Hot-Towel Shave

A straight razor on a hot towel is one of the small, rare ceremonies left to a working day. We don’t rush it. The whole shave takes about forty minutes, and forty minutes is the point.

What you can expect

You sit back. We lay a hot, lemon-oil towel across your face and let the steam soften the beard for a minute. We work in a badger-brush lather — properly whipped, properly warm — and lift the beard with the razor in two passes, with the grain and then across it. A second hot towel finishes the lather; an alum block tightens any small nicks; a balm sits the skin down. The blade is single-use and changed in front of you.

Who shaves at Waterloo

Jessica trained in the trade old-school and has been working a straight razor since well before opening Waterloo in 2026. Every shave on the tariff is hers.

When to book

Shaves are by appointment — always. The chair is too quiet a chair for a walk-in. Reserve at least a day ahead, and arrive five minutes early so we have time to lather without rushing. If you’ve grown the beard out for a fortnight or more, book a Beard & Moustache Trim instead, or step up to The Full Treatment for cut and shave together.

Notes

• Forty dollars cash, thirty-eight by card.
• The shave is included free with The Full Treatment.
• We do not shave heads. For a clean head we recommend the dedicated shops on Sixth Street that specialize in it.
• If you have skin sensitivities, tell us at the chair — we keep an unscented balm on hand.