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Yoshito Akiyama's “UK's oldest hairdresser”

《August 6th, when the oldest hairdresser in the UK, Truefitt & Hill, arrived》

(1) Extremely private shaving history

I've always admired traditional wet shaving.
Wet the shaving brush that you often see in a movie scene with hot water, and the soap in the mug,

Apply shaving cream in a bowl or tube, gently stroke your face with foam, and shave with a razor.
The beard and drowsiness have disappeared, and the day is about to begin refreshingly.
I want to shave like that every morning, but I've never seen a shaving brush in Japan other than a hairdresser,

I didn't sell shaving soap in the first place.
The shaving brushes in the barber shop aren't very attractive, and using soap powder seemed to be different from overseas shaving styles.
I had no choice but to enjoy wet shaving using shaving foam, but it's not very cool.
The elegance of the shaving brush does not come out.
When and when I bought my first shaving brush, I forgot where it was, but the brush labeled "bristle and badger" was a decent item,

It was a mixture of pig hair and I also wanted a "pure badger" made of good quality pure badger hair.
At that time, I had an Old Spice shaving soap, the only shaving soap I knew that was normally available.
For a while, it was time to shave with the shaving soap and brush.
It was 25 years ago, so I forgot about the time context, but at
the select shop "Pisa" in the basement of the Tokyo Prince Hotel, I bought Penharrigon shaving products.

When I found it and shave it with soap in a wooden bowl and a "pure badger" brush, I felt like I was in a movie scene.

I remember being excited.
After that, on my first overseas trip, I concentrated on making shirts in the UK and visited Turnbull & Asser on Jermyn Street.
I wanted Mr. Paul Kas, an old acquaintance who used to measure in Pisa, to measure it, but unfortunately I didn't have time to make a custom-made shirt.

Purchased about 10 ready-made products.
Then I went to the nearby Perfumer (hairdresser and shop) "Ivans" (currently the tramper branch).

The interior of the store, where tramper products are crowded, is truly a paradise.
I bought a fair amount of products such as colons, soaps and brushes. I also went to a nearby Taylor and bought a colon and soap.
After that, I went to England several times and bought shaving supplies each time.

It was one of the pleasures to buy various products such as Trumper, Taylor, Penharrigon, Floris, DR Harris, etc.
Products from these shops could be purchased temporarily in Japan as well.
Trumper is Barneys NY, DR Harris is Swain Adney Brig in Aoyama, Taylor is Paul Stuart,

Floris said at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi.
Also, Ralph Lauren also had shaving products, so I occasionally buy them and choose the products to use in the mood of the day and enjoy shaving.
Unfortunately, I can't find anything other than Floris now. (But it is backordered)


(2) Isetan Men's Building

Isetan was reopened in September 2003. (Renewed again recently.)
The men's building was opened and became a leader in men's fashion. As for clothes and shoes, there are too many luxury items, so I avoid them.
I specialize in the cosmetics department on the first floor. Men's grooming and shaving supplies are neatly lined up near the entrance.
I'm glad I had Penhaligon's (formerly known as Penhaligon's ...) and Santa Maria Novela, and I'm also interested in Clarins Men.

I tried most shaving products.

The lineup changed quite often, and it was quite inconvenient for my favorite brand to disappear before I knew it.
However, I was able to expect a new brand by that amount.
I've been using Penhaligon's for a long time, and I'm glad that shaving cream is always available.
However, it is a pity that I do not have shaving soap.
I like the eau de toilette here, and the Blenheim bouquet and English Fern have always been my favorite items.
Recently, new products have been released, so I'd like to use them soon. I'm also happy with the Art of Shaving, which is sold by the parent company of Cigar Club.
Everything about shaving is available here.
Shaving brush, shaver, shaving soap, shaving cream, aftershave lotion,

It's nice to be able to choose from many different scents.
I use lavender and sandalwood according to my mood. I like sandalwood, which is loved by Asian people.
Recently, I also tried Biotherm and Carol Frank.

Carol Frank's pre and after shave oil and shaving foam are exceptionally comfortable to use.
My washroom is in a difficult condition with the shaving supplies I bought at Isetan and the supplies I bought overseas and at other specialty stores.
Larger shaving mugs have 2 trampers, 1 Floris, 1 Ralph Lauren, 2 smaller shaving mugs,

One mug for shaving cream from Merkur, Germany. There is one French L'Occitane whose shaving supplies are not available in Japan now.
Other shaving foams include Biotherm, Decleor, Carol Frank, Santa Maria Novela, Old Spice, nostalgic.

Besides, there are more than 20 shaving brushes such as Clinique's cream shave that I have been using for a long time.
I'm mostly a nerd, but I can't narrow down to just one type, so I enjoy my daily routine in the morning.
I bought a soap powder made in Japan, but it can be used as it is. Cheaper than anything else.


(3) Encounter with Truefitt & Hill

Opened in 1805, it's not that old to know about Truefitt & Hill, the oldest barber shop in the world.
As a shaving nerd, I checked various magazines and shops to constantly look up information on new products, constantly buying and trying what was available.
One day I saw a set of shaving brushes and stands at the Davidov shop in Hotel New Otani.
I thought the British style set was from Trumper or Taylor, and when I picked it up, it was a brand I had never seen before.
The name Truefitt & Hill seems to be venerable. Generally, the name "○○ & ○○" makes you feel the traditional thing that seems to be old.
As an aside, I wonder why & is included in the notation that says "○○ & Co.", but this means that it is a company of "○○ and friends".
The origin of the corporation is the company created by the representatives and their friends.
Aside from that, I was interested in a name I had never heard before, so I immediately searched it online.
I found out, "As a hair cutter, head dresser, and wig maker for the British royal family.

A barber shop that opened on October 21, 1805 in London's Mayfia district long acre. "
The reason I didn't know until now is that other Perfumers (hairdressers + cosmetics stores) are concentrated near Jermyn Street, so

I was walking only around there, and I had never seen it in Japan.
There are many products on the net, for example, sandalwood, lavender, coconut, etc. for shaving cream.

There are other series such as 1805, Trafalgar, and Grafton, which have the same scent as the company's original colon.

The main store on the homepage also has a venerable, 200-year tradition.
This is a "must item". I definitely want to get it! !!
I had an intuition that I would definitely like to stop by when I go to the UK next time, or buy it online. Love at first sight.
When I looked it up, the "Razor Club" in Omotesando was dealing with shaving mugs, so I was thinking of buying one.
I have to go to "Razor Club" someday to see the real thing. However, I encountered the mug in an unexpected place.
When I went to the Davidov Ginza main store to smoke a cigar, there was a select shop called "Gravitas & Grace" nearby, and I happened to find it there.
I took it carefully. It's about the same size as a tramper mug, but the place where the soap is placed is deep, so it was a structure that makes it easy to make bubbles with a brush.
It's smaller than Floris, so it doesn't take up much space (although it's quite large). I'm wondering whether to buy it.
I picked up a bubbly magazine that I had while smoking a cigar at the Davidov shop.
There is an article saying "A traditional British barber shop is expanding into Japan", and Truefitt & Hill is expanding into Japan.

There was information that it will be released for a limited time for about two weeks in Isetan centering on GW in May.
By the time I saw it, the sale period had already expired. I regret it if I knew it a little earlier.
Isetan on Sundays and public holidays was so crowded that I missed the opportunity if I had decided not to go.
However, the bubbly magazine stated that it would be fully developed in Japan.
When I called the agency immediately, he politely sent me a sample product, and Isetan was able to pick it up.
What was sent was a full range of shaving cream. And a 1805 sample of the colon.
I tried using it immediately, and I especially liked the shaving creams such as 1805, Grafton, and Trafalgar.
Immediately order 1805 shaving cream and cologne with an elegant traditional scent. I also ordered an unscented shaving soap.
It happened that "Gravitas & Grace" would reduce the gentleman's division, so I bought a shaving mug at 30% off.

This is the same size as a tramper shaving soap.
When you gently and gently stroke the soap surface with a shaving brush moistened with hot water, fine creamy bubbles are created.

When I apply it to my cheeks, I feel like I'm covered with a soft curtain.
It will be sold in earnest in Isetan from August 13th. It seems that a flagship store with a barber shop will be opened next week.
We plan to purchase colons such as Trafalgar and Grafton and shaving cream as soon as possible.
The shaver is a titanium holder that was made at Nihonbashi Kiya in the past, and is a 2-blade or Gillette 5-blade that Kiya imports from Merkur, Germany.
It's a problem because the washroom is getting smaller, but it seems that the fun of daily routines will increase every morning.


(4) Addition

・ The quality of electric shavers has also improved significantly. I use brown when I oversleep.
-In 007's "Die another day", the movie that Bond used an electric shaver is accompanied by a sponsor.
It cannot match the power of money. This is a shame.
It's a pity that the suit is also Brioni instead of Savile Row.
・ When I go to London, I only want to shop at Jermyn Street and Savile Row.
・ Rich people from all over Europe gather in London.
Russian riches too. It is said that the department stores in London are enriching the specialty areas for them.
Brands such as Hermes, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Armani, Versace are introduced, but the lack of British brands is lonely for those who like Britain.

                                                                    

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