The best in male grooming for the lockdown
Reminiscing about your London barber appointments? Hair or beard out of control? Then let us bring the salon to you with all your grooming needs and questions answered
How to trim your hair by Brent Pankhurst, founder of Pankhurst London
This a time when people can start to grow out their hair. There’s often a bit of an awkward stage – but with the right products and techniques, you can get through it.
Start with clean, dry hair – and use a wide-tooth comb. (A narrow comb will cause too much tension, and you could end up chopping too much off.)
When trimming a fringe, you must hold your scissors vertically and snip into just the tips of the hair.
As for the sideburns – the best place for the sideburn to stop is the area around the tragus (the cartilage at the opening of the ear) and cheekbone. Use a wide-tooth comb, brush the sideburn forward and snip the ends.
Then it’s all about the styling product. For shorter styles, try the Pankhurst The Pomade, and longer hair would benefit from the Leave-in Styling Conditioner.
HOW TO SHAVE YOUR BEARD OFF by Murdock London head barber, Sam Hickey
First, take your beard down to a stubble length with a trimmer. Don’t hack at a long beard with a razor straight away as it’ll cause severe irritation and be extremely sore afterward.
Once the beard is trimmed, make sure you prepare the skin adequately before you even take a razor to your face.
I would advise washing the face first, applying some pre-shave oil to the face and letting that soak in for a few minutes.
If you haven’t already, invest in a good-quality shaving brush, as the shaving brush will lift the hairs off the skin and allow you to get a closer shave. Ditch the Mach3 blade and use a single-blade razor/safety razor to get close without harming the skin.
Ensure you use a shaving cream (not foam – it contains too many harmful chemicals) and whip up a luxurious lather to coat the stubble and aid the shaving process.
Shave with the grain only to avoid irritation, ingrown hairs and razor burn and finish with an application of a post-shave balm and a cold flannel to the face. It will help close the pores and soothe the skin.
HOW TO CULTIVATE A NEW BEARD
Usually suited, shiny-booted and clean shaven? Then let it go the right way.
First, just let the beard grow for as long as possible. Once it starts to irritate you (getting onto the lips, in the mouth, and looking fluffy round the sides), then determine how to trim.
You may or may not have an end goal you’re aiming for but decide if you want to go for natural or sharper-looking. Take off any loose hairs with a small pair of scissors and be careful when trimming around the lips and mouth area. If you’re going for a sharper look, ensure you keep your cheek lines high as to avoid giving yourself a 90s-style chinstrap beard.
The neckline (if keeping it sharper) should be taken one finger width above the Adam’s apple, so keep your chin up and follow the shape of the jaw to create an arc. Then shave with the grain.
Finish off with Murdock’s Beard Moisturiser to keep it tamed, soft and smelling sweet.
THE MEN'S GROOMING EDIT
1. Jack Black Safety Razor, £94
2. Hanz de Fuko Invisible Shave Cream, £22
3. Lab Series The Grooming Oil, £27
4. Lab Series All-In-One Cleansing Gel, £14
5. F. Hammann Leather Shaving And Manicure Set in Black, £255
6. 3 More Inches Safety Comb, £14.50
7. The Refinery Post-Shave Balm, £35
8. Pankhurst Styling Conditioner, £18
9. Murdock London Shave Cream, £23.80
10. Acqua di Parma Barbiere Shaving Brush, £67
Culture Whisper is your curated guide to the best of London. We may earn a commission for items purchased through our retailer links.