Old-fashioned shave-and-a-haircut men's barbershops seem to be making a comeback these days, and they're coming on strong as a grooming option in the modern Las Vegas experience. Most anyone with a strap of leather and a jar of Barbicide can perform the function, but here are three joints you might want to try.
At the south end of the Strip at Mandalay Place, MBay’s mall, it’s The Art of Shaving, where the 45-minute $55 "Royal Shave" is the facial equivalent of a wrap and rub at the spa. The process involves, in order: hot-towel wrap, oil massage, warm shaving cream, alum block, another hot-towel wrap, rejuvenating mask, mask removal with lemon-scented sea sponges, lavender-infused cold towel treatment, rose water and an after-shave balm massage. Oh, and somewhere in the middle of all that, your face is shaved twice, both with and across the grain. For something that sounds less like it came from the kitchen of Wolfgang Puck, a 30-minute standard shave is available. 702/632-9356.
Truefitt & Hill, located in the Forum Shops at Caesars, serves up the "Classic Straight-Razor Shave" for $65. The 30-minute procedure churns through a stack of hot towels, a shave using the historic shop’s (T&H’s London outlet claims to be the oldest operating barbershop on the planet) signature citrus-and-oceanic glycerin shaving cream, oil-free after-shave balm, and a sideburn trim. Staff members advise clients on proper at-home shaving, and hair and nail services are offered, plus shoeshine. 702/735-7428.
The value play, not surprisingly, comes at a locals spot on Durango between Desert Inn and Sahara, Whiskers (3100 S. Durango). The process is luxe shave-standard: face massage, towels hot and cold, double shave, oil and a restorative balm; a mask is available. The kicker is that it runs $30. The shave typically takes 30 minutes, longer for those bearded in barbed wire, during which you can amuse yourself by watching one of the several plasma TVs, generally tuned to news or sports channels. Add in a "Whiskers Haircut" for $10 off the usual $30 fare and receive a mint-scented facial towel treatment during the shampoo, shoe buff, and a scalp massage to go with freshly shorn locks. There's also a licensed aesthetician on the premises who offers manicures, pedicures, facials, and even body waxing. Walk-in trade is accepted, but appointments are recommended and can often be accommodated out of regular shop hours, which are 9 am-7 pm Tuesday through Friday and 9 am-5 pm Mondays and Saturdays. 702/838-6922.
