Maverick Grooming Studio
Men Traditional Shave
Hot towels, proper lather and a straight razor — the traditional barbershop shave, done the way it's meant to be done. Closer than a home shave, and a genuinely relaxing appointment on its own terms, not just a grooming task to tick off before the day starts.
What's Included
The Men Traditional Shave at Maverick Grooming Studio follows the same sequence a proper barbershop shave has always followed: hot towels to open the pores and soften the beard, a proper lather worked in by hand rather than sprayed from a can, and a straight razor shave with the grain for comfort and a genuinely close finish. The appointment closes with a cool towel and an aftercare balm to calm the skin down rather than leave it stinging on the way out.
It's a noticeably different result from shaving at home, and not just because of the blade. A trained hand reading the grain of your beard, a razor that's sharp every single time rather than three uses past its best, and thirty minutes with nothing else competing for attention — no rushing to catch a train or get out the door before a meeting.
For clients who've never had a traditional shave before, it's worth knowing this isn't an aggressive or clinical process. The pace is deliberately unhurried, the hot towels alone take a few minutes, and most first-timers describe it as closer to a spa treatment than a grooming chore. If you've been putting it off because you weren't sure what to expect, that hesitation tends to disappear about halfway through the first hot towel.
This service removes hair completely rather than shaping an existing beard — if you're maintaining a beard rather than shaving it off, the Beard Trim & Shape Up is the one you want instead, or the two can be combined as part of the Men Full Service Experience.
Who It's For
Anyone who wants a closer shave than they can manage at home, or who simply wants twenty to thirty minutes of a proper, unhurried shave rather than another five-minute routine before work. It suits regular weekly or fortnightly bookings just as well as one-off treats before an interview, wedding or event where you want skin looking its calmest and cleanest. It's also worth trying if you regularly deal with razor bumps, ingrown hairs or irritation from shaving at home — a professional shave with a sharp blade and the grain often causes noticeably less irritation than a multi-blade cartridge razor used against the grain.
What to Expect
Hot Towel
Applied first and left in place for a few minutes to open pores and soften the beard, so the blade has far less resistance to work against once it starts.
Lather & Prep
A proper lather worked into the skin by hand, prepping it for a comfortable, close shave and giving the razor something to glide on rather than drag against.
Straight Razor Shave
Shaved with the grain using a straight razor for a close, controlled finish — slower and more deliberate than a cartridge razor, and considerably kinder to the skin.
Cool Towel & Balm
Finished with a cool towel to close the pores back down, followed by an aftercare balm chosen to calm freshly shaved skin rather than sting it.
Benefits
Closer Than Home
A sharp blade and a trained hand every single visit, working with the grain of your own beard rather than a generic multi-blade cartridge.
Genuinely Relaxing
Thirty minutes that isn't rushed before work — most clients describe it as the closest thing to downtime in their week.
Skin-First Approach
Hot towels, proper lather and aftercare balm all work together to reduce the redness and irritation a home shave often leaves behind.
Fewer Ingrown Hairs
Shaving with the grain, at the right angle, with a sharp blade tends to cause noticeably fewer ingrown hairs than rushed home shaving against the grain.
Preparation & Aftercare
Before Your Appointment
- Let your barber know about any skin sensitivity, recent breakouts or shaving-related irritation beforehand, so technique and products can be adjusted
- Avoid shaving yourself for a day or two before your appointment so there's enough growth for the razor to work with properly
- Come with a clean face — there's no need for any product beforehand, and it's often easier to work on skin that hasn't had moisturiser or SPF applied that morning
- If you're booking before a specific event, allow a day or two of buffer in case your skin needs a little time to settle
Aftercare
- Avoid direct sun or harsh products on freshly shaved skin for the rest of the day
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturiser if your skin feels tight afterwards
- Book weekly or fortnightly if you want this to genuinely replace your home shave routine rather than sit alongside it
- Avoid hot showers or saunas immediately after your appointment, since freshly shaved skin is more sensitive to heat for a few hours
Pricing
Good to Know
Men Traditional Shave — Frequently Asked Questions
Will this irritate sensitive skin?
Let your barber know beforehand — hot towels and the shave technique are adjusted for sensitive skin, and a calming balm is used to finish. Most clients with sensitive skin actually find this gentler than shaving at home.
How is this different from a beard trim?
A traditional shave removes hair completely. A Beard Trim & Shape Up shapes and maintains an existing beard rather than shaving it off — the two serve opposite purposes.
Can I add this to a haircut?
Yes — or book the Men Full Service Experience, which combines a haircut, beard shape-up and this exact shave in one unhurried appointment.
What is a traditional hot towel shave, exactly?
It's a barbershop shave using hot towels to prep the skin, hand-applied lather, and a straight razor worked with the grain, finished with a cool towel and aftercare balm — the full sequence a proper shave has always followed, rather than a quick pass with a disposable razor.
Is a straight razor shave safe?
Yes, in trained hands it's a controlled, precise tool — arguably gentler on skin than a multi-blade cartridge razor, since it removes hair in a single clean pass rather than several aggressive ones.
How often should I book a traditional shave?
Most regulars book weekly or fortnightly, treating it as a direct replacement for shaving at home. Others book it occasionally as a treat before an event — either works.