‘No Shave November’: Hipsters Spawn a Beard Spa Treatment Trend
Hipsters love their beards! (Photo: Thinkstock)
Thanks to male hipsters’ favorite facial hair trend (beards, in case you’ve been living under a rock), men from Ohio to Ireland to Australia are rocking whiskers. In fact, according to a national survey, more guys are wearing beards now than ever before. The shaving industry is even taking a tumble for the first time since the recession. In fact, scruff is so popular, this whole month is dedicated to celebrating: It’s “No Shave November,” people.
Maybe it’s because science says bearded men are hotter than shaved men. But whatever the case, the hipster trend is changing the face (no pun intended) of the hospitality industry. A wealth of proper beard care information is available on hundreds of spa websites, which is new for the spa industry. Barbershops around the world, known to pamper men with luxury shaves, are putting down the blade to work more with the demand for trims. And luxury hotels have been catering to well-groomed guys seeking beard maintenance.
At the new Barber & Blade at One & Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, for example, the barber is seeing more male clients who only want a beard clean-up rather than a shave. So the upscale barbershop created a new trim treatment. At Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, the hotel’s Mandarin Barber offers full beard shaping or “rugged” trims while using popular men’s grooming lines like Geo F Trumper and Truefitt & Hill to condition the beard.
According to Dane Mentzer, creator of Tusk & Hide Grooming Co., which sells beard-grooming products, it makes sense: “A beard is not hair like on your head. It more closely resembles fur. Beards require a special blend of oils and nutrients to remain healthy. When the beard isn’t taken care of, it begins to pull moisture and nutrients from the skin, leading to itchy, dry skin and “beardruff.”
Because clearly no one wants to suffer from something called “beardruff,” here are six places that have dived into the beard-grooming revolution. Thank you, hipsters.
Related: Would You Get Your Hair Done in an Airport?
Irvin Jacks, Wichita, Kans.
Photo: Irvin Jacks/Facebook
Beards are out at this popular men’s barber spa in Wichita where facial-hair grooming is so in-demand it offers a Beard & Brow Bar. Guys can get plucked and primped (even get eyebrow tinting) but the Beard & Mustache Deluxe treatment helps manscape the scruff with the works (personal consult, clean, trim, scalp massage, etc), starting at $55.
Grooming Lounge, Washington D.C.
Photo: Grooming Lounge/Facebook
Suit and tie and beard is the look in America’s capital. Popular men’s skincare line Grooming Lounge opened a men’s spa near Dupont Circle, where business professionals are taming their beards with a standard Beard Trim, which includes a hot towel, a quick scrub (exfoliating helps prevent dandruff), and conditioning the beard (which helps eliminate flakiness), for $35. There’s also a McLean, Va. location.
Barber and Blade, Los Cabos, Mexico
Photo: One&Only Palmilla
Seeing that a good number of their guests are U.S. travelers who don’t have the time to get properly groomed back home, One&Only Palmilla (a magnet for celebrities) recently opened Barber and Blade, a fancy barbershop with exclusive beard treatments. Each treatment also includes shots of George Clooney’s tequila Casamigos, just because. Prices vary.
Peoples Barber & Shop, San Francisco
Photo: People’s Barber/Facebook
The Prohibition-themed Peoples Barber & Shop helps young techies groom their beards since its opening last year in Lower Nob Hill. In fact, it was so popular it opened an Oakland location this summer. Beard trims are only $17 and include a free drink, WiFi, hot towel, and styling.
The Mandarin Barber, Hong Kong
Photo: Mandarin Oriental
Packed with business travelers, the Mandarin Barber at Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is a sanctuary where guests can escape Hong Kong’s bustle, watch some sports on TV, sip beers, and get their beards groomed with washing, oil, and conditioning. Prices vary.
Related: Why I Get My Haircut Around the Globe
Gentlemen’s Tonic, Dubai
Photo: Atlantis, The Palm
Atlantis, The Palm Hotel & Resort recently opened an outpost of famed British men’s salon Gentlemen’s Tonic, which caters to the modern man. Sitting in the classically designed space (think leather, hardwood floors, marble retro-interior), dapper guests can watch TV via LCD screens built into the mirrors, while getting a proper beard trim and hot towel treatment.
WATCH: My Shave at an Amazing 75-Year-Old Armenian Barbershop
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