Saw a barber in Chicago using a hot towel on every haircut, even the buzz cuts

I was in Chicago last month visiting my cousin and stopped into this old school shop. Guy before me just wanted a #2 all over but the barber still steamed his face and neck with a towel before the cut. I asked him why and he said it relaxes the scalp so the clippers glide smoother. Tried it on a few clients since then and they've noticed the difference. Anyone else do this or is it overkill?

4 comments

4 Comments

alice_palmer202mo ago

Oh yeah, my barber does the same thing and it feels amazing!

olivia_harris192mo agoTop Commenter

Nah, that's just my barber rushing, it's not relaxing at all.

kai_park1mo ago

My guy in Seoul does the same thing and charges extra for the hot towel treatment. $15 for a buzz cut but he'll hit you with the steam and a cold towel at the end too. @alice_palmer20 knows what's up because there's no way that's just a gimmick. I'd rather have a relaxed scalp than a stressed one any day. Unless the barber is just trying to get you to tip more for the towel, then it's a hustle.

veram991mo ago

Wait wait, $15 for a buzz cut in Seoul? Man, I didn't know haircuts could be that cheap over there, my guy in Busan charges like 25,000 won and doesn't even throw in a cold towel unless I beg for it. That hot towel plus cold towel combo sounds next level though, I'd probably pay extra just to feel like I'm in a spa for five minutes instead of stressing about split ends. I'm half convinced your barber is secretly a magician if he can make a scalp feel that relaxed for fifteen bucks.