Barbershops and Shaving in Milano

Greetings gentleman - I couldn’t help but post a few pics and tell everyone some is the things I have found about Milano barbers in this trip.  First, if you know a little about me, i have been across the pond more than 100 times for work pre 2020.  

So this time, I felt like getting into a shave discussion with a few barbers.  Well, I failed, their English was better than my Italian but still, it wasn’t productive.  I needed up visiting 6 barbershops near my hotel yesterday as I arrived at 9AM and they couldn’t check me in until 1PM.

Interesting facts 

- average cost of a shave was about 10 EUR, up from the 8 I remember from 2020 right before Covid lockdowns. In zip code 19335 where I am, the average cost is 30 dollars.

- soaps/creams used (this floored me) TOBS at 2 shops, Palmolive at 1 shop, Cella at 1 and Proraso at 1.  All creams with a cup.  

- avg time to lather someone up for 1st pass (from 3 shops) was about 10 min, no rushing here guys. 

- equipment used no shavettes were used on straights.  The exact opposite of where I live. 

Also the density of barbershops was tremendous, 5 were within 100M of my hotel, with 3 being within 40M.  

This just drives me crazy, there were so many full service barbershops  here and you could get just about anything you needed done for a reasonable fee.  

How has the US went so crazy for shaving prices at the barbershop?

Ever been to a Japanese petrol station?

Greetings gentleman - I couldn’t help but post a few pics and tell everyone some is the things I have found about Milano barbers in this trip.  First, if you know a little about me, i have been across the pond more than 100 times for work pre 2020.  

So this time, I felt like getting into a shave discussion with a few barbers.  Well, I failed, their English was better than my Italian but still, it wasn’t productive.  I needed up visiting 6 barbershops near my hotel yesterday as I arrived at 9AM and they couldn’t check me in until 1PM.

Interesting facts 

- average cost of a shave was about 10 EUR, up from the 8 I remember from 2020 right before Covid lockdowns. In zip code 19335 where I am, the average cost is 30 dollars.

- soaps/creams used (this floored me) TOBS at 2 shops, Palmolive at 1 shop, Cella at 1 and Proraso at 1.  All creams with a cup.  

- avg time to lather someone up for 1st pass (from 3 shops) was about 10 min, no rushing here guys. 

- equipment used no shavettes were used on straights.  The exact opposite of where I live. 

Also the density of barbershops was tremendous, 5 were within 100M of my hotel, with 3 being within 40M.  

This just drives me crazy, there were so many full service barbershops  here and you could get just about anything you needed done for a reasonable fee.  

How has the US went so crazy for shaving prices at the barbershop?

Shavettes driven by health paranoia and tort lawyers. However, not going to begrudge barbers a decent living for their trade. Barbering a tough job physically; moreso than one would imagine unless having been in the trade or known others so employed.

Clearly Italian men have a greater focus on grooming. Up where I am in western Canada there has been a reduction in independent barber shops over the years. My barber of 20+ years recently passed away and finding a new guy has been challenging. The last few years with my old barber he told me that the big franchise operations were the greatest challenge to his business. I don’t know, I’ve never been to one of those shops. I’ve always been a one barber guy. I’m 63 and I’ve had two barbers in my life since my first pro haircut at age 5. I only changed at 39 because the first guy retired.

Just out of my hotel room is another across the street, so 7 within a half of a block in Milano.  Barbers and dentists, if you find a good one keep them!

Ever been to a Japanese petrol station?

No, in Yokohama and Tokyo it’s just been Planes, Trains and hired automobiles.

Ever been to a Japanese petrol station?

No, in Yokohama and Tokyo it’s just been Planes, Trains and hired automobiles.

Can you get a shave and a haircut at a Japanese gas station?!

Taken to an extreme, one might suspect so.

The Japanese petrol station reference was more addressing surprising levels of service abroad unfamiliar to most Yanks.

There is an entire team that descends upon a vehicle as it enters a Japanese petrol station, each with a different job and all incredibly polite, clean and efficient. Really resembles a F1 pitstop in professionalism.

Next time I come I’ll set aside some me time for a shave… this time was all work 9am-10pm.

I am also embarrassed. I thought I had a generally course beard being from Italian descent. These guys grow professional stubble. I’m not in their league.

Great post and pictures

I’ve always been curious what the barbershop experience is like in Italy.

Heard bit’s so I kind of had an idea. But the pictures are a nice addition.

Did anyone of the places you went too really stand out? Or were they all very similar?

What kind of aftershaves did they use?

I think it’s around $30-$40 to get a shave around here at one of the barbershops. I think there is a barber school that may charge less.

For $10 euros I’d definitely be getting a shave while I’m there.

How much do you tip them?