It’s taken a while for men’s hair cutting and styling to come up to speed with that of the fairer sex, but Edinburgh is not a city lacking in men’s grooming outlets offering the latest in cuts and styles. Whether you like to be pampered and taking the time to luxuriate, or appreciate keeping things old school, we have found the best of the barbers…
Ruffians
This multiple award-winning barber is well known around the city for their quality haircuts, beard trims and cut throat shaves. All the staff are handpicked, highly trained and suitably hipster enough to make you feel safe in the fact your haircut is going to be very cool. The shop itself is comfortable and relaxed with unique design features and complimentary extras – we love their central communal wooden barber bench! Ruffians are known for great customer service and appreciate it takes time for a proper consultation. The barbers are on hand to listen to you and advise on latest styles. Customers can also take advantage of the bespoke coffee and whisky bar offering season tipples and Ipads to peruse the web whilst you wait. Ruffians also offer regular pop-up shops, limited edition collaborations, events and parties plus their own product range inspired by their customer, used during appointments and available to buy in store. The store in the West End is the original Ruffians, but now the brand has expanded down south and boasts a flagship in Covent Garden, and two further London stores in Marylebone and Shoreditch.
Address: 23 Queensferry St, Edinburgh EH2 4QS
Website: ruffians.co.uk/pages/ruffians-edinburgh
The Players Lounge
Focussing on creating a truly bespoke barber service, The Players Lounger work with customers to find a style to suit the client’s life style, image and face shape. They appreciate it takes time to understand client’s needs properly and offer expert colour advice, luxury hot shaves, facials, manicures, Indian Head Massages and grooming packages. This professional salon is bright and spacious with a relaxed vibe and is super central, located right on Rose Street, making it perfect for popping in on your lunch break for a quick pamper session! Customers can check out the style magazines and mens hairstyle books whilst enjoying a refreshment before their appointment. The staff take time for In-depth consultations before any cut, style and finish ensuring you definitely get what you want. The stylists are friendly, have heaps of experience and use a variety of quality cutting techniques. Hidden Edinburgh would recommend their luxury hot shaves – 45 minutes of pampering with hot towels, scrubs, oils plus a fantastic close shave.
Address: 161A Rose St, Edinburgh EH2 4LS
Website: the-players-lounge.com
Rag & Bone Barbershop
Set up in November 2015 by co-founders Jamie Wyse and Robert Paterson, Rag & Bone pride themselves on exceptional customer service and superior quality and stylish men’s haircuts. The brand have two locations in Edinburgh, one shop on Dundas Street in the New Town and one near the Royal Mile in the Old Town. The salons themselves are as cool as the barbers that work inside them with characteristic painted black storefronts and fashionable décor complete with old cinema seats for waiting in, retro artwork and industrial light fixtures. The salons use and sell personally sourced styling products, offering designer hair care at an affordable price tag. The ultimate style inspiration are the staff both in terms of fashion and hair cuts and expect to see plenty of in-style dogs about the place, and maybe a motorbike or two hanging around outside!
Address: 103 Dundas St, Edinburgh EH3 6SD
Website: ragandbonebarbershop.co.uk
Vagabond Men’s Hair
Situated in the popular neighbourhood of Stockbridge, owner of Vagabond, Paul Stewart, has a simple philosophy when it comes to cutting men’s hair: ‘Modern Thinking meets Classic Sensibility.’ Having spent over 20 years in the industry including experience working at city stalwarts Cheynes and Boombarbers, Paul enjoys working with other creative people and aims to bring the highest quality mens haircuts at an affordable price tag. He acknowledges how difficult it can be to get exactly what you want at a barbers, so takes the time to listen to the client whilst offering advice from his vast experience. His barber shop is relaxed and unpretentious but not lacking in style. The shop is opulent and edgy in style with golden baroque mirrors, dark wooden floors, clean white and glossy black ceramic tiles sit against crisp dark grey painted walls and peppered with leather wingback armchairs and eclectic accessories.
Address: 35 St Stephen St, Edinburgh EH3 5AH
Website: www.vagabondmenshair.co.uk
Boombarbers
Arguably one of the first barber shops in Edinburgh to propel the city’s men’s grooming scene into the 21st century, Boombarbers is something of an institution. The owner, Scott Williams, is almost as well known round the city as his brand! Created in 1999, the brand has now expanded to six different outlets across the city, meaning you are never too far from a stylish new do or a much needed beard trim, plus and multiple shops means definitely getting an appointment! The original shop in the West End is still super popular and offer everything from quality re-styles to hair washes and their renowned wet towel shaves. The brand have cultivated a loyal following and are known for meeting their customer’s needs whilst always being at the forefront of the hair cutting game. You will often see dapper gentlemen frequenting the Boombarbers salons including the Scottish rugby team who often pop in for a quick cut when in town.
Address: 13 Melville Pl, Edinburgh EH3 7PR
Website: www.boombarbers.co.uk
Benjamin’s Barber Shop
Benjamin Patchett started cutting hair at 16 in his parent’s garage before embarking on a career in men’s grooming. After working for a number of different other salons he finally set up his own barber shop in 2013. Benjamin’s Barber Shop was a quick success and he now has a huge following of loyal (and stylish) locals. Fans of the barber shop appreciate Benjamin and his team’s focus on keeping it old school, in style and ethos. They offer relaxed and friendly customer service and specialise in short, classic and traditional cuts although never shy away from something a bit more avant garde. The shop also offers a fine selection of hair products and beard oils too to keep you looking sharp until your next visit. Benjamin grew up skating and the influence is obvious when you step into the shop – various branded boards act as art, adorning the walls. With their welcoming attitude and focus on traditional cuts, Benjamin’s offers something a bit different (and refreshing) to the other high end barbers in the city. Also be sure to say hi to Benjamin’s french bulldog Ozzy if you pop in!
Address: 68 Henderson Row, Edinburgh EH3 5BJ
Website: benjaminsbarbershop.resurva.com
