The Handbook

Find a Good Barber

Get a bad haircut and you're marred for a month, if not longer. According to J.P. Mastey, the grooming guru behind

Atmosphere

"You don't need flatscreen TVs or free beer to appeal to discerning guys. Our shop's not a lounge or a spa, but it is an environment where guys feel at home."

Check the Shelves

"Cheap gels are a warning sign. Quality products show that the barber sweats the details. We carry signature Baxter products along with retaW, a line of body products from Japan as well as classics like Dr. Bronners, London's D.R. Harris."

Chairs

"Proper chairs that are both classic and comfortable are definitely an added luxury. I've been collecting early 20th-century porcelain Koken "White King" models for years and restored them for the shop."

The Barber

"He should listen to what you want and be able to interpret that into a cut. He should also have a tidy area and make you feel comfortable. I enlisted Jason Simao of Freemans Sporting Club fame, who prefers real scissors to clippers. That gives hair more shape and depth."

Don't forget to tip

The standard tip for a quality cut is 15% of the total bill.