I decided to go to ManCave on a whim.
I walked in without an appointment and asked for a shave and a haircut (there called The 007-Penny). The hostess was pleasant and was able to find me a time that day an hour from when I walked in. During my wait, I was offered complementary water/coffee/espresso/cappuccino, which was an amazing experience to have at a barber.
I was walked to the shampoo station, where I was introduced to the barber. He didn't speak english, and so we didn't speak to one another, but I feel this was uncharacteristic of the shop, as other patrons stuck up a conversation with their barber.
I believe I was to receive an arm and scalp massage before my cut ( as my friend had ordered a haircut at the same time as me) but did not receive one at this time. Merely a shampoo, which smelled like tea tree. I found the scent pleasant, and the shampoo very relaxing.
I was then sent to the chair for my haircut. I gave the barber little instruction, and he seemed to know exactly what I meant from my current hairstyle and my instruction. He worked quickly and my hair looked very good. I highly recommend ManCave for a style and cut.
The shave was less than pleasant. The barber placed several hot towels on my face, as is custom, but the harsh lighting and club-like music did not provide a relaxing atmosphere. After two hot towels (which the barber knew exactly when to replace), the barber lathered my face and began the shave.
His technique was terrible. He seemed to cut every-which-way instead of with the grain. This left me bloody, irritated, and very embarrassed as my face was sore and red thereafter. The barber tried his best to clean me up, with warm towel after cold towel, but it was clear there was no salvaging the shave. He finished leaving my face sore, and had missed several spots.
He styled my hair, and sent me to a scalp and arm massage, which seemed backwards as my hair was shampooed again. The massage was wonderful, but I couldn't fully relax from the terrible shave. The process called for a hot towel and facial cleanser, which I didn't receive because of my irritated face. My hands were dipped in paraffin wax before the massage, and the wax was slowly peeled off during the massage. This felt extremely soothing.
I was once more sent to the barber for a styling, and was left to checkout. The manager clearly saw the shave was less than ideal, and asked about my experience with shaving with a straight razor. They acknowledged the terrible technique, apologized, and comped the shave. The shave cost me about $40, an so that was a generous offer, but did not completely rectify the situation. I left the store bloody, with a choppy shave. All night my face was irritated and red from the terrible technique.
Had it not been for this less than desirable shave, I would give ManCave a full 5 stars. Excellent service, with an upbeat atmosphere. But it seems that 10,000 hours with a straight razor was not enough for my barber, and this is simply unforgivable. Faces are fragile, and the first thing a stranger sees, and leaving me bloody and irritated was not professional at all. I would have rather he told me he could not shave me, and let me go home and do it myself. read more
