Saving Face

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Ironically, as I became known as a beauty expert with sometimes rather long routines for my clients, my own consisted of trimming my beard while checking email. If that didn’t work out,  I tossed some hair dye over the beard
and hoped for selfie filters. My excuse usually involved too much time hunting for matching socks. Something had to give.

The Place: Enter grooming manager Brendan Klekner at The QG’s downtown location, who scheduled me for a beard cleanse and trim, with the add-on of a targeted facial. The QG prides itself on knowing what you need, with options ranging from a shoe shine to a sampling of local brewed whiskey. I needed both, but as it was not yet 9 a.m., I stuck to some cinnamon tea and the shine, easing into a comfortable “Happy Days” vibe.

The Process: Not one for sharp items near my throat this early, I began to
wonder if it was too late for the whiskey sampling as Brendan got ready to trim. But he made the old school shave and trim feel more like a massage, sneaking in some knowledge about face shapes and where to fade your beard that related to my cosmetic way of thinking.

Next was an all-in-one cleansing scrub mask from Brickell that took care of razor bumps, redness and ingrown hairs. This was followed by “The Cleanse,” a natural oil-based product designed to cut any oil and grime that had built up, and which was locally sourced from an old school Baltimore barber ahead of the beard trend. Brendan finished with a beard and face oil from Brooklyn (where else?) with natural anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. It also smelled phenomenal.

The Verdict: I left with swagger and got compliments all day. A week later, my skin was still less red and my beard held  a better shape even with my amateur trimming. I am eager to go back. 

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