Amid busy schedules, many of us find solace in regular beauty appointments. A smooth bl owout, a pristine mani-pedi, a refreshed look—these little luxuries work wonders for our mental well-being, but they have long been geared toward women. Men’s grooming often equates to a 15-minute barber visit for a numbered buzz—simple services in lackluster environments. Lucky for the gents, barbershops are crafting more indulgent experiences in sleek spaces, complete with fine drinks and a social atmosphere. Think of the Drybar blowout movement—with Champagne and girly movies accompanying hair appointments—that now has replica venues filling cities.
Naples’ Hammer & Nails owner, Rick Sander, knows that guys want to pamper themselves these days. “Men want to feel good, too. And to feel good, they have to look good,” he adds. His dark wood-paneled barbershop has a lounge with drinks and cigars; styling rooms with personal flat-screen TVs; and a private room where clients can relax in leather chairs with noise-canceling headphones while licensed technicians work on their nails. Classic cuts and shaves with top products—including the salon’s eponymous brand and the ace Anthony skincare line—accompany premium offerings. For the hardworking guy, the premium manicure comes with a peppermint sugar scrub and warm paraffin treatment, and pedicure soaks can be infused with aromatherapeutic cedarwood oil or whiskey or stout beer, which are stocked with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant-touting hops. In 30 minutes flat, the barbers can revive a salt-and-pepper look with subtle color designed to blend seamlessly as it grows out seamlessly. Or, opt for the ultra-luxe haircu t paired with a calming CBD-infused scalp massage and a 24-karat gold face mask (gold is said to stimulate collagen production for a more youthful look).
The Naples and Bonita Springs locations of Beards & Brews also add skincare to the equation. The spa-like approach emerged organically when one client mentioned visiting his wife’s esthetician for his dry skin. “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice for guys to have a place where they can get everything done in one spot?” owner Lindsey Dulin says. Now, guys can get their shave, cut and color, an eyebrow wax and a skin-clearing charcoal mask treatment. Sophistication extends to the atmosphere—a dark tiled ceiling and concrete floors create an industrial vibe. As the name implies, the Beards & Brews experience also has hoppy libations on the lineup. The locale partners with Florida craft breweries, so the 21 and over crowd can imbibe while getting buzzed (ask about Fort Myers Brewing Company’s aptly named Clean Shave IPA). In Naples, Blend Barber Co.—which specializes in precision cuts and fades—recently expanded their services to include an exfoliating, multi-step facial, complete with a steam and a hot towel treatment. Owner Chris Zasa knew fellow gents would appreciate the amenity once they had it available. “Some people don’t even really know about these things,” he says.
Photography by Anna Nguyen
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Facial scrubs and arcade games are just some of the sweet extras guys find at places like Slate Blade Barbershop in Fort Myers.
Modern-day barbers know grooming is as much about the R&R experience as it is about the look. Matt Novak ensures clients indulge in pampering by sticking to a simple model at The Black Fox Barber Shop in Naples’ Bayshore Arts District. The salon offers walk-ins, and three adult membership packages that include a haircut, wash, eyebrow wax and hair styling consult. (There’s also a kids’ kit with wash, cut and styling.) He was inspired by salons he saw in New York, Austin and Seattle. “We wanted to build a time frame where you can just forget about your day and feel good about yourself for an hour and a half,” master barber Raymond Colon says. Add a black carbon mask and shoe shine (or sneaker cleaning), with The Black Fox package, and snag some of the shop’s private-label hair products to maintain your look until the next appointment. Naples’ Alpha Men’s Spa takes indulgence to the next level, with its packages like The King of Pride—a straight razor shave, manicure, m assage with aromatherapy and an exfoliating faci al. The locally born biz, with three locations, has little luxuries like paraffin wax and a cooling mask to add to services, like the popular The VIP—a cut, style, facial and a scalp massage.
Further north, in Fort Myers, Slate Blade Barbershop leans into ‘kidulting,’ where grown-ups embrace their inner child with throwback toys, decor and other fun. Husband-wife co-owners Shawn and Corey Macias outfitted the space with plush leather face-to-face seating to encourage conversation. Shawn’s freehand-drawn pop art adorns a big chalkboard wall. Guys can hop on a classic arcade game or watch football on the 70-inch TV while they wait. The space is a nostalgia-lover’s dream conducive to making new friends and chilling out. “A lot of our clients want 30 to 60 minutes to sit with their eyes closed, or they come to socialize and laugh,” Corey says.
After all, who could say no to “having an hour’s break to love on yourself,” Lindsey, of Beards & Brews, says. “You could be having a horrible day, but, all of a sudden, you come in and feel revived.”