Lou Canellis checked out a new hair salon/clothing boutique that's solely dedicated to guys.
"Guise also means the way you spell out your outward appearance so we really just try to provide services that are everything to do with your appearance. I think guys know they can come to one place and really get everything they need to get done," said Brad Habansky Owner, Guise.
The front room of the men's salon on Halsted in Lincoln Park doesn't look like your granddad's barbershop, but a certain old-fashioned atmosphere remains underneath the mod trappings.
"I think guys are just tired of sitting in salons that were really made for women. Guys were looking for a place where they could get a salon-quality haircut but not in that type of environment, a place where it's a little more comfortable, where we have TVs and it's a relaxed environment," said Brad Habansky.
While the ultra-hip crowd may quickly gravitate toward this fashion-forward spot, Guise also wants to reach out to another kind of customer.
"The guys that normally don't shop in these types of places, that don't go to salons to get their haircut, that don't go to boutiques to get their clothes. We felt that if they were exposed to it in a comfortable way, and kind of slowly, a progression, slowly exposed to it, they would take to it," said Brad Habansky Owner, Guise.
Most guys would never get a manicure, especially at a nail salon, but at Guise, since it's only guys, it's okay.
"I think it's just a stigma attached that it's a feminine thing and not a very macho thing but we've heard about the metrosexual today and men are paying more attention to themselves and there are products catering to men, so it's good to take care of yourself. I'm metrosexual, I guess," said Lou and Danka Marinkovic, Creative Director, Guise.
Metrosexual goes "old school" at Guise with straight razor shaves starting at $30.
Now, while a haircut and shave isn't all that unusual, you can take your pampering to another level at Guise with the Tea Tree experience.
"Well, it's basically a mini facial with a massage as well as a deep conditioning treatment and a reflexology scalp massage." "That sounds good. Now beauty isn't only skin-deep here either. You can actually take care of your fashion needs as well. But right now, give me the tea tree experience."
The back room features designer clothes -- ranging from jeans to suits, the fashions are trendy, but not outrageously so. The price tags also tend to fit that sort of description: expensive but not completely out-of-sight. Of course, for a lot of men, the real value is the time saved by having everything combined in one shop.
"I think the process itself of shopping was really made for people who enjoy walking down Michigan Avenue, going to department stores, dealing with crowds and nothing was really for the guys who just want to get in and out and get things done. Everything from appearance, from the haircuts or shaves or manicures to denim all the way up through suits along with our accessories, you pretty much go to one place and provide all the services for them," said Brad Habansky.
Guise also recently created a wedding package. The groom and groomsmen come in the day of the wedding for a "grooming" party -- a clean up, shave and manicure to look good for the big ceremony.
For more information:
Guise
2217 North Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 929-6101
www.guisestyle.com
