Premium Barbers

Premium Barbers
360 Orchard Road
#01-07 International Building
10am - 8pm Daily

277 Orchard Road
#04-12 Orchard Gateway
11am - 10pm Daily

http://premium-barbers.com/

Retro Barbering Goes Up-Market

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Estimated Visiting Duration: 20 - 60 Minutes
Service: 9
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $35 / $85 per person.

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For the kids from the 70s / 80s, you might recall the barbers that plied their trade along the streets. Identified with the spinning blue, red and white striped barber's pole, these barbers have gradually disappered, as society grew more fast-paced. Premium Barbers hopes to revive and update this retro concept of barbering.

The classic barber's pole fronts the clean, modern-looking shop of Premium Barbers. Inside, a classic black-and-white colour scheme and minimal decor is complemented with a neat, orderly layout. Don't expect to find hip, young stylists here... Staff at Premium Barbers are generally middle-aged (or above), and their barbers specialise in the classic art of American-style barbering. Don't visit Premium Barbers expecting to get the latest in trendy hair styles, as posters out front advertise the flamboyant, retro hair styles of the 70s and 80s. They also do classic, everyday hair styles if you so choose.

Premium Barbers is technically a unisex hair salon, although their primary target audience is men. And because they offer hair and scalp pampering services for men, don't expect a quick 10 or 15 minutes hair cut at Premium Barbers... You could spend at least 20 to 60 minutes here! Also, expect prices similar to a typical branded hair salon at Premium Barbers, as you're paying for the quality products and services they provide.

A hair cut and shampoo at Premium Barbers costs SGD $35, and includes a hair cut in a style of your choice (classic or retro), 2 hot towels, a wash and shampoo, and a 5 minute head massage. A hot foam shave at Premium Barbers also costs SGD $35, and includes a choice of straight razor or safety razor, 2 hot towels, 1 cold towel, shaving cream, shaving foam, a choice of after shave cream or after shave rum splash, and a 5 minute face massage.

Other services offered by Premium Barbers include hair art tattoo shave (SGD $30 - $150, depending on complexity), hair colouring (SGD $50 - $130), grey hair touch up (SGD $50), hair loss control therapy (SGD $90), dandruff control therapy (SGD $70), premium ear cleaning service (SGD $30), mud pack facial (SGD $60), shoe shine service (SGD $12), moustache and beard trim (SGD $22), moustache and beard colouring (SGD $40) and head massage service (SGD $25 - $40). They offer discounts if you choose 3 or more services at 1 time.

I found the 3 special packages offered at Premium Barbers to be quite interesting. Their Hangover Therapy package proposes to assist in recovery from late nights and drinking too much, and includes a 60 minute head massage, 2 hot towels and 2 cold towels. The Jet Lag Special package is supposed to allow you to sleep more easily, and includes a 30 minute head massage, ear cleaning service, 1 hot towel and 1 cold towel. Finally, the Cold Turkey Special package is supposed to help you cool down and freshen up, and includes a 30 minute head massage, 1 cold mask, and 2 cold towels.

The personalised service and attention to detail at Premium Barbers is great, though the premium / high prices means I'll probably only visit for special occasions, or if I feel I need head / hair pampering. Otherwise, I recommend at least 1 visit, purely for the experience of American-style classic barbering. Premium Barbers is open daily, from 10am till 8pm, but calling ahead to reserve a place is recommended if you're paying a visit.

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Update Sep-2015: It's been more than 2 years since I last visited Premium Barbers, and decided to pop in for a Premium Haircut + Shave (SGD $85). Prices have, naturally, increased since my last visit, but I'm glad to say they've maintained their solid, high quality, bespoke service, and the staff are as engaging as ever. Atmosphere is slightly more spacious and comfortable, and I got a very good hair cut and shave. Slight shaving nick in 1 area though. Overall, Premium Barbers is still worth a visit if you're willing to splurge on pampering yourself.