Murdock

A bit on the pricy side, but this place is a proper old fashioned barbers. I get my hair cut and beard trimmed here.
Like many hairdressers, they offer you a drink (tea/​coffee/​bear/​something stronger), but I never understand at what point I’m expected to drink this beverage. Murdock barbers tend to get down to business, so there’s usually very little opportunity. Not that that’s a bad thing — I like an efficient barber.
The atmosphere is really relaxed and I have to admit that I once did drop off for a moment while I was having my beard trimmed.

I came here for a proper pre-​wedding grooming and got exactly that. First the haircut done with skill and style, then a proper wet shave complete with wet towels, cut-​throat razors and fancy aftershave. Finally a quick shoe shine and I feel ready to get married. Now I just need to sort out a ring…

Whilst Christmas present hunting this year I stumbled upon Murdocks. I couldn’t help but take a peak inside as it looked like something from the set of Sweeny Todd (but without the murderous barber of course).It’s actually a very classic/​classy mens grooming haunt, where those in the know go for an old style shave, haircut and a bit of tlc.
Since as every ruffian needs a bit of pampering from time to time I decided to get a few of my hairy friends gift vouchers for a wet shave. They’re not the spa/​facial type, so this seemed like a great manly alternative.
Mudock’s use very tasteful razors (cut throat and horn) and the mens grooming range is by D. R Harris. And a top tip: If you want your man to smell gorgeous as you’re ruffling up his hair then you must by him a pot of the Lemon Cream Shampoo. Oh it’s so, so good…
Murdock’s celebrates mens grooming as an old school ritual, rather than a chore and so I think It’s a great place that wont make the discerning male feel too metrosexual once the pampering begins.
Decadent dandy perhaps, with not a Gok Wong type in sight. Ladies your man is in safe hands here.

A true gentlemen’s shop — the sort of place you imagine Carey Grant frequented, or where you might run into a classy guy like George Clooney. Inconspicuously tucked down Old Street this is the place for self-​respecting men to pop in for a shave, a haircut, or pick up timelessly classic cologne.
I love coming in here. Despite the fact that this place radiates propriety, the staff doesn’t posses a smidge of self-​importance or pretentiousness. If you are looking for a gift they are always more than happy to offer up advice (for all price ranges) and don’t mind a bit if all you’re really in there for is to admire the old-​time feel and merchandise. (It also helps that the shop staff are all sufficiently handsome with a hip dandy style that I find ridiculously alluring).
The colognes here are all unique and enduring — the sort that proper men have been buying for years. And my father is a huge fan of their D.R. Harris Arlington Shave Cream — he says it’s top-​notch; I’m under standing orders to pick up a tube for him every time I’m headed back home to the States.
But the real highlight here is the wet shave. All the men I know who’ve taken the plunge and had it done find it wonderfully relaxing — and a very manly sort of activity. They do gift certificates, and shave prices start at a reasonable £32 — so it’s become one of my go-​to gifts for the men in my life… a bit of luxurious pampering that won’t do any damage to their ego.

I got a voucher for here recently at a menswear event and gave it to my friend to use. The results were actually amazing. i think more so because men don’t usually take time to themselves to get pampered that they feel so great when they come out. My friend got a free speedy facial with my voucher and a shave, which he tells me left him hair free for twice the usually stubble growing time.
Although this is a men’s place, it is pretty woman-​friendly inside. I sat and read some magazines while i waited for the results and because I use Aqua Di Parma body cream I replenished my stocks while I was here. They even gave me a nice little bag with it, very nice treatment indeed,
If I ever convince my boyfriend to embrace male grooming this will be the first place I march him into.

This place is pretty cool. Murdock is an upscale barber shop which also sells great product for men. It’s something that feels like the 40’s with a contemporary feel. I go here for a shave and occasional cut. Though I am not one to indulge often on a shave, there is no better place to have one than Murdock. Your face is first wrapped in a hot towel and lightly massaged. Then the shave comes with the traditional straight blade with kind of frightens me, but nonetheless produces the closest shave imaginable. I leave this place relaxed, happy, and with the smoothest face in town. And with a few products in hand.

Let me clear from the beginning, I don’t get shaved, but I can recognize a well-​groomed man, and appreciate the old school tradition of the barber. Murdock is a proper barber, the store they have in Shoreditch is simple, and masculine conveyed in its oak furniture and general smell of fresh Vetiver.
I sent my boyfriend to try it, this happened after one day when we where walking down Old Street, we saw Phillip Seymour Hoffman grooming up at Murdoch. If I told you how incredibly non-​metro sexual my boyfriend is you wouldn’t believe it, he likes football, beer and politics. No grooming stuff will go near him, but after some pledging for the sake of his skin and mine! He did go and he came out happy and radiant. In disbelief of what a good shave can do for you. Not sure if he will return but I’m secretly praying he make a habit of it. Murdoch also sells men’s grooming products from brands like: Aqua di Parma, old school brand Proraso, and D. R Harris products, now all this made him think and me that this place is not for metro sexual, its for real proper gents.