It’s safe to say that the past few months have reestablished the importance of haircuts.
It has certainly redefined my relationship with heading to the barbers each month (“absence makes the heart grow fonder,” and all that jazz.)
Previously, I looked to my monthly professional shearing with disdain. Hair grows, that’s a fact, and so each month I would duly cart myself down to the local barbershop for some mundane conversation about the weather and my future travel plans, followed by two inches being removed off the top of my head.
It was a chore. It was a bore. Like taking out the trash, filling the dishwasher and then emptying it all over again. It was something I had to do but didn’t particularly enjoy. But then the world changed. At first, I relished at not having to go through the motions after the first 30 days of lockdown.
My hair was tidy enough, and I only needed to keep it manageable from a single video call-approved angle. But soon, I remembered why I made the monthly schlep to the barbers. Because as much as I dislike some chores, I really, really hate having long hair.
With a head that looked more like an unkempt mop turned upright and left outside to dry in the sun, I knew I needed something beyond my usual barber’s best efforts. To primp and preen the chaos atop my head, I would need experts.
I first noticed CG Barbershop by chance on Instagram. A friend of mine (well, more a friend-of-a-friend… okay, acquaintance) posted a video of him looking similarly disheveled before going through a hirsute transformation. I usually abhor these types of videos because quite frankly no one needs to see your ‘#newdo’ but desperation will make you do strange things.
CG was started by Carlos Gamal and Adam Mondher, two men who I would assume did not abandon all grooming during lockdown. Gamal is a third-generation barber, and as luck would have it had the task of dealing with the frightening length of my follicles.
The barbershop itself is small; it’s one room with four chairs hidden within the depths of the Arjaan by Rotana hotel, in Media City. It’s clear from the chatter after just a few minutes that a great many customers are returning guests. The conversation is anything but mundane, where all the barbers talk to all the clients, and between themselves. It’s friendly, it’s social and more importantly I didn’t hate it.
As the state of my head required, Gamal gave me the full treatment: haircut, styling, a beard trim followed by hot steam facial where they literally blow wet air in your face. Typically, I can’t stand these types of what I deem to be facial foolishness; my face has survived just fine for 33 years without a facial, and it will continue to. However, to my abject surprise I found the treatment was rather relaxing and I enjoyed it. And unlike my usual trip to the barber’s (which usually takes no more than 20-minutes start to finish), at the end of my hour-and-a-half treatment I felt a little glum. It was all over.
The cut itself is excellent. The barbers are all highly technical and skilled, and some are so popular they boast five- or six-day waiting lists. But more importantly, CG Barber’s reminded me that the monthly trip to keep my hair kempt need not be such a burden. In fact, I have already booked my next visit. I can’t wait.
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