CLOSE SHAVE
Close Shave - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Close Shave | |||||
| By: Rob McFarland, Issue 32 – Spring 2007 | |||||
| (The Refinery at Harrods – London) | |||||
| THE REFINERY AT HARRODS - LONDON, ENGLAND | |||||
| OMER’S NOT HAPPY. It turns out I’ve been doing everything wrong: shaving before I get in the¬ shower; using gel instead of foam; shaving against the grain. When I guiltily reveal that sometimes I use the same disposable razor for a whole week, he physically shudders in horror. “If you carry on this way,” he says, looking me straight in the eye, “when you are 40 you will look 45.” Now, that’s a frightening prospect. I ask him if there’s any way I can look 35 when I’m 40. He shakes his head. It appears I’m now in damage limitation mode. If I follow his advice, there’s a chance I can claw a few years back. I’m all ears. Omer is a barber at The Refinery in Harrods, an exclusive grooming emporium that specialises in treatments for men. Located in the basement of the store, it provides a comforting sanctuary from the frenetic retail madness upstairs. My 45-minute Shaving Experience starts with a nose and ear hair trim. The latter is actually more of a singe given it’s performed with a 30cm wand that’s been dipped in methylated spirits and then, somewhat alarmingly, set alight. Omer wraps my head in a series of hot towels to open my pores and soften my beard before applying a high-glycerine content, unscented foam. Then out comes the cutthroat razor. I confess I’m a little nervous at this point. I never been shaved with a cutthroat before and I’m not sure he’s fully recovered from my disposable razor admission. Ten minutes later I’m sporting the closest shave I’ve ever had in my life. Omer pored over every inch of my face and neck, checking the grain of the hair with his finger before pinching and stretching my skin taut. My skin feels unbelievably, pre-pubescently smooth. Reiterating his warning about my shaving habits, Omer delivers me to his colleague, Feven, for my second treatment: the Refinery Signature Face and Body Treatment. The session starts with a back cleanse and exfoliation before a wonderfully indulgent facial and head massage. I lose track of the number of moisturisers and balms that she applies but when I leave the treatment room 90-minutes later my skin is glowing and radiant. The Refinery’s three London outlets have been a runaway success because they provide a relaxed atmosphere in which men can enjoy guilt-free pampering. I’m surprised to learn that the most popular treatments are exactly the same as they are for women: waxing, manicures, pedicures and facials. While I enjoyed the facial, I loved the shave. Shaving is such an onerous chore that to have someone else labour over it with such care and attention feels like an extravagant luxury. I skip back upstairs feeling younger by the minute. | |||||
| Details: | |||||
| Where: The Refinery at Harrods, Knightsbridge, London,(there’s also a branch at 60 Brook Street, Mayfair, with another in the City currently being upgraded and relocated). +44 20 7893 8332, www.the-refinery.com | |||||
| Most indulgent treatment: Four-palm massage – two therapists massage you in unison. 60 minutes, £130 ($310). | |||||
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