Ted Baker - Ted's Grooming Room

I’ve been writing this blog for over eighteen months and it has seen a wide variety of beauty and grooming products reviewed, which included a large number from Ted Baker’s Grooming Room. So when I was asked if I would like to go and try out one of their legendary salons I couldn’t wait, and asked if there was anything they could do with my hair, eyebrow (I say eyebrow as I’ve had a mono-brow for about thirty five years) and beard.

After being booked in for ‘the works’ it was simply a case of turning up – in my case in particular I opted to go along to the shop tucked away in Holborn on Theobald's Road, it being just a twenty minute walk from my office. You can see a full list of their locations, plus their new premises on Commercial Street here.

Upon arrival I thought I’d got the wrong place – while looking effortlessly cool with a number of barber’s chairs and a hive of activity I wondered where the luxurious experience was going to take place. After giving my name my photographer in chief (aka beautyqueenuk) and I were guided downstairs into a cool, and rather open area.

After being offered a complimentary cocktail (I declined wanting to keep a clear head) the other half jumped at the chance and after trying it I really wished I’d gone for one – it had rich flavour and a kick like a mule! Anyhow, we weren’t there to get sloshed, we were there to sort out my face…..

‘T’, my barber for the evening was given carte blanche to do whatever he wanted to my hair, but the sad fact was that it was actually too short to do anything drastic to the style and as I have quite straight hair we settled on a much shorter style than usual, down to the bone at the back and sides with a very short messy top – a sort of cross between bed head and spikes. What struck me first was that rather than reach for the clippers to shave around the back and sides everything was done using scissors and the look of concentration was intense as the scissors snipped away. Clearly a man with symmetry on his mind, T really knows his craft and within thirty minutes my hair looked perfect – I was delighted, but this was just the start of my happy surprises.

The moment I had been dreading arrived – the treading of the brow (yes, dreading the threading)! Christ it hurt and I could hear a light cackle coming from the direction of the missus (who was filming at this point). It actually wasn’t that bad, the worst part was when T uttered the words “so you did want them looking feminine?” and my heart stopped! He was joking and within a minute my brows has been separated and shaped without completely altering how I looked. Nice, neat and tidy and something I will have done again.

After the brows (it still seems weird talking about them in plural) came the beard – I opted for a trim rather than cut throat shave and this was done without incident, the beard being trimmed and shaped properly (for the first time ever). This followed with the hairs in my ear being burnt away. I admit seeing a flame getting so close to my face had me getting a little bit nervous but it was painless and the inside of my ears are now incredibly smooth (like you needed to know that!)

Finally, and this really sealed the deal for me – for months I’ve had a trapped nerve in my elbow which has caused mild numbness in my left hand. Step forward T with the most relaxing massage – a hot towel was placed over my face which nearly sent me off to sleep and then crack! I have no idea what he did to my arm but ever since the numbness has gone and I feel like a new man! Awesome!

The full treatment would have cost £75 and I have to say, just the massage alone and removal of the pain in my elbow makes this worth it. Add in the fact that my hair looked and still does look neat and tidy with a nice twist on my usual style and you have a winner here. It’s strange having two eyebrows, and I’m sure they will take time to maintain but I think the whole package has improved how I look, which ultimately is the point of such obsessive grooming!

I have nothing but praise for T and the folk at Ted’s Grooming Room – it was an experience I’ll never forget and I will be back again in a few weeks when my hair and brows need doing again. This may have been provided gratis but I wouldn’t hesitate to stick my hand in my pocket and pay for this myself.

FORGET THE REST, TRY THE BEST

You can see the full list of treatments available here.

  

You can read more of my reviews of the Ted’s Grooming Room range by following the links below:

• Ted's Grooming Room Face Scrub
• Ted's Grooming Room Shave Gel
• Ted's Grooming Room Post Shave Balm

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Ted's Grooming Room - Step 03 Post Shave Balm

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (well Enfield in London) I started to write up what I thought of the Ted’s Grooming Room range by Ted Baker, starting as you would expect with Steps 01 and 02. 

I’ve had Step 03: Post Shave Balm now for nearly twelve months and as the tube comes to the end of its life it dawned on me that I hadn’t committed my thoughts (my thoughts should always be committed, usually under the Metal Health Act) to the internet about it. Disaster (not).

You can read up on the earlier steps in the Ted’s Grooming Room by clicking on the links below (if you so wish):

Step 01: Face Scrub
Step 02: Shave Gel

150ml of the post shave balm is available here for £9, and back in the day, when first writing about male grooming products I would have thought this expensive, however over a few short months, and after realising how expensive some products (that don’t work) cost, I’ve adjusted my position. It’s a reasonable price and if you read on, I’ll tell you whether you should part with your cash.

So, what do Ted Baker say about the product? Well, they talk like it’s some new form of Anthrax about to be unleashed onto enemy troops! Seriously, this is what they say:

‘For a moisturising finish like no other, deploy Ted’s best kept secret weapon. The soothing eucalyptus will have dry skin waving the white flag.’

While I may have had this for twelve months I have been using a host of other products during that time. Realistically, this would last for around six months if used three times a week. Now that’s still not bad, and even if you don’t get around to using it in that time it doesn’t seem to diminish when left on the shelf. 

I played with a few filters on this shot!

With sensitive skin around my face that is prone to irritation after shaving the prospect of something that could cool potential razor burn was welcomed with open arms. After shaving I regularly get a burn and my skin dries out so quickly once the beard is gone. Anything that can help is a bonus.

First impressions have stuck with this one, I love the smell of eucalyptus and continue to do so. I can literally stand and just sniff my hands the fragrance is so strong and rich. The white balm has a crème like consistency and it was so thick I struggled to comprehend how it would be absorbed. Particularly as after squeezing some out onto the back of my hand it doesn’t seem to be absorbed into the skin at all!

A quick rub and hey presto, a 50 pence sized amount of the balm, rubbed between palms and then applied to the face was enough for me. The fears of it just sitting on the surface were unfounded, as soon as pressure was applied it soaked in so quickly it was hard to keep track of the areas of my face I had already covered. 

Once on the skin the balm does have an immediate cooling effect, and the fragrance remains strong. The first time I used this I applied a second coat so to speak and this again was absorbed really quickly. While there was no tingling sensation I usually experience as the razor burn cools this did settle my skin down, and do it quickly.

After using a dodgy shave cream and shaving down a quite long beard I had a break out of red, itchy and blotch skin around my jaw line. After using this the itching and redness subsided within around thirty minutes. That made me a very happy man. There is little more irritating than a sore and itchy face after shaving. 

Unlike some post shave balms and moisturisers this didn’t leave my skin feeling greasy or looking as though I had been varnished. If anything it helps to keep my skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch and for that I am thankful. 

Yes, my tube is now empty, and The Last Post is playing in my head (see how I’m staying with a kind of military feel, this is gold people). 

When you consider that it is only £8 for a product that will last for ages, smells amazing and helps calm skin down after shaving then you can’t really argue. It’s great value for money from Ted and despite the weaponised marketing blurb it does what it says it will. Go on, if you suffer after shaving you could take a closer look at Step 03: Post Shave Balm.

RECOMMENDED

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Christmas Gift Ideas for Him #5 - Ted Baker On Course Ted Messenger Bag

If I said you could splash out £35 and end up with not only a Ted Baker branded messenger bag that looks the part, but also have the bag empty to unveil a whole host of Ted Baker Tour de Ted products you would probably phone for the men in white coats.

Ted Baker is not a brand I associate normally with ridiculously affordable prices, I put them into the ‘treat’ or ‘luxury’ category but I have to admit I was personally blown away by my gift set. 

I’ve been using the same man bag purchased from Camden Lock Market in the week before I started to work in Camden and quite fitting that it got replaced five years later in the week that I left. To be honest, my bag needed changing, over the years it had warped and was more twisted than a corkscrew.

The messenger bag is really well made and racing green in colour I would say (but don’t trust me, I’m colour blind - check out the pictures). In terms of size, it is perfect and can fit a decent sized laptop, iPad and papers without it bulging or having so much weight in it the shoulder strap cuts through your shoulder. Internally there are a few pockets for chargers, pens etc and that’s about it. It’s a bag, for blokes, we don’t really need anything else.

The internal fabric design

Personally I would have expected to pay over £35 for a Ted Baker bag, so when I opened it to be greeted with the products below I grinned from ear to ear. While not a fan of body sprays I have to say that I like the ones in this bag, they are fresh and provide a level of assured confidence that you would need after a trip to the gym.

So what do you get?

• Ted Baker Orange Body Spray (150ml)
• Ted Baker Orange Hair and Body Wash (200ml)
• Ted Baker Green Body Spray (150ml)
• Ted Baker Green Hair and Body Wash (200ml)
• Wrapped Soap (140g)

The body washes lather up brilliantly and are good at getting off the grime and leaving skin smelling wonderful. The green version is much fresher, while the orange I find a little too synthetic. That aside, it does the job and washes and you can’t grumble at that. For me, my favourite is the wrapped soap - it has been so long since I've used soap it was like a little blast from the past and the fragrance had me reminiscing while staring off into the distance. 

What I found really surprising is that the hair and body wash didn't leave my hair feeling like straw. This is very common for me when using body washes that are allegedly also OK for washing your hair. With the Tour de Ted my hair was left feeling soft, smooth and shiny. 

This would make a great gift this Christmas - or you could break it down into several gifts for the men in your life. Available from Boots online here for £35 you can do a lot worse than this if struggling for gift ideas this Christmas.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

You can read my other Christmas Gift Ideas for Him by clicking on the links below:

Christmas Gift Ideas for Him #1 - Superdry Varsity Track T-Shirt

Christmas Gift Ideas for Him #2 - Starbucks Sprinkler & Mug Set

Christmas Gift Ideas for Him #3 - Aromatherapy Associates Refinery Shaving Essentials 

Christmas Gift Ideas for Him #4 - Intense He Wood by DSquared2

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Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub

I have been so impressed with the contents of my Limited Edition Birchbox for Men that there are a few products that have taken a pounding since it arrived just over ten days ago. The Richer Poorer socks were by far the best I’ve ever had on my feet, but the wow factor has been reserved for Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub.

A 150ml tube of the face scrub adorned my Birchbox, and once again, to my shame it was a brand I hadn’t had the chance to try……until now.

I have to say, that at £15 for a 150ml tube it sits well and truly above the prices I usually pay for a face scrub. Casting my mind back I think I was slightly stunned by the £8 cost of the Ted Baker Grooming Room equivalent. At nearly double the price this has to do something special to warrant any value for money brownie points.

This is what the Birchbox website has to say about the face scrub:

‘Get that flawless ‘I woke up like this’ complexion thanks to this gentle yet effective face scrub from Mazorin. Specifically designed with men’s needs in mind it lifts away impurities with a blend of bamboo and maracuia powder while white willow extract keeps grime at bay thanks to its antibacterial protection for a crystal clear complexion.’

The Mazorin site goes into a little bit more details as to what the ingredients will do:

‘For flawless skin, free of blemish and impurities:

The Bamboo & Maracuja powder exfoliates dead skin cell and unclogs pores;
The active ingredients help prevent blackheads and ingrown hair;
The gentle formulation leaves your skin hydrated and deeply cleansed;
Suitable for all skin types but fantastic for people with sensitive skin.’

The first time I used this I completely forgot to shake it and I ended up giving the tube a confused look as a watery liquid drained out over my palm. Yes, I can be that simple at times and yes, it took me a few minutes to figure out that I needed to shake the contents.

Second time lucky and after rinsing my face off in the shower I squeezed out a pea sized amount and started to massage it into my face. After shaking the texture was firm and the micro-beads from the bamboo are visible to the eye and really noticeable to the touch. Just rubbing between your fingertips will leave a strange sensation, you can feel it exfoliating and getting warmer. For me I found just how gentle the ingredients and texture were when applying to my face really pleasant.

A breeze to rinse off the results are almost instantaneous and even before drying I could tell that my pores had been opened and my face cleansed really well. My face wasn’t as tight and it had a healthy glow, something of a rare occurrence for me. After drying my face off and before moisturising my face received the prod test - the skin was soft and smooth.

As a bonus, since I started using this I’ve found that shaving is easier - less ingrown hairs and my stubble does seem softer. Result!

Finally, throw in the fact that this smells so fresh and clean, it reminds me of Nivea Cream and you have a winner on your hands! 

Despite the price I am delighted with the Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub. It is going to last for an absolute age as only a tiny amount is needed, even for a face as large as mine. After using this on my face and being impressed with how gentle it was I used it on my very recent tattoo to clear off the dead skin and ink. Once again, results were impressive. 

With no parabens you should take the time to look more closely at Mazorin Wash Trade Face Scrub. 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

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Ted's Grooming Room - Step 01 Face Scrub

I’m a big fan of Ted Baker and Paul Smith, I love their clothes - you can’t beat their suits, t-shirts and underwear in my opinion but grooming products wasn’t something I’d associated them with, particularly Ted Baker.

The lovely people at Ted Baker sent their ‘Ted’s Grooming Room’ press release and asked if I’d like to try some. Now that was the first time I had heard of the range or the Step 01: Face Scrub.

Naturally I jumped at the chance and have been using it as part of my daily skincare routine.

Ted’s Grooming Room is actually a man’s barbers and offers haircuts, smooth hot towel shaves and other treatments. They have walk in stores or the more exclusive, and appointment only Ottoman Lounge.

The products are an offshoot of this line of the business and they have added the Ted Baker mark to the marketplace.

Ted Baker is by no way and means a discount brand in my opinion and at £8 for a 150ml tube of the scrub seems expensive, but the acid test really has to fall down to a number of factors, including price when deciding whether to use the product again.

The face scrub comes with the following marketing blurb:

‘No one likes an ambush, and in-grown hairs can sabotage a perfect shave. Battle against dirt and dead skin every other day with Ted’s Face Scrub, with added jojoba beads, for skin that‘s ready for shaving.’

I’ve used the face scrub now for around tree weeks and as directed have used it every other day. While using the scrub I’ve temporarily stopped using the Swisa Dead Sea Facial Peel to really test the effects the product has in terms of removing dirt, cleansing my face and how smooth my shaving experience has been.

The face scrub is clear in colour and you can see the tiny micro-beads of jojoba suspended within it. As soon as it leaves the tube the aroma is so clean and clinical you almost feel instantly clean.

I couldn’t place the smell at first and then it struck me - the first ever Co-op type cheap hair gel I’d used as a teenager! Bang on and oh the flashbacks, some good (no responsibility), some bad (Global Hypercolour t-shirts have a lot to answer for). If asked, I would say the fragrance is not unpleasant.

Easy to apply, as soon as a 50 pence sized blob was massaged between my palms I could immediately feel the beads - it was bizarre, like rubbing a wet, smooth yet gritty texture!

Gently massaging it into my face it didn’t lather as such, the scrub soaked into my skin really quickly leaving the beads as an abrasive - the aroma changed as well, it got a little floral and was really very pleasant.

Rinsing my face off the first time (and about 3 days after a facial peel) I was appalled, even a little sick in my mouth. The water was so filthy I was ashamed. Dirt and dead skin were banished from my face, sent into exile - chuffed.com

I kept using for two weeks as my beard continued to grow before taking the plunge and shaving. Did it make a difference? Yes it did, the beard was much softer to the touch, as was my skin. I wouldn’t say my skin glowed or that I was radiant but boy as the razor crossed my face it was evident that shaving was much quicker.

Using Ted’s Face Scrub has made a visible difference - I’m not using as much of my L’Oreal Men Expert range as the need to just isn’t there.

I’ve probably used about a quarter of the tube in three weeks and that’s using it every other day. It may seem expensive, but I’m going to add it to my collection along with a few of the other Step 02, 03 etc range as I’m impressed by the positive effect it has had on my shaving experience.

If it was a little cheaper to replace I’d have said this represented great value for money and would have highly recommended it. As I class it as a luxury product and weighing up price and results I would have to say that it falls into the category of being:

RECOMMENDED 

What’s your favourite face scrub? Let me know in the comments section below.

Thank you for reading.

Post note/random flashback:

As an aside, in my youth I was obsessed with Ted Baker in Manchester and loved their bright pastel coloured shirts - they were expensive but boy did they last. Looking back I must have looked a right sight but I regret not a thing!

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