Let’s face it. For many men, shaving sucks. Even today when beards are fashionable, getting a clean shave remains a necessary evil. Electric razors don’t do the job, cream can’t cut it. My beard is too thick and strong, skin too sensitive. I’m ninety. I know these things.
Recently, however, research aided by Insider’s Guide to Spas led me to Hommage, a grooming collection made in Osaka, Japan. Rooted in Japan’s wellness culture and made specifically for men who appreciate the ancient art of grooming, the Hommage brand of shave and skincare products is billed as a “contemporary grooming experience,” that combines ritual with performance. The distinctly masculine collection—ranging from shaving cream to cleanser and anti-age defense—is transformative for men who think shaving sucks. I had to give it a try.
The ritual begins as I lather up with a brush made of badger hair bristles, acquired in London at Trumper, an Edwardian barbershop in Mayfair. The cream is squeezed into my wet palm, then lathered onto the beard zone in a circular motion.
Rooted in Japan’s wellness culture, Hommage is made specifically for men who appreciate the ancient art of grooming.
The next step is to select the proper razor for your smooth shave: straight. safety, or multi-blade. The Hommage Collection offers all three, plus a chrome base for brush and razor. Prices range from $175 for a single razor to $600 per set. One deluxe model goes for $6,5000!
Some guys like shaving in the shower, or preceded by a warm, moist towel to soften the beard.
I followed habit and worked both directions on my beard. The warm lather softened the skin and produced a healthy glow to my complexion.
The scent is subtle, with a hint of tobacco, so you don’t need after-shave lotion, but a splash of Hommage Shave Balm adds to the experience. Developed in the French capital of scent, Grasse, it brings together tradition and ritual.
Forget aerosol cans of cream; Hommage delivers naturally.
Verdict: shaving will never be the same.
Editor’s Note: You can try a professional Hommage treatment at a variety of topnotch resorts and hotels, including Fairmont, Rosewood, Wynn Las Vegas, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts. Montage Hotels & Resorts retails the line, and the shave sets, razors, and brushes are also available on Amazon.
Bernard Burt
Health challenges led spa historian Bernard Burt to Canyon Ranch in Arizona, inspiring his 1986 book "Fodor's Healthy Escapes" for Random House. The co-author of "100 Best Spas of the World" (Globe Pequot), his byline has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, American Health, Spa Management Journal, and on Examiner.com. Based in Washington, DC, Burt is chairman emeritus of the Washington Spa Alliance and founding director of the International Spa Association.