Grooming shouldn't be a mundane chore, but an oasis of calm in an otherwise stressful city existence. An opportunity for the modern gentleman to take some me time. With Defender of the Fatherland Day nigh, we've picked out the top spots in Moscow that offer men a chance to get away from it all and pamper themselves.
GB Barbers
For the discerning gentleman
GB Barbers is the perfect spot for the man who has everything except a clean shave. Decadently furnished to give the feel of an old-school British gentlemen's club, and you can practically smell pipe tobacco when you enter. Think green leather chairs, dark wooden furniture and expertly trained barbers. GB offers the full works, so if you fancy a shave, facial and even a shoeshine before that business meeting about your new property acquisition, this won't disappoint.
jpbarbers.ru
10 Ulitsa Vozdvizhenka. Metro Arbatskaya
Schegol
Hipster hangout with polished service
Schegol is the kind of place adolescent boys dream of frequenting one day, when their voices have dropped and coolness is within reach. This is not just a barbershop, but a hipster community where you can drink complimentary whisky and shoot the breeze as you get your trim. Teak wooden mirrors, a mint green floor and inviting barber chairs create a welcoming but laid-back vibe. This leaves you free to luxuriate as your hair needs are tended to. Trainee cuts are also available at discounted prices.
schegol.co
9 Maly Kislovsky Pereulok. Metro Arbatskaya
Alaska man
No nonsense barbershop
The saying goes that if someone is approaching you with a razor, they'd better be a professional. This is certainly the case at Alaska, which offers slick haircuts and wet shaves in a no-frills setting. The industrial decor and exposed brick walls look like they'd draw in a rugged type of man, but they welcome everyone from 5-year-old boys and their banker dads to dancers with man buns. If you like looking groomed but don't enjoy being overly-cosseted, Alaska is for you.
alaskaman.ru
Various locations
Chop-Chop
Traditional barber with a modern edge
Moscow-based barbershop Chop-Chop has proven so popular it now has franchises across Russia and beyond. Purportedly taking its original inspiration from Los Angeles barbershop Baxter Finley, U.S. influences are apparent in the vintage but clean-cut decor, California cool soundtrack and high-end grooming products. With its free Wi-Fi, unlimited back copies of GQ and a killer espresso machine, you might easily find yourself coming for a trim but staying for the afternoon.
chopchop.me/en/city/moscow
Various locations
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