Long gone are the days of sidewalk barbers and run-down barbershops that mushroomed all around the city. Today, it’s all about style, panache and looking like a million rupees (in much less, of course) in places that truly deserve to be called salons. That’s exactly what beauty guru and veteran stylist Nabila offers with her salon for men, N-Gents - a swanky barbershop that is the perfect retreat for the urban metrosexual.

Brainchild of Nabila’s son Zair Maqsood, N-Gents is a one-stop shop for any gentleman looking for respite and rejuvenation from the drudgery of a 9 to 5 routine. Read on to discover why…

As soon as you walk in through the gates of the salon­ -which is located in the posh vicinity of Clifton’s E-street -you know you’re in good hands. The brickwork walls and the snazzy décor are classy and understated. The easy-listening music isn’t half bad either, and goes well with the salon’s ‘gentlemen’s club-esque’ theme.

While one waits for their turn sitting on the beautifully upholstered chairs in the reception area, there are stylebooks at hand, which can help even the pickiest man decide on what look they should choose.

Once you’re inside

What is the single most important spot in a salon? That’s right, it’s the workstation because that’s where all the magic (read: transformation) happens. And what an immaculately clean and crisp workstation N-Gents possesses. Complete with dark-coloured walls, ample lighting and well-swept floors, the work areas proves that style runs in the family and Zair runs a tight ship. What got our attention the most were the portraits of debonair men all around us, most prominent amongst them a vintage photo of the always-dapper Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

While the leather-upholstered styling areas are plush and elegant, they can tend to get a bit cramped when the place is full. The addition of a few more workstations would be a good idea and perhaps even attract a larger clientele.

Who you are likely to bump into

Most fashion forward men in Karachi are known to frequent the salon. We ran into the ever-trendy Nomi Ansari getting a last-minute haircut before jetting off for a vacation and from what we hear, a lot of actors and top models swear by Nabila’s professional staff.

What we loved

Two things that can elevate a salon experience from good to great are the friendliness of the staff and the level of comfort provided to the client. At N-Gents, it seems the staff is trained to not only make you feel right at home, but also provide sound advice over hairstyling, grooming and its upkeep -which men often forget about as soon as they step out the doors of the salon.

Whether its a soothing cup of black tea, an organic cup of green tea or an energizing mug of coffee that you so please, there is a variety on offer to sip on as you geta soothing massage or a haircut.

What’s on offer

Let’s get down to the real business, the services. Given the expertise the ‘Nabila’ brand is known for, one can be sure that they’re in good hands at N-Gents. And since hairstyling is one thing that men can be extremely picky about, and most of us find it petrifying to trust anyone new with our manes, it’s a relief to interact with the experienced and helpful staff at N-Gents. There’s an entire array of styling choices available and even the most exacting client is bound to find a stylist and a cut to suit his preference.

And once that’s done, one can absolutely not forget beard grooming, which is all the rage internationally these days and the stylists at N-Gents do it impeccably. After all, the image of a modern man today is incomplete without a nicely styled beard or stubble.(Don’t lie and say you don’t secretly wish to look like Chris Hemsworth or Jake Gyllenhaal!)

The price tag

Located in an upscale area, providing excellent services and an overall relaxing time, one would expect that the place would cost an arm and a leg. However, keeping in mind that it’s a high-end salon, a price tag for hair-styling starting at PKR 1,200 is not a bad deal at all. Plus, the different packages available offer some good discounts. For example, who wouldn’t like a head and shoulder massage, a haircut and grooming for a price of PKR 2,050?

The final verdict

A lot of men would find N-Gents overpriced when they can avail similar services at neighbourhood salons for half the price.But what they’ll miss out on is the swanky environment, expert opinions and an overall experience of luxury that the men of Karachi truly deserve once in a while.

Instep rating:
Atmosphere: 4/5 stars
Cleanliness: 5/5 stars
Friendliness: 4/5 stars
Service: 5/5 stars
Value for Money: 3/5 stars