Hot To Build A Monogamous Relationship With Your Barber

The key to getting what you want is building a monogamous relationship with your barber

- Graeme Park

There exists a strange dichotomy between the relatively low numbers of male-specific spas and the rapid growth in the number of men who enjoy spa treatments. According to recent research by the International Spa Association, the number of spa-goers who identify as male has grown from 29 per cent in 2005 to 49 per cent in 2017. So, if nearly 50 per cent who enjoy spa treatments are men, then why do the majority of spas seemingly target women?

According to Marcus Allen, vice president of London’s Refinery, the answer is space. “In cities where treatments have grown in popularity among men, space is now at a premium,” he says. “Men’s barbers are the number one high street opening now, but if you want to offer treatments you need an allocated space to do it. Although the client base may be changing, many spas started out offering treatments for women.”

The Refinery itself is located in London’s Mayfair, an area of the city that has much in common with the high-end fashion districts of Asia and America. Like Gangnam or Rodeo Drive it is replete with busy boutiques and flagship Swiss watch stores. Sited on the neighbourhood’s urbane Grosvenor Street, the Refinery’s facade is subtle. Inside, guests will encounter a familiar and comforting experience: a welcoming reception that gives way to a barber’s salon.