BEFORE
AFTER
There are very few places in Mumbai where you can genuinely switch off. Truefitt & Hill at Pali Hill, Bandra, is one of them.
The moment I stepped inside, the pace of the city seemed to recede. There was no rushing from one appointment to the next, no checking the time between meetings, and no feeling that I needed to be anywhere else. Instead, I was offered a selection of drinks and food before being escorted into the private Royal Suite, where the next two and a half hours were entirely dedicated to me.
What followed was not simply a haircut and a shave. It was a carefully considered grooming experience, combining the precision of the Royal Haircut with the old-world ceremony of the Royal Shave, alongside massages, facials, hot towels, and all the little details that make being looked after feel like a luxury in itself.
I had come in to be groomed; I left feeling like I had been given permission to slow down.
THE ROYAL HAIRCUT The experience began with a private consultation. Rather than simply asking how I want my hair cut, the master barber took his time to assess the structure and movement of my hair before discussing the style that would best complement it. That level of consultation immediately set the tone.
I was then taken through a shampoo designed to nourish, repair, and add strength and body to the hair, followed by a towel dry that prepares the strands for the cut. The haircut itself was executed exactly to my liking. What stood out was the precision and technique, but more than that, it was the absence of any sense of hurry. Every element was considered, discussed, and perfected.
Once the haircut was completed, the experience moved into something far more restorative. I was treated to a calming head massage, with an array of oils to choose from, before another shampoo, rinse, and conditioning treatment. On the outside, it looked like a small detail, but it was one that made a considerable difference. The massage did not feel like an add-on to the haircut, but an integral part of the experience.
To finish things off, the master barber sculpted my strands into its final style, bringing the Royal Haircut to a close.
THE ROYAL SHAVE
And just when I thought we were nearing the end, the experience took on a whole new sense of relaxation. From a much-needed head massage, we transitioned into a beautifully curated facial massage, a precursor to the
Royal Shave. Having experienced traditional shaving services before, I was particularly interested in seeing how Truefitt & Hill elevated what is, essentially, the most classic grooming ritual a man can get.
The preparation alone set the experience apart. The face was treated to hot towels, helping to soften the beard and prepare the skin. A gentle exfoliation followed before a light-textured pre-shave oil was massaged into the skin to soften the beard further and allow the razor to glide smoothly. Then came the lather. Using a handmade badger brush and the brand’s glycerine-based shaving cream, the barber worked up a rich, emollient lather, carefully coating each strand. It is an old-school approach, but one that felt surprisingly relevant in a world where grooming has become increasingly quick and functional.
Then, holding my skin taut with one hand, he worked with the straight razor in the other. There was something almost ceremonial about watching this process unfold. The precision, technique, and measured pace made it feel less like a shave and more like an experience that had been preserved and perfected over generations.
Finally, the towels made their return. A cold towel was placed over my face, which left me feeling completely refreshed and rejuvenated. The Royal Shave concluded with the application of aftershave balm and lotion. It was evident that I was not simply freshly shaved, but completely reset.
THE LUXURY IS IN THE DETAILS
What impressed me most throughout the Royal Service was the sheer attention to detail. Every process was explained, and every step was thoughtfully articulated. I was made to understand exactly what was happening and why. That level of communication created a sense of care and personalisation that I have rarely found in a grooming experience. Moreover, the staff were exceptionally warm and courteous. Nothing felt hurried or transactional, and there was a genuine sense of hospitality in the way the service was delivered.
And then there was the setting. The Royal Suite, the old-world ambience, the traditional grooming techniques, and the way the service was executed, genuinely transported me to another era. There was something wonderfully opulent about it. For a few hours after a busy workday, I was not simply a customer who had walked in for a haircut and shave; I was royalty.
In a city where everything moves at a relentless pace, I found something incredibly refreshing about disconnecting and allowing myself to be taken care of. The Royal Haircut gave me the precision and craftsmanship I expect from a premium grooming experience, while the Royal Shave brought together the theatre and tradition of the straight-razor shave.
However, it is the space between these treatments that makes the experience feel genuinely indulgent. After two and a half hours, I left impeccably groomed, but that is not the only thing I took away with me. For those few hours, the outside noise faded, and I was reminded that luxury is not always about extravagance. Sometimes, it’s simply about having the time and space to feel taken care of.
Perhaps that is the real luxury: not just looking like royalty when you leave, but feeling like it, too.