I've never had a shave at a barbers, so was delighted when I was invited to Ruffians Barbers in Covent Garden, London. Recently opened, Ruffians are building on the success of their 2012 start-up in Edinburgh, and have launched a large flagship barber shop and store at 27 Maiden Lane.
The shop is beautifully-designed and immediately welcoming, skilfully combining traditional barber's shop with gentleman's club, with a log stove and comfortable armchairs. The store features traditional petrol blue Takara Belmont barber chairs, solid oak cutting desks with sunken Belfast sinks, unique integrated vacuum system (to prevent any hairs going down your collar), a coffee/whisky bar-waiting area and a large retail space with a large range of bespoke grooming products.
The Ruffians team of expert barbers and men’s hairdressers focus on classic barbering skills and first-class service. Everything is carefully explained and the client is really spoiled. Ruffians' products are used and a head, neck and arm massage is a welcome and relaxing part of the service. The shave was close and relaxing and I felt wonderful afterwards - I strongly recommend that you give Ruffians a go. I later used some of their subtly-scented and very masculine products at home and found I was shaving much closer than usual with their own-label shave gel, which leaves the face feeling soft and well-moisturised.
Ruffians’ first shop launched in Edinburgh won the Best Independent, Best Newcomer and Best Designed Salon at the British Hairdressing Business Awards. It also won Best New Salon at the prestigious Creative Head Awards. I'll be back - highly recommended.
Ruffians branches are at 27 Maiden Lane in Covent Garden and 23 Queensferry Street, Edinburgh
