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Are you in desperate need of a makeover? Looking good in Hong Kong can be an uphill battle—Heathcliff was never a sweaty mess! Whether you need a total transformation or just a bit of routine upkeep, our city is experiencing a barbershop renaissance. Every budget is considered, with a consistent level of quality when it comes to the base services, and any extra cost going towards bells and whistles. So, if you want to go from a mess to your sexy best, read on for the best barbershops in Hong Kong.
Handsome Factory Barbershop has been providing men in Hong Kong with trusted quality grooming for almost a decade. Consistently growing its team of professionals has meant the barbershop now has eight outposts across Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui. Handsome Factory offers all basic and essential services, from haircuts to trims and shaves at a reasonable price (a haircut starts at $380).
It’s no secret that the old-school barber is historically a male-dominated industry, but much like how the image, pretence, and experience of visiting one is changing, so are the people that are reinvigorating the industry. Sarah McGlynn, the owner of Fox and the Barber in Central, is pushing the envelope when it comes to the British model of high-end male grooming. You definitely get what you pay for here, with a wet shave setting you back a cool $500, but the devil is in the details, and Fox and the Barber is the absolute top of the shelf in terms of quality grooming.
Fox and the Barber, 41–43 Graham Street, Central
It’s all in the name for Era Barbers—the era being very much the 1950s, and the specific look that goes along with it. Think slick rockabilly, full wet shaves with hot towels, faded back and sides, and other era-appropriate treatments. Fashionable looks are circular, and looking like an extra in Grease is very much “in” with the cool kids these days. You’re a cool kid, aren’t you? Well, go here for your next cut.
Era Barbers, 27 Staunton Street, Central | (+852) 2577 3080
Although many of the new-wave barbershops in Hong Kong encompass a Western-centric aesthetic, Hair House pays homage to the extensive history of Eastern barbers, namely, the long-established tradition of Shanghai barbers in the city who were once the style leaders and arbiters of what is considered cool. After spending years working as a hairdresser, Adam Chan decided he wanted to change his focus solely to the noble art of shaves, trims, and fades. It’s the decidedly more economical option without compromising on quality, with a wet shave costing $340. For $380, you can still get a haircut at Hair House, or make it a combo with a beard trim starting at $640.
Our list thus far has been full of high-end, concept-driven barbers—amazing at what they do and what they bring to the table, but often esoteric by nature. If you just want a no-frills, no-nonsense barber that’s actually old-school because it’s been around for over 50 years, then look no further than Ambassador Barber Parlour. A standard full cut and shave are pretty easy on the wallet, and being the resident barbershop in Causeway Bay for half a century, it works a pretty mean trim into the bargain.
Ambassador Barber Parlour, 2/F, 23 Lan Fong Road, Causeway Bay
Considered to be the original and best in the city, The Mandarin Barber has a feeling of humble authenticity in a city where permanence in business is rarely a given. It’s maintained a flawless reputation for the superb treatment of its guests—it’s hard not to feel like you’re in the lap of luxury as you drink in the venue’s original, decadent, perfectly maintained 1960s furnishing. All that, along with the VIP treatment rooms, if you fancy getting a shave, trim, facial, wax, or massage treatment in private, add to the joyously excessive opulence on offer. The prices are slightly more high-end, but still surprisingly reasonable (considering the grandiosity on display) with haircuts starting at $530, shaves at $580, and moustache or beard trims at $370.
The Mandarin Barber, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road, Central
Sauce has been making a name for itself in the Soho neighbourhood as the cool place to go for a trim. Friendly and relaxed, you can even pop open a beer while you wait for your grooming to begin (Sauce pushed the concept even further and now offers barber services within a bar on Aberdeen Street at Dead Poets). A haircut starts at $450 and a hot towel wet shave at $520. Sauce doesn’t just stick to the basics—it also offers facial waxing, colouring, perms, and braiding if that’s your thing!
Sauce Barbershop & Lifestyle, 4 Elgin Street, Central
First published on 22 February 2017. Written by Jenny Leung. Last updated by Lily Valette.
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