MEN'S ISSUE: Haircuts sharp as a razor and not a highlight in sight - old-school, meticulous male grooming is all the rage, a la 'Mad Men'
THERE'S A SWING in the air and it's in the right direction. Guys have taken note of the fact that ladies love a well-turned-out date. In our living rooms, TV series Mad Menharks back to an age when men were men and had the expense accounts and office rituals to prove it: witness Don Draper heading straight for the liquor cabinet instead of his desk at the start of his working day. Johnny Depp was dangerous but dapper in Public Enemies; the stylish Clooney/Pitt/Damon trio in the Oceansseries, and the reinvention of Bond (Daniel Craig dressed by Tom Ford) all reminded us of the power of a well-cut suit and a good haircut. This could not be further away from the metrosexual preening of your David Beckhams. This is the world of hot towels, meticulous shaves and precise haircuts.
For the ultimate in retro grooming, the Waldorf Barbershop is your only man. Run by the father-and-daughter team of Liam and Linda Finnegan, the Waldorf offers authentic cuts from different eras, with moustache styles to match. Linda separates the men from the boys: “There is a big demand for 1930s and 1940s haircuts from trendier types, whereas the 1960s ‘Liam Gallagher’ style is popular with the student set.”
You can buy the necessary accoutrements here to maintain shaving standards at home. The best seller is the Safety Razor at € 42, which comes with an online video lesson – most men are unaware that the last inch of neck hair grows in a different direction to the rest, so needs to be shaved in a different direction. Brushes are key to a good result. The award-winning Billy Jealousy range is also stocked by Waldorf on its online shop, with products that inhibit ingrown hairs and tackle premature baldness, as well as shaving creams and a two-in-one body wash and moisturiser. Waldorf also has a 10-week course for aspiring barbers.
The Waldorf Barbershop, 13 Westmoreland Street, Dublin, 01-6778608, www.waldorfbarbers.com