Review: T&H Hot Towel Shave (London)

[jcostom]

So, I'm in London this week for work. Ordinarily I have time to do a few things on my own. This trip was booked wall to wall. Then, yesterday, an hour after I checked in for my flight online, BA decided they needed to break the plane. So, instead of being in the air right now, I'll be flying tomorrow instead. So, hmm.. a nearly full day in London with nothing to do.. I know, I'll get a proper shave over at T&H.

I got the whole hot towel treatment that ran me £39. I had my choice of their products to use for cream and aftershave (I chose Grafton for both). I had an older Italian gent as my barber, and overall, he did a lovely job. He started with their pre-shave oil, and massaged it into my face. Then on with a hot towel for a few minutes. Next, he face-lathered me with the Grafton and went to work on me. Had another hot towel after he finished the shave, then he moisturized me, another hot towel, followed by the aftershave balm. Total time was about 30 minutes start to finish.

It was a very nice shave, and it's a relief to now know that even a master barber didn't get me BBS on a couple of spots where I always have trouble with that. Not sure I'd throw them another £39 to do it again, but it was mighty nice.

Aside, I was thrilled to find that my hotel employs a big water softener (London water is mighty hard), so I enjoyed lovely shaves on my own for the rest of the week.

Heading out now, going to hit TOBS and GFT this afternoon.

 

[Der_Kaiser]

Sounds lovely but 39 quid? That is pretty steep at least it was a good shave.

 

[gunterbr]

That's an amazing experience! I still have yet to have a proper shave at a barber shop, let alone in London, but i'm looking forward to it.

 

[Useless shaver]

Great!


Now, the shaving gods have given you a second chance: go and stockpile as much as you can...

 

[jcostom]

Sounds lovely but 39 quid? That is pretty steep at least it was a good shave.

Yep, £39 was awfully steep. But, for me, it was about the experience.

I'm here 4-5x a year. I think next time, I'll get one done at TOBS. Definitely back in July. Might be in April or May too.

 

[bladebuff]

It's good to hear your T&H experience went well, so often the anticipation is the best part as the forum is litered with barbershop shave experiences gone wrong!

 

[Harry Snider]

That's cool, thanks for sharing your experience! It's definitely something I must do if ever given the opportunity.

 

[Coler]

Great report - glad you enjoyed.

My only barber shave was a bloody nightmare !

I might get around to treating myself again sometime but then again...it would be hard to surpass my own results !

 

[Isaac]

I have to ask, straight or cartridge shave?

 

[kaliandee]

That sounds well worth trying! I've only had a barber shave once. I enjoyed it as an experience, although I'm not convinced they did a better job than I can do myself. The "lather" was dispensed by some kind of machine though, so I still plan on having a Truefitt shave one of these days. There's one here in Toronto, but I'm holding out for a special occasion. I too would like to know what they used. I was under the impression most barbers that still offer shaves use Dovo/Feather style razors for hygiene reasons. I would be impressed by a barber using a "proper" straight, so long as it was sterilized between outings.

-John

 

[jcostom]

I have to ask, straight or cartridge shave?

Shavette. So straight-like, with throwaway blade.

 

[PFP_Dad]

Good to hear this went well. Nearly every review of barbershop shaves that I've read on here is about a painful experience with a poor result. This gives me hope of finding one that does a decent shave.

 

[rider4life]

I got this same shave done back when I first joined this board (it was actually the reason I joined, I was so interested in doing it myself!). There is a T&H shop here in Toronto that I went to and it was amazing. Cost me about $50 CAD and the price hasn't changed in the last few years (I also got it done last year with my side of the bridal party on my wedding day).

While it's not an everyday kind of thing for sure it's definitely for me an at-least-once-per-year thing. Just feels great and they take good care of you. Plus if you get the manicure you'll understand why women like them so much. T&H impressed me with their pure class.

Cheers,

M.

 

[eth]

That sounds well worth trying! I've only had a barber shave once. I enjoyed it as an experience, although I'm not convinced they did a better job than I can do myself. The "lather" was dispensed by some kind of machine though, so I still plan on having a Truefitt shave one of these days. There's one here in Toronto, but I'm holding out for a special occasion. I too would like to know what they used. I was under the impression most barbers that still offer shaves use Dovo/Feather style razors for hygiene reasons. I would be impressed by a barber using a "proper" straight, so long as it was sterilized between outings.

-John

I imagine that sterilization to a point where it is found acceptable by regulations would be more difficult with a shaving brush than a straight razor. Hence I would say it's more likely that you will find a barber that uses a permanent blade straight razor than that you will find a barber that uses a brush.

Mantic59 has a video series about his professional barber experiences ("Advice from a Master Barber"). One of the videos show a T&H barber, and he uses a lather machine. If you want a brush shave I would contact the shop beforehand and ask if they will do it, and bring your own brush if necessary. He also discusses the actual result of a barbershop shave, and that it's reasonable that it isn't as good as your own best shave. You know your face better than anyone else, and all the quirks it takes to get the best shave. I think this is a very good point, and while I may get a BBS++ shave from a barber, I wouldn't expect it. It's more about the experience than the actual closeness of the shave.