When it comes to men’s appearance, general prestige of a good barber is continuously growing. This is an old profession that has reemerged together with the new trend for men, which is perfected by the best barbers of Barcelona.
There exists an English term referring to men’s care, including hair and face (goatee, beard and moustache). That term is grooming.
Modern men have developed a taste for feeling young. Their social lives are active and they want to be fashion, following trends as regards their personal appearance and connecting them to their professional lives.
Leaving the stereotype of metrosexual men behind, the hipster icon seems to gain ground in the current style: lumbersexual men. This typical man is one who takes care of his beard, and cares for his skin tiredness, hydratation, eye bags and dark circles under the eyes.
Beard care is an imposed trend, now betting on shorter and more classic styles. It’s considered a manhood sign that many locals are adopting, resulting in comfort and attractiveness.
Personal care is something that a good barber thoroughly knows about. Some of these great professionals are in Barcelona and know pretty well what people look for.
Let’s get to know them a little bit more!
Just barbers, or trendsetters
A goatee, long sideburns, a 2-day beard or any other form of facial hair is the clear trend. Beard is fashionable.
Recent survey among 5300 people from the main European capitals shows that 61% of men from Barcelona already consider beard as part of their general appearance (Source: Braun).
The same impact has men’s general care, both of hair and skin. Thirty years ago, men used to use soap and shaving foam, whereas nowadays, one out of two men use cosmetic products.
Today, we’ll get to know some more details about Vicenç Moretó (@barberbcn), awarded-winner barber; Jordi Pérez (@JordiLaBarberia), in charge of traditional Barbería de Gracia; and Albert Catalán (@catperruquers), stylist and manager of Catalan Perruquers.
They are three authentic experts in men’s care and they’re really in appearance trends.
Barbers and stylists with three decades of history
Last April, the 2nd edition of BarberíasconEncanto Awards was celebrated, an event in which two renowned professionals were awarded, Vicenç Moretó and Jordi Pérez.
After 27 years working in a family barbershop, opened in 1959 in Raval Neighbourhood, Vicenç Moretó received an award for ‘Best Barber in Spain’.
Great advocate of beard Moretó says: “Beard trend began with a short style and, in 2014, it reached its longest. Now it’s cut a bit again”.
Regardless of trends, beard fashion “isn’t ephemeral and is here to stay. Beard creates addiction”, he assures.
In the heart of Gracia Neighbourhood, traditional Barbería de Gracia is another place of reference. Jordi Pérez’s shop had his recognition in 2014 when it was awarded for ‘Best Barbershop of the year’ by BarberíasconEncanto.
On the one hand, he received a Despuntan Newcomer Hairdresser Award in 2014 and, on the other, he obtained three theQhair stars, an award for hairdresser’s equivalent to Michelin Stars for restaurants.
Jordi Pérez, in charge of a family barbershop with 50 years of history, considers himself a fan of shaving ritual from London. “I offer an experience, a shaving with oils and hot water at a deliberate pace. It’s a real protocol”, says Jordi.
TheQhair is a prestigious award strongly related to hairdresser Albert Catalán. This stylist in Eixample Neighbourhood has given birth to an internationally well-known brand.
Albert adds a new store called ‘Son de Mar‘ to the diverse hairdressers’ of ‘Catalan Perruquers’. This is a space with pure air, offering treatments with water from Ibiza and Formentera. It’s unique of its kind.
Beard trends
Beard has come to stay, and barbershops, to become a new club for men. This trend helps spread social networks like TheQhair.com and Barberiasconencanto.com.
However, let’s get to know what is trendy on the streets. What do current men like?
Bear is fashionable, although style depends on tastes, from hairy beards to three-day ones.
Latest European study carried on by Braun highlights that more than a half of Spanish take beards or took them during the last two years.
Among the different types of beard, the most common looks are the ‘full beard’, taken by 51% of men, ‘Balbo’ beard (14%) and goatee with moustache (10.5%).
Fine goatees, normal goatees and thick sideburns are barely popular, just taken by 3% of followers.
Men are willing to experience beard, continuously looking for styles but trying them without success in most of the cases. Some reasons why men choose to grow a beard are that they feel more mature and attractive with it (80%) and they think they call more the attention (53%).
It’s a trend that becomes easier and easier since the secret of a perfect beard in our country just requires 21 days, while this takes 52 in the rest of Europe.
The question is simple: Barcelona is a city with beard!
