Wayward Son: Ruffians

When Adam and I first switched rolls on the blog, I joked about giving him a 'Wayward Son' spot but we really quite enjoyed the experience so here we are again. This time I shot the photographs while Adam enjoyed a little male grooming at Edinburgh's finest barbers, Ruffians. If you are looking for a cheap and cheerful snip and shave look elsewhere because Ruffians is the real deal. This is a place for dapper chaps, a place where you just might find the Laird's son decked in Harris tweed, drinking a single malt and sporting a damned fine haircut.

Strapping lumberjacks,whisky and pocket knives

When Ruffians asked me to come down and sample their haircut & hot shave, I was in dire need of a some male grooming. My previous haircut had grown out and my beard had become a wiry mess as a result of my electric shaver taking an unexpected plunge into the handbasin.

Before we talk about anything else, I have to mention the interior, it is a designers dream. Entirely bespoke, commissioned by Ruffians owner, Andrew Cannon and expertly executed by the most talented Scottish tradesmen. The main grooming area incorporates six Belfast sinks and accompanying grooming stations, each section has a pop up mirror, and beneath this, tools of the trade sit gleaming neatly encased in blue leather. A central vacuum system takes care of hair too here, sucking the it away rather the blowing. This could be a future must for obsessive compulsive cleanly types. Basically, if James Bond has a haircut station, it would look like this.

The blue, dove grey and citron theme features in every aspect of the barbers, from the awesome shaving chairs imported from Asia, down to their Ruffians branded facial and styling products. Quite simply, there isn't one single thing that has not been meticulously thought out.

Ian started my consultation with a latte and a chat about my cut and shave. According to Cait, when I shave my beard off, I look like a 16 year old on a first date so I opted for a tidy up rather than a clean shave. A volcanic rock and willow bark exfoliating scrub, followed by hot and cold towels nearly lulled me to sleep. The only thing that kept me alert was fear of the cut throat razor, (its all in the name) but my worries quickly faded as I could feel the hair on my face positively tingling as the cut throat blade barely grazed my skin. I left the chair feeling like a new man!

If given the chance, my hair is prone to taking free reign or perhaps that has been the mistake of previous hairdressers… Ian took his time over getting that vital balance of cutting my hair to look like its 'just not been cut', but at the same time, neat and clean around the back and sides. Call me a tricky customer, but I think he nailed the balance of my unruly mop. I stuck to the rough matte clay to finish for a flat, ruffled look.

The Ruffians experience is about as macho as it can get when you consider this was a few hours of self indulgence. I may have experienced more creams and lotions in one afternoon that I would in the rest of the calender month, but believe me when I say that the whole thing made me think of strapping lumberjacks, motor oil, whisky and pocket knives. I can only imagine the experience would be even better on a brisk winter's day with a brewsky in hand.

Ruffians sum it up perfectly themselves, "We're going to redefine male hairdressing", and that they have done.

Ruffians Barbers - 23 Queenferry Street, Edinburgh

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