Ted’s Grooming Room Review

We are always on the hunt for the best gentlemen’s grooming spots and have been keeping a close eye on Ted Baker’s move into this arena. We recently learned a little more about Ted’s lifestyle offering at the launch of the Ted & Moore concept store, which offers everything from apparel to bicycles.

But we wanted to see how the Ted’s Grooming Room fared against Dapper Chapper grooming favorites such as Murdock, Ruffians and Gentlemen’s Tonic, so we booked ourselves in for a visit.

We were told that Ted’s always been something of a smooth operator and the inspiration for this project came while wandering the backstreets of Istanbul, discovering the joys of a traditional Turkish shave.

It’s quite a nice thought, Ted Baker wandering around the streets of Istanbul, stumbling into somewhere for a shave and having his world rocked, but whether or not that happened one thing is for sure, the art of Turkish barbering is a skill handed down from generation to generation and is having a real purple patch in men’s grooming in the U.K .

Ted Baker has clearly spotted the opportunity to provide a broader lifestyle offering to today’s modern man and now Ted’s Grooming Room have eight London locations including Cheapside, Fitzrovia, Mayfair, Mortimer Street, Marylebone, Covent Garden, Soho and Ted’s Ottoman Lounge, exclusively in Holborn.

The Mortimer Street location that I visited infuses traditional barbering, led by Turkish influences, with a modern twist. What does that actually mean though, Adam? Well, I was greeted with a cocktail called Just What The Doctor Ordered, which was made behind me in the on-site cocktail bar.

Everything from the interior design to choice of music was sophisticated and modern. It didn’t feel like somewhere just to pop in for a quick trim. Instead it’s a fuller experience looking to cater for the modern man, whom quite frankly has higher expectations these days.

Ted’s Grooming Room offers sharp cuts and close shaves alongside a host of treatments – perfect for the gent who likes things trim and proper. These include services such as:

Ted’s Master Cut (appointment only) £45: Each cut is designed and delivered with meticulous accuracy, flair and eye for detail and finished off with ear flaming as required.

Ted’s Shaving Grace (appt only) £35: Whether it’s a clean shave or bespoke beard design, Ted’s barbers will painstakingly sculpt each facial follicle to etch the perfect look. A supreme, smooth, close shave will be finished off with an ice-cold towel finish for an invigorating experience. Complemented with a hair wash and styling to your requirements.

But I went for the pièce de résistance and booked in for the Cut A Dash With Ted (appt only) for £75. It  is the ultimate grooming experience with an hour long service implementing the legendary rituals of the Ottomon Empire, including a hot towel treatment and clean-shave or beard design, followed with a sharp haircut and ear flaming as require.

My barber was knowledgeable and conversation was free flowing, full of helpful styling and grooming tips. Everything was great, especially the hair cut. All I’d say is that if you haven’t had it before take a deep breath post shave, as lovely lemon smelling scent is rubbed on your face and really wakes you up as it contains 80% alcohol and stings like… – that said, it did leave me refreshed and I sort of liked the pain. Let’s leave this here shall we.

As you’d expect Ted Baker’s product offering is scattered all over the venue, with everything from shave cream to hair styling products. There really is quite a selection, so I’d imagine whatever your hair type, you will be suggested a suitable Ted Baker branded product to take away with you.

Visit: www.tedsgroomingroom.com