I have just come back from a 10-day holiday to Marmaris in Turkey, while there, I walked into one of the many Barbershops. It was a real back street place with 2 young guys doing the business. I managed to communicate that I wanted a price for a shave and was told 5 Lira, which is about £2. I said yes please and the slightly older of the 2 guys showed me to his chair. He wet his brush in warm water, shook it out and mixed some cream with the brush into a plastic beaker about the size of half a coke can. I was covered in a kind of white clean linen sheet and told to lay back. The headrest was dropped back also and the foamy mixture was brushed straight onto my face no preparation and no further hot or warmed water added to or applied to my face. My face was now covered in foam, which had been thoroughly brushed on. He applied a new blade into what I assume was a shavette single bladed razor holder. He then proceeded to shave very skilfully and quite fast, applying more foam as and when, doing mainly a shave with the grain and some around my neck against the grain. Afterwards he asked me to lean forward and her washed my face in the basin with a warm water rinse. He did my ears with a lighted taper that had been soaked in Meths, very effective at getting rid of ear hair. He then applied a lemon-scented aftershave and gave me a short firm facial massage, the aftershave was an alcohol-based product, and not a brand Im familiar with but apparently is the Turkish equivalent of the Italys Proraso. It was a shame that we were not able to communicate very well. However I came away well pleased with my shave, which was excellent value for money.
Three days later, the holiday was concluded in London where I took advantage of my being there to have a shave at Trumpers, Jermyn street shop (the one that is going to move in Jan) This was a whole different experience and should be for £30. I was ushered down a staircase leading to the saloon below street level. There were 4 chairs surrounded by much wood, brass and porcelain. I was seated and a young Asian girl applied the usual warm damp Sandalwood scented towels and I was left for 5 minutes. This very attractive young lady then skilfully shaved me without a nick or a scratch but only in one direction, with the grain. More towels and skin food then a cold towel followed a by a choice of aftershave i.e. modern or traditional. Unlike the Curzon street shop a few months ago, they did not use an alum tablet. The whole thing was a nice bit of pampering. I enjoyed the London experience best but not the price. There was no difference in the quality of the shaves according to my wife. It would seem that Turkish men frequent barbershops regularly for a shave and the shops are everywhere. They are well worth a visit, only I wish I had chosen one where the barber could speak English.
Graham
Three days later, the holiday was concluded in London where I took advantage of my being there to have a shave at Trumpers, Jermyn street shop (the one that is going to move in Jan) This was a whole different experience and should be for £30. I was ushered down a staircase leading to the saloon below street level. There were 4 chairs surrounded by much wood, brass and porcelain. I was seated and a young Asian girl applied the usual warm damp Sandalwood scented towels and I was left for 5 minutes. This very attractive young lady then skilfully shaved me without a nick or a scratch but only in one direction, with the grain. More towels and skin food then a cold towel followed a by a choice of aftershave i.e. modern or traditional. Unlike the Curzon street shop a few months ago, they did not use an alum tablet. The whole thing was a nice bit of pampering. I enjoyed the London experience best but not the price. There was no difference in the quality of the shaves according to my wife. It would seem that Turkish men frequent barbershops regularly for a shave and the shops are everywhere. They are well worth a visit, only I wish I had chosen one where the barber could speak English.
Graham
At some point in the late 1980s or early 1990s, there was an article in the New York Times about the reporter's experience getting a shave at a barber shop in Turkey. I've wanted one ever since I read it.
Didn't know anything about that!! Can you give more details, please?
