Comfort barbering finds a new home as Truefitt & Hill come to Delhi. Located in the sleepy MeherChand Market, the salon exudes a sense of class and royalty. In 1805, William Francis Truefitt opened his first Gentlemen’s Barber Shop at 2 Cross-Lane, Long Acre London. In 1811 he moved the business to 40 Old Bond Street and established himself as “Court Hair Cutter” and “Court Head Dresser” where, along with his sole employee, his brother Peter, he was soon to become Wigmaker, by Royal Appointment to His Majesty, King George III. In 1911 Edwin Hill & Co. set up a barber shop at 23 Old Bond Street, and it was to this address H.P. Truefitt (Francis Truefitt’s nephew) moved in 1935 to form, the still existing, Truefitt & Hill. The present location of Truefitt & Hill at 71 St. James’s Street, London, was taken up on Valentine’s Day 1994.
Well once the royal barbers opened up store in Delhi by March end, we signed ourselves on for a Royal Package (INR 6500). The Royal Package consists of a Royal Haircut, Royal Shave and a Royal Manicure and Pedicure. A complete three hours of pampering and grooming. Some jazz music plays in the background while immaculately dressed stylists make you feel like a King. The most essential thing is that Truefitt & Hill uses only it’s own products. Most of the products are experiments of several years which have stood the test of time. A few minutes of discussion with my stylist Shehzad and he decides on shortening up on the sides to suit my square face and a mild shampoo for my oily skin. The treatment is slow and deliberate, letting you enjoy the experience. Truefitt & Hill is one of the rare places which has a plastic in the apron that allows you to access your mobiles during the treatment but for a truly memorable experience, put the mobile away, lie back and relax as your stylist ends the Royal Haircut(INR 2200) with an oil based head massage. A bit of Indian twist was obviously going to be there.
A shave holds the most reinvigorating experiences for a man. Shahzad makes sure he takes mine to the stratosphere. The Royal Shave(INR 1900) starts off with a Mini facial with hot towels being applied to the face to open up pores followed by a scrub to take out the dead skin cells. After application of oils and shaving soap, he meticulously shapes and trims my beard. He follows it up with an application of cold towel to close the pores, a balm to soothe the skin and a Cologne to have me prim and proper.
We weren’t finished yet. A visit to the Duke’s Den awaited me. The Duke’s Den is epitome of luxury with a private room which has a barbering station and a tub for Manicure and Pedicure. Shariq and Sapna give me a Royal Pedicure(INR 2100) and Manicure(INR 1600) respectively. Moving from paring of nails to a scrub followed by a moisturizing clay pack, the Manicure and Pedicure leave me prim and proper to face the world. You can book yourself an appointment here.
Where: Shop no. 132-134 Meher Chand Market, Lodhi Colony, New Delhi 110003
