Truefitt & Hill

I had one of the best haircuts I've had in years! I was in the UK and wanted to go to St James' for a haircut, but decided to wait until I was back in Singapore to go to my usual barber.

Arrived Saturday night, called my barber Monday morning... son of a bitch, he had died last week! And didn't even tell me!

Called Truefitt at Ann Siang and made an appointment with Jay to cut my hair. The man is a craftsman - a seriously good haircut, which for me is quite an experience as it's usually a search and destroy operation (yes I'm follically challenged).

Great haircut, very nice ambience.... my only suggestion is that instead of offering ice water, how about a gin and tonic?? !!

Yes, I'll be back!

Most pathetic butchering I have ever had. "Trust me sir I teach others how to do undercuts". Arrogant, amateurs who have no idea of barbering or customer service. As soon as he was finished he disappeared out the back of the shop leaving me to pay. Even used a DRY cut throat razer on my face!!! Absolute fail!

Excellent haircut. Not cheap at $75 without tip for the Barber (and you do tip the Barber, don't you?), but for a straight 45 minute haircut that looks great (very masculine, according to Mrs. H), it was worth every cent.

The receptionist told me they are opening a cocktail bar in the salon 'soon', which is, in my opinion, too soon. But when she mentioned 'cigar bar' she had my attention again. But really, how many times have you been enjoying a single malt and a Cuban and wished you could have a haircut at the same time? I know, right?

Shaves, manicures (this is a difficult subject for me. I once had a manicure and the manicurist (is that a word?) wanted to put some glossy polish on "to protect the nails". I didn't notice before 3-4 fingers on my right hand were shiny and I looked like an idiot for a couple weeks until I got that stuff off), great haircuts in a shop very reminiscent of Jermyn St and Old Bond. Not a 'Her World' or 'Cleo' anywhere in sight...and may it long remain so.

The very professional Barber didn't exhibit the symptoms of verbal incontinence that is so common in your average co-Ed salon, and this was greatly appreciated. Having a haircut is a legitimate 'me moment' for a man and should not be marred by inane chatter about the latest K-pop sensation or how the 'stylist' spent all of last night tearing up the dance floor at some club: "The Club is so cool, it doesn't even have a name! It's just an ancient Egyptian symbol and a frown. And you need to know the password."

Ideally, a silent understanding, a bond of sorts, develops between a man and his Barber and idle chatter is best avoided. My Barber, Nizar (sp?) has the makings of a fine Barber indeed.

I am very much a G. Trumper man when in London, but I heartily recommend T&F for your next grooming session in Singapore.

A note to the proprietor: Thank you for setting up shop in Singapore. I wish you the best and will definitely spend my hard-begged monthly grooming allowance (Mrs. H. says $75 is 'not bad' so I think I am safe on this point) at your establishment. The staff were friendly, in an understated, professional manner and I appreciated that neither your receptionist nor Barber assumed I wanted a glossy magazine with a picture of a model in an advanced stage of undress on it, thrust at me.

The glass of ice water was plenty to keep me hydrated during my appointment, but the option of a coffee or tea is a nice touch.

For reading material (to the extent it is required), err on the side of conservative and avoid magazines with people or Italian cars on the covers. Dogs and guns are acceptable. Manual loading, preferably single barrel though an over-under 12-gauge might pass muster. The guns, not the dogs. For dogs, think Retrievers. Also, sailboats. Not 'Yachts'. A couple newspapers might be OK, perhaps FT, IHT and WSJ? I did notice a copy of Monocle discretely trying to attract my attention, however this is for airports and planes and I prefer to enjoy my grooming in a silent, meditative state.

In a word, excellent.

Decor and facilities of a traditional barber shop, but lacks the atmosphere and service of say the barber shop at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in HK to which I went not so long ago. There you felt that you were being welcomed into a gentleman's salon with a personality and a long legacy of service. Had a decent enough haircut, but nothing about the experience justified paying double the cost of a standard haircut. Shame as the concept should work and have appeal in Singapore, but it needs a lot better execution.