ceaf12d80151e1e0d8d8035e9b1b835d-1.jpg









Most Popular

CultureShea Whigham Is Always Wearing a Historical HatBy Gabriella Paiella

Sales (Style)All the Sweaters Are on Sale Right NowBy Reed Nelson

GQ RecommendsThe Best Baggy Jeans Are Taking Their Victory LapBy Leon Hedgepeth

Hot towel shaves and sips of whiskey now go hand-in-hand at most barbershops (about time—women have been guzzling champagne at the salon for years), which is why thirty-year-old Jeff Laub and co-founders Adam Kirsch and Josh Boyd are stepping up their shop game. The Blind Barber team’s new Williamsburg spot is offering a full café menu, complete with gourmet egg sandwiches, small bites like kale salad and sriracha-flavored almonds, a grilled cheese lineup, and donut ice cream sandwiches. (Fear not—beer, wine and cocktails are still being served). "The barbershop speakeasies are great, but if you keep doing them there will be no hidden spots. This is about hanging out with friends and getting together over food and bevs," says Laub.

The store vibe: "We’re in an old Italian neighborhood so lots of the shops have knickknacks and clutter, but we wanted to bring in an open, airy concept that still felt right," says Laub. "There’s a lot of white oak paneling and very little décor."

What to eat: L.A. chef Ted Hirsh is manning the menu and pretty much everything sounds killer, but fan favorites include the egg white sandwich, quinoa bowl, and pastrami reuben tacos.

The cut to get: "High and tights have been so popular over the past few years, but guys here are starting to add a little looseness to the style. The sides are a little longer, the taper a little shorter," says Laub. "You can run your hands through this style--it’s more ’50s than ’20s."

Laub’s Grooming Essentials:

Blind Barber Watermint Gin Facial Cleanser: "I use this religiously, it’s infused with juniper berry that’s actually used to make gin, but it’s a great astringent for the skin. It has a nice cooling effect so you wake up feeling fresh."

Ernest Supplies Cooling Shave Cream: "These guys created an incredible shave cream, and the packaging looks like a Capri Sun. It’s great for travel."

Blind Barber 90 Proof Hair Pomade: "This is the best pomade on the market. The fragrance is a light tonka bean, good for when you’re cuddling up to someone, and it provides nice hold with no shine. Use a dime-sized amount and you can restyle throughout the day."

Related Stories for GQGrooming