbering skills of a Pall Mall Barber, why not book in for your own luxury wet shave. You can book online or call any of our Central London barber shops.

Safety Razor

What Exactly is a Safety Razor?

It sounds a bit like safety scissors. You know those ones with the rounded edges that can’t actually cut anything and you give them to children?  Well, thankfully, a safety razor is nothing like those!

A safety razor is as sharp as any other razor, but it also has  the addition of a guard that glides along the skin between your face and the blade, which reduces the risk of cutting your face whilst shaving.  So they are ideal if you have sensitive skin, or perhaps scars and marks on your face. An elegant tool in any man’s grooming kit, a safety razor gives a really close, smooth shave and with replaceable single blades, they are also a very cost effective shaving tool in your daily routine as new blades are a much cheaper option than most of the multi blade alternatives.

At Pall Mall Barbers, we have a few safety razors – the St Paul, the Westminster and the St James, which are really popular with customers. It just depends on the look you like and the way you hold the razor, to determine which safety razor would be best for you.

The Independepent recently included our Westminster one in their list of 10 best safety razors – high praise indeed. They particularly liked the simple way of being able to change the razor blade with the handle releasing the razor head.

If you’d like to try one of these safety razors yourself but need some advice first, pop into one of our central London barber shops and any of the guys there will be happy to help you. Otherwise, if you know what you want, go straight to our safety razor page and you can buy online too.

Beard Shaping

Have you tried beard shaping yourself but it’s not quite looking how you want it to?

Beard shaping can be quite tricky, but fortunately here in London we’ve got some of the best barbers in the business. And at our Pall Mall Barbers salon in Trafalgar Square, the Manager Erin is right up there with the very best.

With her knowledge of beards, facial hair and men’s shaving she can give the best advice and tips on beard shaping in London.

Maybe you’ve started to grow your beard, it’s got past the stubble stage but it’s now beginning to look a bit scruffy or unkempt. So what’s the best advice for beard shaping in this instance? Well, we’d recommend watching this beard shaping video on the Pall Mall Barbers Youtube channel. It features Erin advising on how to get sharp lines, how to make your beard look thicker and fuller and how to get it more even all over when it may be growing at different rates.

But what about beard shaping when you’re lucky enough to have quite a full, bushy face of hair? A boxed beard is quite a strong look, that still maintains a smart and professional air. In the next video, Erin talks through and demonstrates how to shape a boxed beard.

The great thing about a beard is that like your hair, you can change the look and shape of it. Grow it a bit longer and you’ll have different options on beard shaping that you can try.  So, what do you fancy? Maybe a Van Dyke?  This is a more pointy beard that needs cutting into shape.  It’s the style of beard Leonardo di Caprio was rocking in Django Unchained. Again, our beard supremo Erin, can talk you through how to get this look with this beard shaping video.

Still don’t feel like you’re ready to master the art of beard shaping yourself? Then book an appointment at any of our London barber shops and get a professional to do it for you.  They’ll look at the shape of your face, the direction of hair growth and can discuss with you the best style of beard for you.  Once styled right, it’ll be far easier for you to manage yourself.

You can book a beard shaping appointment online or order any of the Pall Mall Barbers Sandalwood and Clove beard grooming products.

History of the Beard

The history of the beard is fascinating. We've been going through a particular phase of beard loving in recent years so no doubt sometime in the future, people will look back and analyse our own social landscape as reflected by the hirsute amongst us right now.

When you look into the history of the beard, you can often identify a period by the style of beards popular at the time. For example, Henry VIII's bushy, fully grown beard was shaped as a "spade" and squared off at the chin. The style was much copied in the 16th century with most noblemen growing their facial hair as it was widely considered a sign of a man's virility!  The King even introduced a Beard Tax in 1535, knowing that men would pay it, as they wanted to keep their facial hair as a reflection of their masculinity.  Sneaky, eh?

By the time of the Stuarts reign in the 17th century, beards were shaped into a more of a pointy style quite often with the moustache separated from the beard hair under the lip and on the chin. This was known as a "Van Dyke".  In more recent years, this style has been sported by Johnny Depp, Heath Ledger and Jonathan Ross at various times.

When you look into the history of the beard, one thing is fairly constant. Beards being a reflection of a man's virility.  But they were also thought to prevent germs by preventing noxious substances getting into the mouth. Although given the lack of personal hygiene over the centuries we think a beard could have actually been harbouring more germs than was good for anyone.

Luckily, that's not the case today, even though the most favoured style of the moment is still a bushy, full on face of hair. With beard oils to keep beards in good condition, combs to shape and the general recommendation from barbers being to wash and condition the beard as you would your hair, then they really are something you wouldn't mind getting close to.

If you'd like to know more about the history of the beard, there's a great piece on The Conversation Blog.  It's written by Dr Alan Withey, who we had the pleasure of meeting when he came into Pall Mall Barbers and was filmed having a luxury wet shave as part of his research for a show on the BBC.

It's a fascinating read and you'll learn some little known facts about the history of the beard - like the development of fake beards made from goats hair in the middle of the 19th century for those who couldn't quite manage to grow their own!

Don't forget to call into one of our Central London barbers shops for all beard related products, beard trimming appointments and general beard care advice from one of our professional barbers.

Exhibition About Beards

We know beards are still really, really popular.  Whether that's the full on bushy variety or the more subtle stubble look, even though on the grapevine, it's reported that the whole hipster look seems to be waning.

We disagree and a clear indication that beards are as popular as ever, is an exhibition about beards currently on at Somerset House in London.

Featuring 80 portraits of men (and one woman!) with beards by the photographer Mr Elbank who has a fascination with facial hair and beards in particular.  At his exhibition about beards you may even recognise some pictures, particularly if you use social media as one of his early portraits of Australian charity campaigner Jimmy Niggles, who grew Oz's most high profile beard, went viral and he became a social media sensation.

Some of the images at this exhibition about beards are being shown for the first time, exploring that art of male grooming and featuring some amazing pictures of the likes of John Hurt, Ricki Hall, Billy Huxley plus the bearded woman Harnamm Kaur who's been growing a beard since the age of 16 as a result of a medical condition which causes excess hair growth.

It's a fascinating exhibition about beards that we'll definitely be going along to see, and it's on from March 5 - 29th.  You can get more information on the Somerset House website.

And don't forget if you need some grooming advice on your own beard care and how to look after it, book an appointment for a beard trim or shaping with one of our top barbers.  We've also got some great beard grooming products such as our Sandalwood and Clove Beard Oil, available online or in store.

Look after your own beard, keep it in shape and healthy looking with beard oil, and you never know, you may be featuring in your own exhibition all about beards!

The Area Called Victoria London

Want to Know About Victoria London?

It goes without saying that London is a very busy city.  That's one of the reasons we love it. But there are some areas that are busier than others and Victoria is one such area of the big smoke.

In the very central part of London Victoria is quite a small area but boy, does it cram a lot in. It's close to many of the city's major tourist destinations like Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and a short walk to the London Eye, Tate Britain and Buckingham Palace.  So it's no surprise that Victoria always seems full of tourists.

But it's also an area with large office complexes for both public and private sector businesses, such as the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and John Lewis's Head Office.  Even New Scotland Yard is in Victoria London.

With so many people coming into the area for work or pleasure, it's no wonder that Victoria is a major transport hub in the city. With a tube station, mainline railway station, bus station and even a coach station all in the Victoria area of London, this is actually one of the busiest interchanges in

the country. And is always busy, day or night.

It's also a popular area for hotels and of course, lots of restaurants, pubs and bars to accommodate the social lives of those visiting from elsewhere or looking for a bit of de-stressing after a day in the office.  There are also theatres and a large shopping area with some of the most well known names on the high street. It seems whatever you're looking for in Victoria, you'll find it here!

Which is why of course, we've just opened a new Pall Mall Barbers salon in Victoria London.  We're right next to St James's Park tube station's exit on Palmer Street, so a short walk from Victoria Station and literally round the corner from Westminster Abbey. We're really easy to find!

Give us a call to book an appointment for any of our men's hairdressing or shaving services, from a full restyle to a beard trim, we'll sort it out for you. Or you could just call in when you're next in Victoria London.  We'll be happy to see you.

Pall Mall Barbers in Victoria London

Thinning Hair

Thinning hair can really affect a man's confidence and as a result, we may stay in denial trying all sorts of tricks to cover it up. But as Dan Davies, the General Manager of Pall Mall Barbers would advise, it's far better to work with it, getting the right cut and using the right products, rather than trying to disguise it.

Dan's expert opinion on thinning hair has been quoted on Fashionbeans.com, the complete fashion, style, fitness and grooming guide for the modern gent. With their team of industry experts, Fashionbeans.com provide the everyday male with the latest advice, inspiration and guides to looking their best daily and has over 1 million readers a month.

If you want to read what Dan has to say on thinning hair, click through to the 2015 Male Grooming Manifesto and then scroll down to May's entry.

First of all, Dan suggests getting it cut rather than trying to grow the thinning hair and then using a matt hair styling product like Pall Mall Barbers Pliable Clay. This has been developed, tried and tested by our professional barbers at our barber shops in London and will give definition to shorter styles of mens hair. Pliable Clay is great for creating styles that can be reworked during the day too, especially if you're going out after work or have a really busy day ahead. It comes in 2 sizes and can be bought online or in any of our Central London barber shops.

If you want to try some Pliable Clay and are not quite sure how to use it, we've got a great video of Dan explaining how much to use and exactly how to apply it. Check out the Pall Mall Barbers youtube channel and watch the video.

And remember, if you're starting to notice thinning hair, book in for a good haircut at Pall Mall Barbers, get their advice on the right products to use and how to style your hair - you'll look and feel much better.

Book a mens haircut appointment online.

History of Barbering

Ever wondered about the history of barbering and how the barber shops of old used to operate?  Well, we recently had a visit from Dr Alun Withey at our Fitzrovia barber shop in London, who knows all about such things.

Dr Alun had come in to have his beard shaved off and in his role as an academic historian of medicine and the body and a 2014 AHRC/BBC 'New Generation Thinker', he has written a really interesting piece on his blog all about the history of barbering.

As this was his very first experience of a professional wet shave with an open blade, he was naturally a bit nervous but as he was in the process of making a short film about shaving in Georgian Britain and this was part of his research, Dr Alun wanted to experience a proper wet shave by a qualified barber, and let's be honest, if you're going to have a cut throat razor held against your skin, you'd definitely want a Pall Mall Barber doing it!

Fortunately for Dr Alun, the barber in question - Michael, knows exactly how to give the closest, smoothest shave known to man and Dr Alun seemed impressed!  And he knows a good barber when he comes across one as he's spent the last 5 or 6 years researching and writing about shaving and the history of barbering.

In his blog, the history of barbering is covered from the 18th century when the skills, hygiene levels and quality of the barbers' tools often left gents of the time, with sore faces and nicks and cuts galore.  Thankfully that's no longer the case!

Why not read the blog, then book a professional wet shave for yourself and revel in this luxurious and very masculine experience.

Fitzrovia and Pall Mall Barbers Salon

Fitzrovia is the area in London where we decided to open the second Pall Mall Barbers salon. In the West End of Central London, Fitzrovia was famous from the 1920s for its artistic and bohemian community. Some of its famous inhabitants included Virginia Woolf, Dylan Thomas and George Bernard Shaw.

Our salon, is on Fitzroy Street just around the corner from Fitrzoy Square – a beautiful Georgian Square and a really lovely place to walk through if you’re in the area. We’re between two tube stations – Warren Street and Great Portland Street, and a short walk from Tottenham Court Road so very easy to find from all directions. We’re also fairly close to Euston, Kings Cross and St Pancras stations.

The area is partly in the London Borough of Camden and one of the most famous, and visible, sights in London is in Fitzrovia – the BT Tower. We’re also not far from Regent’s Park. Being right in the heart of London, Fitzrovia is situated between Bloomsbury and Marylebone, north of Soho.

Apparently, there are over 125,000 people who come to work in the Fitzrovia area every day so if you need to sharpen up your professional appearance and have been looking for a good barber in the area, you now know where to come!

The Pall Mall Barbers salon in Fitrovia is on the corner of Fitzroy and Warren Streets, with windows all around so you can sit back and enjoy people watching or join in with the traditional barber shop banter!  We offer our full men’s hairdressing services here plus our usual luxury wet shaves.  With our experienced barbers, you can come in for a moustache tidy up, beard trim or beard shaping and know you’ll leave looking good.  If you want to make an appointment, you can do this online or by giving us a ring. Full details of our Fitzrovia salon are here.

We look forward to seeing you in Fitzrovia.

St James area of London

The St James area in the west end of London is synonymous with the British aristocracy and Gentleman’s Clubs, and Pall Mall Barbers has been associated with the area since 1896.

In fact, the street Pall Mall is still the home of many private members clubs like the RAC Club, the Army and Navy Club, the Carlton Club and the Reform Club. Plus many more around St James’s Square, St James’s Street and Piccadilly.  With so many well groomed, professional men in the area, it was only natural that a men’s barber shop should thrive in St James.

In the “City of  Westminster”, this very historic area of Central London is full of beautiful architecture where some very prestigious international firms have their head offices. St James is also within walking distance of some of the capital’s most famous landmarks like Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly Circus. It’s even home to some of London’s most beautiful parks like St James’s Park and Green Park. So it’s naturally a very busy area with business people, tourists and day trippers to London, making St James definitely one of our favourite areas of London.

The Trafalgar Square branch of Pall Ball Barbers is within easy reach of all these famous sights, plus close to several tube stations like Leicester Square, Charing Cross and Piccadilly Circus. So if you work in the St James area or are just visiting and any barber services like a luxury wet shave, men’s haircut or any type of men’s shaving products and hair styling products, why not drop by our barber shop and see how we can help. You can also Barber shop appointments in St James area of Londonbook appointments online or order any of shaving and hair products we sell in store.

We look forward to seeing you when you next need a barber in St James.

Men's Shaving

Who would Adam and Eve it? Our men’s shaving services have been included in Esquire’s Style Guide as something to buy this week.

And who are we to argue?  It’s always very flattering when our staff and our services are recognised and recommended, especially when it’s by one of the most stylish and respected men’s magazines around.  So, thanks guys.

And as the popularity of beards seems to be waning, maybe it’s time to treat yourself to a professional men’s shaving appointment at Pall Mall Barbers? You’ll be in very capable hands with any of our experienced barbers and with one of our luxury wet shaves, you’ll be getting the best shave in the business.  Your skin will be cleaned and steamed with hot towels and an invigorating facial scrub and then you’ll be treated to the luxury range of Pall Mall Barbers eponymous men's shaving products featuring sandalwood and clove and include a pre shave scrub, shaving cream and post shave balm.

If you’ve never had a professional wet shave before, it’s part pampering and part grooming.  You’ll experience the closest shave possible, have the smoothest skin and leave feeling relaxing and refreshed.  As far as men’s shaving goes, it doesn’t get any better than this.

We’ve got three barber shops now in Central London and you can book your men’s shaving appointment online or give us a ring.  And if you’d like to try any of our men’s shaving products, these can be bought online or in store too.