Just last week I walked through my old neighbourhood and saw that the local shawarma shop had been turned into a temple of the hirsute man. The barbers wore suspenders, trendy beards and quiffs, and it was packed with punters looking for a brand new look.
But the king of trendy barbers has to be The Art of Shaving. This New York export specializes in hair and beard care, and since opening its first store in Manhattan in 1996, has gone on to produce a huge range of shaving products (with a little help from its partner company, Gillette).
The brand has just pulled the wraps off its third location in the UAE, now at The Dubai Mall – which is the world’s largest mall by total area. We headed down to check it out.
The Art of Shaving Dubai Mall: What’s the vibe?
The new store follows the same stylings as the brand’s previous barbershops. Think wood floors, wall-to-ceiling products on display, suspender-wearing barbers, and, of course, the cutting room – complete with a proper barber chair.
What makes this new store interesting – or a total nightmare for those with agoraphobia – is that the barber room features two walls made of glass. That means those walking by the store can easily glance in and see whatever state your haircut is in at the time.
It also affords the general mall-goer a glorious view of the crotch while your hair is being washed (although fortunately, the glass is partly-frosted – much to the chagrin of the crotch-watching shopper, we’re sure).
