The cult of haircut

While some guys prefer to keep the nostalgia and tradition alive by going to the barbershop of their childhood, others have opted for more hip and happening hair salons where services go beyond a simple cut or a wet shave.

For the latter, the choices range between getting the finest experience from professionals or exploring contemporary, youthfronted barbershops that have become popular in recent years.

There are men who wouldn’t mind spending hundreds of ringgit to experience the luxurious 214-year-old British barber tradition at Truefitt & Hill. Or enjoy the ultimate urban retreat at Toni&Guy, a hairdressing salon of London origin, known for innovative hairstyles inspired by its work at London Fashion Week.

But more men — especially millennials — are patronising hipster barbershops for the pomade-fixed pompadour fade or a jaw-dropping hair tattoo. ranging from minimalist setting to posh, themed ambience.

Ramlee’s Sport Barbersclub in Shah Alam, Selangor attracts customers, especially football fans, with its sporty vibes while Edd The Barber in Ampang, Selangor offers British-inspired interior decor. Founded by Penang-born Elyas Yunoos in 2016, Son & Dad Barber, located in George Town’s heritage zone, preserves the barber’s original charm in a vintage setting with old school barber tools and trade. It is also known for its team of skilled barbers in white lab coats.

In Kilang Bateri, Johor Baru, 1855 Tonsorial Parlour, set in a small corner of a factory building, is known for its VIP clientele and for being the organiser of Tonsorial Barber Festival, a renowned barber fest first held in 2017.

Among well-known personalities who leveraged on their celebrity status and joined the haircut bandwagon are rapper and singer-songwriter Joe Flizzow of Joe’s Barbershop, style icon Wak Doyok (of Wak Doyok Barbershop) and former Selangor football player Azri Alwan Nordin (of Walter Barbershop chain).