Getting shaved by a barber in Istanbul (Turkey)
When I discover a new country, I like to discover local experiences. Going to the barber shop is one of them. Authenticity guaranteed!
So far, I have been generally disappointed with my experiences at the barber shop. With the exception of Khajuraho in India where I had been treated like a king in a filthy shop. Or in Osaka in Japan (which doesn’t really have a barber tradition…) where Japanese perfectionism makes the difference.
But in Turkey, it is impossible not to go to the barber. Over there, the vast majority of the men are mustachioed or bearded. The regular passage to the barber is an institution. You can find them at every street corner. Barber stores are easily identifiable: there are often towels drying on a drying rack on the sidewalk.
A session at the barber’s usually costs 10 or 15 TL. At this rate, I put my razor away and go to the barber once a week. Below is a list of my experiences.
The barbershops I tested
Bella Erkek Kuaförü
Not Google referenced but you can find it here on Google Street View.
I randomly enter a small store run by two men in their sixties (two brothers?). Between the two of them, he must have 80 years of combined experience in handling scissors and razor.
I wait 5 minutes for the client in front of me to finish and it’s already my turn.
The barber heats water and raises the shaving foam with a badger brush. After protecting me with towels, he vigorously applies the foam to my face, it’s warm and pleasant.
With my head back, I still take a look when he’s preparing his equipment to make sure he’s putting a new razor blade: it’s good.
The cut is fast and precise, you can feel the experience of years. With each pass of the razor, it wipes the shaving foam in the palm of the hand. When there is too much, he deposits the excess on a sheet of newspaper. It’s quite handmade but after checking, they all do it this way.
After a first pass, I get a second application of shaving foam for a second pass in the opposite direction of the hair to ensure an even more precise shave.
After this second pass, the barber applies a little shaving foam on the nape of the neck to remove the few unsightly hairs.
Comes a small passage of scissors to cut the hairs of the nose.
The barber then asks me to lean forward and put my head in the sink. He then sprays me with water to wash my face. The first time it’s surprising, take a breath!
He then applies cologne as an after-shave, it stings! Then a moisturizing cream before spraying me a liquid (perfume?).
It’s over, the result is impeccable!
Comes the time to pay, I had read on a traveler’s blog that he had paid 60 TL. It seemed surprisingly expensive, but my barber not speaking a word of English, so I held out two 50 TL bills with a questioning air.
Faced with his refusal, I hand him several bills, he grabs the 10 TL bill.
If I didn’t want to pass for a tourist, it’s completely missed, they must have laughed at me!
Rate: 10 TL
Usta Berber
Very practical as it is right next to our 2nd Airbnb. Link on Google.
Less good service than my first experience. A single pass and therefore a less precise shave.
Rate: 15 TL.
Cuma kuaför
Next door as well. Link on Google
I come in the evening, there are people before me, they offer me a tea to wait.
The barber is meticulous, he takes the time to adjust my moustache, which is starting to be well furnished.
Rate: 10 TL.
Fatih Men Barber
So far I have been going to the barbershops I found next to the apartment.
This time I did some research and I go to Fatih Men Barber whose reviews on Google are impressive ( Google link).
This one is 20 minutes by bus from us. Given the number of reviews on Google, I expect a “tourist attraction”.
Finally not at all, I am the only foreigner and I am taken care of after 5 minutes of waiting.
As Anh is fed up with my moustache, I ask to shave everything, which is hardly conceivable in Turkey 😀
My barber offers me to put a kind of big bandage on my nose, I don’t know what it’s for but I accept.
Then comes shaving, fast and precise. I thought he would have a hard time getting rid of the moustache, which was starting to be plentiful, but we’re dealing with a professional.
After shaving, the attention to detail will successively make him take care of my neck, trim my hair legs, cut my nose hairs and even the few eyebrow hairs that stick out.
He then grabs a wick that he sets on fire to burn the down from the ears, it stings! Until a month ago, I had never done this before but I had discovered this technique with my hairdresser in Minsk, Belarus.
The barber then applies to my face a clay mask that will act as an aftershave. With that I look like Fantomas!
At that moment, the boss of the house arrives, the famous Fatih. He is very happy to see a stranger and proudly shows me the long list of his clients on his Instagram account. He’s got it all figured out on social networks and invites me to share and note if I’m satisfied.
As a result, I was entitled to a post Instagram on his account too:D
I have to wait a few minutes for the mask to take effect. Fatih offers me a drink while waiting.
I then put my head in the sink so that my barber can rinse my face. Take a breath, it takes a little time!
This is followed by a very pleasant shampoo.
And finally: moisturizer, perfume and liquid sprayed on the hair (I don’t know what it is).
It’s over! My skin is as soft as a newborn baby’s! Fatih is certainly the best barber in Istanbul 😉
Rate: 45 TL
