Got a beard?

Confused about what to do with it now that you've grown it?

Here are a few easy steps and ideas on how to tame the unruly face fur and keep it healthy and happy.

Step 1: Washing your beard

Like the hair on your head and the scalp, your beard and skin need to be cleaned and moisturised regularly. Generally, it's recommended to not wash beards more than 3 times a week using either a "beard shampoo" or a very mild hair shampoo. Be sure to fully rinse the product out of the beard as the residue may clog up the skin and either dry it out and cause beard "dandruff" or a breakout. (Neither of which are very attractive.) Now that you have a nice clean beard, just pat it dry with a towel and run a wide-toothed comb through it to remove any tangles or knots. Take your time and try not to tug them out too aggressively. Minimize the hairdryer use as well, but if you must, turn the heat down and use it sparingly.

Step 2: Salves, balms and oils

Now that your beard is all sparkly clean, it's time to put something on your beard to help keep your beard and the skin healthy. Beard oil is the easiest way to help maintain your whiskers, and skin. Generally, you just add an appropriate amount to your hands and rub it in all the way down to the skin. Make sure you get a nice even coverage. Once applied again comb it through and then finish with a boars hair beard brush for a nice even shiny look.  Alternatively or in addition to the oil you can use a "beard balm or salve". Beard balms are great as they have the added benefit of being a styling product as well. Apply your beard balm to the palm of your hand and rub them together to melt the wax, then as with the oil apply it directly to the beard and all the way down to the skin below. Comb it out and finish with a beard brush and style it as you desire. Look for beard products that are made from natural products and have Vitamin E added. Vitamin E is essential for healthy skin and hair.

Step 3: Visit your barber

Your barber is the best person to see in regards to helping you on your bearded journey. He/she will be able to trim, shape and style it to maximize your beards’ potential. Your barber is there to help, and they will only be too happy to pass on advice so don't be shy to ask questions about your beard care.

Like all things in life, everyone will modify these very general outlines to their own effect.  Some of you will not need to wash their beard as often or you may need to wash it more. These are not hard and fast rules so take it as a starting point to help YOU decide what works best.

The history of our iconic "Scully"

Commissioned at a young age in Her Majesty's Royal Navy at the height of British Imperial reign, "Scully" served with distinction as an apprentice surgeon. He traveled the world, immersed himself in local cultures, befriended officers and enlisted men, gentlemen and rogues.

He had a surgeons steady hand and an eye for detail but he could not stand the sight of blood and was discharged. By fate or circumstance, Scully was posted to Bytown (Ottawa) and forced to work as a digger during the construction of the Rideau Canal.

During this time he was surrounded by disheveled men with unruly hair and beards. Children were accustomed to their mothers placing porridge bowls on their heads and trimming around them. There had to be a better way. Determined to make a difference and improve the lives of his fellows, Scully set up a humble chair and diligently worked days and evenings. He did not rest until every last man looked his best. Having secured his reputation as an excellent Barber, confidante, and upstanding member of the community Scully retired at an old age. Today his legacy lives on with our new generation of Barbers at Imperial.


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What is the difference between The Traditional Shave and The Imperial Shave?

Imperial Barber Shop is recognized as one of the best quality shaving destinations with our quality and care is second to none. Weddings, graduations, a father and son outing, are more memorable when sharing the experience of a professional shave.

In keeping things simple, we specialize in two types of shaves:

The Traditional Shave is a very popular shave that takes under an hour to complete.
We allow the time to prepare the face with professional shaving products and steaming hot towels.
Advanced shaving skills performed by the Barber promotes amazing results with closeness while preserving the skin.

The Imperial Shave is the ultimate luxury of shaves. Often considered as a spa treatment experience, this shave usually takes a little longer so that extra preparation enables our Barbers to perform the closest and relaxing shave experience possible. Multiple steamed hot towels, colognes and high-end professional shaving products combined with plenty of care is the essential focus for making this service exceptional.

The best part is the 5 o'clock shadow won't be back for a very long time since our shaves finish so close.

The History of the Barber Pole

If you’re interested in reading about the origins of that whimsical red and white pole fastened to the outside your favourite barber shop, be warned: It’s bloody. REALLY bloody.

During medieval times, bloodletting — the practice of drawing blood from a patient to cure an illness — was prescribed widely by surgeons, and barbers were often responsible for carrying out the procedure.

While the barber pole looks pretty simple, it’s actually a combination of four separate medical implements used to treat someone suspected of having weakened, or bad blood.

The basin at the top represents the brass vessel barbers would use to keep leeches; dark, ugly, segmented worms with a talent for sucking human blood.

The red and white pole is equally as unpleasant. Although it was only gripped by patients to increase blood flow, its red and white colours represent bandages — red for (you guessed it) blood, and white for clean bandages.

If you can get past having leeches clamp onto your skin, bloodletting was actually pretty clean. But leeches weren’t used all the time … and that meant the blood had to drain somewhere. Enter the brass basin at the bottom of the barber pole; used specifically to keep barbershops from looking like the set of Johnny Depp’s 2007 horror flick, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Thankfully, medicine has changed, and so has your barber’s range of talents. Now the only thing you lose at the barber shop is your hair.

Shave à la Carte

Imperial Barber Shop is proud to introduce Shave à la Carte:

The Daily Shave
Perfect for the busy gentleman, no fuss no muss a close wet shave in just about 15 minutes, use daily, setup your standing appointment today.

The Head Shave
Bald is beautiful and a clean shaved head is a great feeling especially when accompanied with a hot towel.

The Design Shave
For the trendy man who wants to project a precise image, you can even bring in a picture and our barbers will be happy to give you the look you deserve.

The Traditional Shave
The tradition lives on, a wet shave using quality products and plenty of hot towels.

The Imperial Head Shave
The ultimate head shave everything you would expect and much much more using quality products and lots of hot towels.

The Imperial Shave
The ultimate shaving experience, the closest wet shave with quality products, hot towels, a selection of after shave lotion and more.