Six Places to Get a Wet Shave in Sydney for When You're Prepping for Movember

When the 50s-style barber Hair By Tommy J first popped up in Redfern over a decade ago, it quickly made a name for itself for having just one hairstyle on the menu: the classic short back and sides. In reality, there are a few more options on offer at this self-proclaimed ‘greaser style’ unisex stylist, including beard trims ($20) and hot towel face shaves ($40). Here, Uppercut Deluxe products are used liberally as owner Tommy J Heath is a brand ambassador. And if you’re a former or current skater, you can admire the dozens of skateboards, stickers and street art covering the walls while you’re waiting. Plus, good news if you live in northwest Sydney: Heath has recently opened a second location in Windsor.

Image: Cassandra Hannagan

Every barbershop works extremely hard to ensure their clients have a good experience. But Marrickville’s Tooth and Nail? It, well, nails it. The little added extras it throws into the service are perfectly suited to the inner west clientele. We’re talking batch coffee from nearby Matinee Coffee in the morning and craft beer from local breweries The Grifter or Philter later in the day. Oh, and many, many pats of resident pup Brando.

But try not to let all those exciting perks distract you from the real reason you’re there. The barbershop offers wet shaves for $55. The service should take around 40 minutes, and will involve three hot towels before finishing with moisturiser and luxurious oils.

With a quality wet shave, you’re paying for the relaxing experience as much as you are the skilled technique of the barber. And all that lathering, meticulous shaving and applying products is done at an intentionally leisurely pace. Got a short attention span? Then head to Badlambs in Bondi. You’ll have plenty to keep you entertained while the barber does their thing. The eclectic space is filled with owner Tony Mellis’ incredible collection of antiques, bric-a-brac, local artworks and a piano, which hosts both organised and impromptu jams from time to time. Mellis has spent over two decades in the biz, so you’ll be certain to get premium treatment — but with a little fun, too.

And, in some good news, we’ve teamed up with Badlambs to foot the bill for all wet shaves on Friday, October 30. All you have to do is register for Movember, then head here to make a booking for your free shave down.

If we asked you to imagine a sophisticated, old-school barbershop, you’d likely conjure up something like The Barberhood. You’ll find this classy looking spot in Martin Place and it looks like something directly out of the early 20th century: deep walnut timber panelling, plush leather seating, retro subway tiles and the staff sharply dressed in suits, ties and aprons.

The Barberhood provides a premium service adhering to traditional techniques. So, with your wet shave, expect scented hot and cold towels, high-quality straight razors and luxe aftercare products. Given its location — smack bang in suit land — this spot can get pretty busy, so booking is highly recommended.

Since everyone in your life is going to have a vested interest in your facial hair over the next few weeks, you may want to up the maintenance stakes. And Men’s Biz can certainly help you with that. The business holds prime position in the Strand Arcade across not one but two shopfronts.

The bigger barbershop is on level two but for your Movember prep you’re going to want to visit the retail store on the ground floor. For shaving appointments, it has two chairs in the window surrounded by shelves of aftercare products. After your hot towel shave ($50), stock up on fine quality razors and aftershave to keep things looking sharp for the rest of the month. There’s also a dicky little pocket moustache comb and sandalwood-fragranced wax set if you really want to dial up the theatrics.

It sucks when life admin gets in the way of having fun. After all, who wants to be paying for bills when they could be at a bar? For some, grooming definitely falls under the category of life admin. Well, unless you go to Mister Chop Shop in Surry Hills. The crew here is dedicated to turning your visit into an enjoyable and relaxing experience. It starts with an in-depth consultation to determine what you’re after and any problem areas you may have. It also involves getting a coffee, beer or whisky to sip on while your barber works away. If you’ve been procrastinating a barber visit for some time and need to pair your hot shave with a haircut, we suggest booking in for The Barefaced Dapper Deluxe package, an 80-minute service which includes a shampoo, cut and style and a hot shave for $130.