Successful high-end barber lounge offers self care and confidence to customers

Santiago and Eshaah Villamil pose with shop mascot Snow in the ManCave Barber Lounge on Oxford Street, where grooming meets luxury. (Robin Krafft Photo)

Robin Krafft, Post Contributor

The ManCave Barber Lounge at 18 Oxford Street will be celebrating their second anniversary in October, and the successful business continues to grow and evolve.

Owners Santiago and Eshaah Villamil have established an excellent reputation and a regular clientele.

"Quality cuts is our motto," Santiago said, "and customer satisfaction is very important to us."

Santiago apprenticed with his father, Rosso, who has over 40 years of experience in the business, starting with shops in Columbia and Pennsylvania before opening locations in Ontario. Their current signage indicates that important family connection.

The high-end barber shop offers comprehensive services for men, including classic cuts, fades and shaves. Aesthetic services, such as hydrating facials, full face or eyebrow waxing and peel off masks are unisex. They also offer student and children's cuts.

"We try to make it as comfortable as possible for kids," Santiago said, "we put on a Disney movie and they get a lollipop after."

The shop mascot, greeter and 'security', an adorable bichon frise named Snow, also keeps kids calm and entertained during a haircut, which can be stressful.

"During back-to-school week, Snow works the hardest," Eshaah added, smiling.

The relaxed lounge atmosphere includes a pool table, vintage-style barber chairs and large mirrors mounted on a barn board wall, but the modern music, big screen TV and lighting create an edgy urban vibe. They serve soft drinks, water and coffee, and are now in the process of acquiring their liquor license.

"We offer city services" Santiago said, "but it's a lot more than barbering. We came here with a mission to serve the community. We are now a full house of barbers, meaning we have all chairs full, barbers who are taking new clientele, and on top of that, new additions to our line of services, like a head massage with the hot towel.”

Santiago noted that there are a lot of busy, hard-working men in town, and sometimes self care moves down on the priority list until a special occasion comes along. A hot towel and steam treatment, essential oils, light head massage, close straight razor shave, and a haircut and beard package will make you feel like a new man for a wedding or family photos.

"They should want to do that all the time," Santiago said, "a man that feels better about himself just does better. He's better at work and with his family. When you're a better version of yourself it changes your posture and your attitude and you have a better day."

Many ManCave customers book recurring appointments to keep up their look and their newfound confidence.

"We've had a lot of community support in Tillsonburg," Eshaah said, adding that they welcome and encourage questions on some of the terminology that new customers may not be familiar with.

"We make the jargon clear," Santiago added, "because an educated customer knows what they want."

Luxurious grooming at ManCave by Rosso will take you "from caveman to gentleman."