What is common to Frank Sinatra, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Alfred Hitchcock, Winston Churchill and King George III? They relied on the barbers at Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH), the oldest barbershop in the world, for their personal grooming needs. Now, this favourite, that is also preferred among men from Britain&rsquo;s royal family, has opened their first Indian outlet, in Khar.
<img title="Master barber Thom Robins at work. Pic/Sameer Markande" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/Master-barber-Thom-Robin.jpg" alt="Master barber Thom Robins at work. Pic/Sameer Markande" /> Master barber Thom Robins at work. All pics/Sameer Markande
When we dropped by TFH&rsquo;s one Monday evening, master barber Thom Robins from London, was training a team of Indian barbers on the fine nuances of their signature style of shaves and haircuts. The style, we are told, was perfected by its founder, WF Truefitt.
<img title="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-1.jpg" alt="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" />
<img title="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-2.jpg" alt="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" />
The menu included most of the traditional TFH services, offered globally, with the addition of pedicure, which has been added for Indian men. Services are categorised into Classic and Royal, where the latter is a detailed luxurious service. We decided on a Royal Hair Cut (Rs 2,000) in the Royal Suite, which costs an extra Rs 1,000.
<img title="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-3.jpg" alt="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" />
<img title="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-4.jpg" alt="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" />
As we settled on the reclining chair, we found out that Robins never cut hair without his own set of scissors and clippers. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s what I feel most comfortable with,&rdquo; he shares. The haircut started with a shampoo treatment, done using TFH products, also available on the counter for sale. Robins tells us about the TFH Bond Street outlet, and its old-world rustic charm. The company behind the Mumbai outlet, Lloyds Luxuries Ltd, have tried to capture this vibe, with its wooden flooring, and memorabilia from London.
<img title="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-5.jpg" alt="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" />
<img title="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-6.jpg" alt="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" />
Robin began working, layer-after-layer, carefully cutting each strand of hair. Sometimes he would pause for a minute, measuring the progress with his skilled hands and eyes. &ldquo;The sides are the most difficult part in any haircut. You can do whatever you want with the top, but the sides have to be perfect,&rdquo; he explains.
<img title="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-7.jpg" alt="Truefitt &amp; Hill (TFH)" />
<img title="Master barber Thom Robins" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2014/jul/truefitt-and-hill-8.jpg" alt="Master barber Thom Robins" /> Master barber Thom Robins
What impressed is that he didn&rsquo;t need any instructions except for the kind of cut we wanted. Though, it took him over 45 minutes to cut hair, TFH is a great idea for grooming services, especially for those who love to do things in style and away fromprying eyes.

Truefitt and Hill, known for offering grooming services to the men in British royalty, are now in Mumbai

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