The Best Barbershops, Shaves, Cuts, Beard Trims + Manscaping for Men

The Best Barbershops, Shaves, Cuts, Beard Trims + Manscaping for Men

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From hangover treatments to straight razor shaves to tiding up your overgrown nether regions, our 2016 guide to men's grooming will have you feeling shiny and new in no time.


Haircut & Hangover Facial @ Fellow Barber

One too many negronis last night? No problem. Fellow Barber's bargain Hangover Treatment helps to cover up evidence of too much elbow-bending. After hot and cold towel wraps and a facial scrub, we're practically good as new. —Brock Keeling // Haircut & Hangover Facial ($65) at Fellow Barber, multiple locations; fellowbarber.com

Mobile Cut and Shave @ Barber Walter

These days you can order anything on-demand—even a straight razor shave. With his mobile service, Barber Walter will arrive at your home or office with an array of tools and a joke or two. Get yourself a deluxe cut and shave, he'll clean you up real good. —Anthony Rogers // Deluxe Cut and Shave ($150) at Barber Walters, (mobile service, Bay Area–wide), barberwalters.com

(Aesop offers skincare collections for men based upon skin type. For combination skin, try the Fabulous Face Cleanser ($31), B & Tea Balancing Toner ($33), and Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream ($49), all at aesop.com.

Skin Consultation @ Aesop Skincare

If you've never set foot in a skincare boutique, go straight to Aesop on Fillmore. With everything from organic hand creams to powerful facial serums, the Aesop skincare specialists can help you custom tailor a regimen based on your specific skin type and routine. Can't afford any of their gorgeous products at the moment? Go ahead and ask for samples, they're hefty. —A.R. // Skin consultation (free) at Aesop, 2450 Fillmore St. (Pac Heights), aesop.com

Sun Damage Relief Facial @ Groom

To repair serious sun damage, we put ourselves in the hands of Caesar Jimenez, whose super-antioxidant corrective sun damage relief facial helps prevent pigmentation from overexposure to harmful UV rays. The treatment cleans and brightens the face. A must for fearless gingers who spend too much time in the sun. —B.K. // Sun Damage Relief Facial ($130) at Groom, 490 Post St. #647 (Union Square), groom-sf.net

Straight Razor Shave @ J.P. Kempt

Ditch your Mach3 and head to J.P. Kempt, where one soothing swipe of a sharp blade will make you appreciate the luxury of a straight razor shave. Stylish white-smocked barbers will deftly transform your rugged mug into baby-bottom smoothness. We especially dig the soulful retro setting, which hums with good music and playful banter. —Garrick Ramirez // Straight razor shave ($45) at J.P. Kempt, 351 Divisadero St. (Lower Haight), jpkempt.com

(Juniper Ridge's Backpacker's Colognes come in scents that evoke everything from ocean mist and wildflowers after a rain storm to wet dirt and wood smoke. Shop them online at juniperridge.com.)

Backpacker's Cologne at Juniper Ridge

Wish that you could bottle clean mountain air as your everyday eau de toilette? Spritz on Juniper Ridge's latest backpacker cologne, created using an ancient technique of extracting and distilling scents straight from wildflowers, plants, bark, moss, mushrooms, and tree trimmings harvested on trails all over California. The extremely small-batch, trail-made fragrances are designed as aromatic snapshots, capturing the smell on a particular day in a particular place—every whiff is a nostalgic memory of your last camping trip. —Sarah Medina // Backpacker's Cologne ($10-140) at Juniper Ridge Scents, juniperridge.com

Signature Gentleman's Hydrating Facial @ M Spa

Be one with your fellow man at this spa for just guys only. The services are top-notch and customized for a man's grooming regimen. You haven't lived until you've tried their signature hydrating facial—say hello to baby-smooth kissable skin once again. —A.R. // Signature Gentleman's Hydrating Facial ($140) at M Spa, 2187 Market St. (Castro), mspasf.com

(Public Barber's North Beach location pays homage to the neighborhood's poets past and present. Photo: Daniel Morris)

Men's Long Cut @ Public Barber

In a nod to the literary heritage of the neighborhood, Public Barber's North Beach space looks more like your favorite independent bookstore than your typical chop shop, with 4,000 books mingling with hair product along the walls. So, it's no wonder modern beatniks make this their go-to when their long locks need a bit of a trim. // Men's Long Cut ($50) at Public Barber Salon, (1528 Grant Ave. (North Beach), publicbarbersalon.com

Gentleman's Haircut @ Mark Sofola Barbering

Once you sit in Mark Sofola's chair, you'll instantly feel a part of his family. A grade-A barber, Sofola is an ambassador for American Crew and The Art of Shaving, so rest assured you're in good hands. Make your way to his Berkeley location for the perfect haircut. —A.R. // Gentleman's Haircut ($40) at Mark Sofola, 2211 San Pablo Ave. (Berkeley), mjsolofa.com

Beard Trim + Bourbon @ People's Barber

Having found success on SF's Polk Street, People's Barber is bringing their A game to Oakland. Trust your tender bearded locks to the pros while you sip a complimentary beer or shot. Man's best friend is welcome too. —A.R. // Beard Trim ($17) at People's Barber, 2337 Broadway St. (Oakland), peoplesbarber.com

Men's Skincare @ Barney's Men's Boutique

Welcome to your luxury man cave, a haven where you can sample some of the finest men's grooming products on the market. Now open in Union Square, Barney's Men's boutique is a one-stop shop for any grooming aficionado. Go forth and shop handsomely. —A.R. // Men's Grooming and Skincare ($50 - $500) at Barney's Men's Boutique, 2 Stockton Street (Union Square), barneys.com

Waxing @ SF Manscaping

Expert aesthetician Gilbert Colorina ain't afraid of no beastly sasquatch. In his small studio in the FiDi, Gil will shave or wax the wild tendrils on your chest, legs, and back. (By the way, your proverbial manhood is not verboten.) Need a drink? There's an array of spirits on hand to help calm the nerves. —B.K. // Waxing at SF Manscaping (pricing varies), 660 Market St. (FiDi), sfmanscaping.com

Shave & Haircut @ Temescal Alley Barber Shop

Take a trip back in time to this traditional barber shop—Temescal Alley's stylists pride themselves on delivering haircuts that grandpa could recognize. The stylish retro interior belies their bargain prices. —A.R. // Shave and a haircut ($45) at Temescal Alley Barber Shop, 470B 49th St. (Oakland), temescalalleybarbershop.com

Brazilian Wax @ Waxing 4 Men

With age comes wisdom—that, and hair (a lot of hair) in unfortunate places. We take care of these unsightly nose and ear stragglers at this men's-only salon, a safe space for taming the jungle on your face (and beyond). A men's summer Brazilian is probably needed after the past six months of winter. —B.K. // Brazilian wax ($100) at Waxing 4 Men, 500 Sutter St. #614 (Union Square), waxing4men.net

Post Shave Lotion @ Every Man Jack

No more stubble or rough patches: Local brand Every Man Jack has been smoothing men's mugs since 2007. Indulge in the creamy lather and rejoice in the drug store price. // Post Shave Lotion ($6) at Every Man Jack, everymanjack.com; also available at Mollie Stones (Castro)

Our 2016 beauty, wellness, and fitness directoryhas all the best spas, salons, skincare, cosmetics, workouts and wellness practitioners in the Bay Area.

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