Bruno's Barbers is the place to go for that Manila haircut.
If this is your first time in Manila, you should know that the haircut experience in a reputable place like Bruno's in Manila will be far above what one gets at a Supercut or Great Clips.
First off, from the moment you sit down to the moment the barber taps you on the shoulder to tell you that he's done, you get that sense of crispness and precision about his actions - the flick of the wrist as he places the cover over you, the way he wipes away cut hair from your nape every few minutes, the way he sharpens the straight edge razor before he shaves off each wayward strand on the back of your neck.
Secondly, the haircut, though precise, is decidedly unhurried. More than once, you will look in the mirror and say to yourself "This cut looks good. I am ready to pay now" but the barber will come back with something else he needs to do to make your cut better. He might go over your head with the scissors to make sure each strand around your temple lines up correctly. He might clean your neck with the straight edge. He might go through the top of your head with thinning shears.
Lastly, the haircut always ends with a hot towel and a stress-relieving massage. Close to the end of your haircut, he will place a steaming hot towel over your face. The towel might hurt some at the beginning but it quickly gives way to relief and freshness. The barber will also give you a quick massage to loosen your neck, shoulders, back and head. If the towel does not loosen you up, the massage will.
These extras are very Filipino but they finish off a haircut experience that is so good, I will opt to grow my hair out if a trip to the Philippines is nigh just so I can go twice, once upon arrival and once just before leaving.
If you find yourself in Manila, go to the Bruno's closest to where you live. There should be one somewhere in your favorite mall. read more