The evening’s proceeds will go to benefit the Wounded Warriors Project.

It’s going to be a lot of fun; food and beverages will be provided, along with grooming services and tours of the newest Kennedy’s Club located at 110 North Washington Street near the Rockville Town Square (free parking is located at the rear of the building). I plan to swing by myself. Read more about the company here.

Rockville Town Square

Attendees will be able to purchase signature haircut certificates for $25 each and signature haircut and shave certificates for $60 each, with the total proceeds going to support the Wounded Warriors Project.

Kennedy’s CEO, Chris Hurn, said, “We’re excited to launch our first barber club in the Washington, D.C. metro area, while we raise some money for this very worthy cause. Kennedy’s is a patriotic concept, and we’ve always supported veterans’ causes. We’ll continue to partner with similar worthy causes as we get the word out in new markets about our exciting concept.”

While you do see the occasional product or brand review – usually not prompted by any product samples – trust me, there are far more that never make onto OTC.

So when Casey from Ren Skincare contacted me and asked that I try out their Perfect Shaving Kit, I was a little unsure. OTC is not a grooming site per se, but grooming is an important part of life. I had not heard of Ren, so I said yes and resolved to try it out.

I do shave almost every day and have a love/hate relationship with my razor. The electric is fine for maintenance, but I need to use an old fashioned manual razor to do the job right, even if it’s just a trim to make the stubble look sexy (or at least try to…).

The Ren products are great; in fact the Multi-Tasking Aftershave Balm is probably the best aftershave crème I’ve ever used. My face feels soothed, refreshed and cool but not “treated”. All of the products in the kit have a nice sandalwood like smell that is both light and masculine.

The Perfect Shave Kit contains a full regimen of shaving products including a cleansing gel and a micro bead scrub to prep the skin, shaving oil to set up the beard and a cooling shave cream. Once done with the shave, apply that great aftershave balm. There is also some soothing “radiant” eye gel to reduce any morning puffiness around your eyes.

I did not follow the entire step-by-step process every day, that’s a little much for me. But, when I had the time and I did use each product in order, my face – I have to say – felt and looked fantastic. While not inexpensive, their products are comparably priced to other exclusive environment and animal friendly brands.

For a great shave, OTC is happy to endorse Ren Clean Bio Active Skincare.

How you appear in public matters quite a bit. Equally influential are a shave and a good haircut.

Truth be told, clothes are always the supporting cast and our face the real star of the show. Though this may sound a tad dramatic, the impact of good grooming is never more apparent than when you surrender to a professional. I recently had such an opportunity and it has changed my opinion on the value of paying attention to one’s grooming.

Shortly before President Obama’s inauguration, I was contacted by one of the owners of the Grooming Lounge, a high-end men’s salon here in Washington, D.C., which has a loyal and well-heeled clientele. He is a fan of Off The Cuff DC, and asked if I would like to stop by for a shave and haircut? Since I knew I would be heading off to an inaugural ball, and with a promise to give my readers an honest assessment of the experience, I accepted.

Let me tell you up front that it was a great experience. Yes, it is expensive, but I’ll happily go back on my own dime when my hair grows out and I need a trim – which is just about now. The seven hot towels were nice too. Opens up the pores, you know.

I think it is safe to say that I never fully appreciated how effectively the spa experience can be presented for men. I’ve been to spas before, but they are almost universally geared toward women, even the men’s locker rooms tend to feel like a bit of an afterthought. Not this time. It is here, in the very DNA of the Grooming Lounge’s design that you get a sense of how this place is for and about men.

When I walked through the L Street doors, I was immediately struck by the feeling of being in a men’s club. Instead of earth tones there was dark wood and leather. In the place of light “spa” music, CNN quietly chattered away on the flat screen.

The main service room

The overall design is sleek but manly. For example, the rack of antlers on the wall was nicely offset by the midcentury modern take of the décor. Clean lines everywhere, but rendered in natural, comforting materials punctuated by chrome and slate.

The founders have done an excellent job branding the company – something often forgotten. From mints to business cards, product packaging to the aprons draped across your shoulders, the “GL” and crown logo is everywhere but not annoyingly so. Instead, I was left with the subconscious impression of a well designed and effectively organized company.

Since the company has opened additional locations at the Tyson’s Galleria in Virginia, and Terminus in Atlanta, Georgia, this is a good thing. After bad service, nothing can damage a growing company more than shoddy brand management.

Speaking of service, mine was excellent. My grooming expert, Amy, was just that – an expert. It was not until halfway through my appointment that I realized she had not been told who I was, so all my random business and process questions must have seemed a little strange. It was a nice discovery, because Amy was genuinely warm and professional, explaining everything that was going on and striking a good balance between casual and formal.

For your bespoke shave

First came the shave, with alternating hot towels and a regimen of oils and crèmes that prepped my face for the blade work. I was hoping for a classic strait edge, but instead a Gillette Mach III was produced. No complaints though, it was a superb shave.

I was told that the owners had researched strait edge shaves for several years as part of the business development process. But they were ultimately disappointed with the quality, settling instead on the Mach III.

The haircut was, truly one of the best I’ve had. Amy managed to give me new up-to-date look without making me look like I was trying to do that. It’s a great haircut that I plan on keeping. I also liked the shoulder and neck massage afterward.

Not me, but you get the idea

Once I was cleaned up and de-stressed, the store’s manager, Carmen, gave me a tour of the entire facility. It’s not large, but the Grooming Lounge efficiently fits in the four-chair main room, comfortable waiting area, compact treatment room for massages, manicure and pedicures area and a very nice rest room/changing room.

Up front, they also sell the various products used during service, from pre-shave oil to a really fantastic aftershave crème, along with gift sets and the like. I was given a soft pitch, but nothing at all aggressive. Get what you need or nothing at all, but I can vouch for the no foam shave crème. That stuff is great.

Grooming Lounge’s shave products

Previously unchallenged for men’s high-end grooming loyalty, a new entrant to the DC market will be moving in down the street. The Art of Shaving, a direct competitor which I previously profiled, is building its second, larger location within striking distance of the Grooming Lounge. With a similar menu of services and an equally upscale presentation, I’ll be curious to see how things shake out.

In the end though, it all comes down to the services provided and whether or not my expectations were met. The answer is yes on all accounts. Some of this may have sounded a touch gratuitous. Fawning even, but I have been very objective. This was a great experience, start to finish. If only everything were so.

You can get more information about the Grooming lounge, its locations, services and products at www.groominglounge.com.

Warm woods and glass, alabaster lighting with a vague Parisian/Milano feel to it, the store cum barber shop was an immediate draw.

Its elegant feel belies a company obsessed with the timeless and masculine art of the shave. The approach? (1) Prepare, (2) Later Up, (3) Shave, and then (4) Moisturize. Their extensive line of product offerings follow this mantra with pre-shave oils, skin sensitive shaving cremes and a variety of after shave balms.

Founded by a husband and wife team, she with a spa and skin care background, the company is not just a fancy showplace; it’s an actual skin care business. That it is a modern “guy’s spa” that still retains a definite air of manliness is testament to the owners style and business savvy.

The Art of Shaving also stocks a wonderful variety of razors and associated paraphernalia. From the ultra-modern five blade Gillette Fusion to classic old school strait edge razors from Thiers-Issard, every need and skill level is covered. You will not, however, find an eight pack of disposable single blades. This is temple built to the “art” of shaving and is appropriately stocked with products equal in design and price.

When I first saw that it was going into Union Station I hoped it would do well, it’s a great site for travelers looking to grab that unique grooming product on the dash to the train’s platform. It just feels right. I finally took the time to stop by the shop and chatted with Marcus, the store manager. Even with a shaky economy, he indicated the store was doing just fine.

His philosophy is that even when times get tough, there are some things people still need – and grooming products is one of them. I tend to agree. While I may not feel the need to get a Starbucks coffee every day, I do shave. Maybe I’ll make Art of Shaving grooming products my small day-to-day luxury; form and function working together.

For a real treat, stop by the in-house barber spa for a shave or haircut. I have yet to get in there myself, but you can bet I’ll let you know how it goes when I do. From what I’ve heard, it’s worth every cent. Another larger Art of Shaving will be opening in 2009 near the Mayflower Hotel. It also will be in relatively direct competition with The Grooming Lounge.

Whatever the result, there are going to be a lot more well shaved guys in D.C.

While many of us still scoff at the idea of men’s grooming products, the truth is it’s a booming industry and there is a niche to fill. Bearing in mind that everyone is different and that each of us has our own likes and dislikes, I’ll give you my thoughts.

Schick Quattro Titanium Trimmer

First off, let me be clear: I’m not really a gadget guy. Show me a vintage Rolex or Italian hand-made note cards and I’m good to go. But electronics? To me they are tools without much of a personal soul. To me the iPhone is just a phone. After all the kinks have been worked out and the price has fallen to manageable levels, maybe I’ll get one.

The new Schick Quattro is a gadget too, but one I like. Until now the humble disposable razor was just a simple tool for trimming sideburns. That all changed when the new Quattro showed up at my door. This ingenious little gadget has captured my attention and more importantly from Schick’s perspective, my loyalty. The four bladed pivoting head feels flawless on my chin and the little edger blade keeps that awkward spot under the nose neat.

Most significantly, the razer’s handle contains a shower safe electric trimmer to clean up beards, mustaches, sideburns – what have you. What really impressed me was that it worked – so often these curiosities are showy gimmicks. Not here; it worked well and I’m happily surprised.

Axe Skin Contact

The guys at Axe have done it again. The irreverent company has released a new version of it’s bath and shower products and frankly, I like them.

To come up with the new, more crisp feel, they have blended exotic ingredients like black licorice, ginger, green melon and frozen tomato leaves and tangerine juice. There is a little more fancy branding and the product message is a little less MTV this time around.

With a fresher, cleaner scent I am a fan of this new generation of scrub and gels. Lather up!

Working hard to poke some fun and promote their line of men’s grooming products, they have taken aim at the recent (apparent) warming between Senators Clinton and Obama.

It seems they are so confident that Axe products hold the ultimate power of persuasion that should Barack throw some on in the morning, the result would be the picture you see here. Axe ran the tongue-in-cheek ad in the New York metro area today with the caption, “The Power of Axe.”

I reviewed their “Vice” line a few months ago and was pretty impressed, so give it a try if you’re looking for something new in the grooming products department.

They also have a version with Hillary wearing a McCain button. Being in Washington, where it’s all politics all the time, of course I thought this was ad was funny.

Now, let me do my civic duty and remind all the voters out there to please go out and vote. I don’t care who you support, but casting a vote makes a difference. Regardless, the polls are open in the single biggest primary day in history, so we’ll see who’s laughing at the end of the day.

With a target demographic that clearly centers around single guys in their 20s and early 30s, Axe’s aggressive and highly creative advertising campaign includes this hilarious mock-u-mentary which focuses on women in prison for assaulting men because the guys’ Axe Vice deodorant and shower gel just smelled too seductive.

All in all, I liked the whole line which includes a shower gel, body spray, and two deodorants – solid and gel. The musky but light scent is clearly noticeable and some guys might find it a little overpowering. It’s definitely a man’s product and no one is going to think that you used your girlfriend’s stuff by accident.

If I had any favorites, I would have to say the solid deodorant and the shower gel were tops. The gel deodorant just didn’t feel as comfortable as the solid and the shower gel lathered right up and left me feeling very clean but not bathed in scent. The body spray was fine, just a little odd from my perspective; though I fully accept that I’m probably not the target club-hopping consumer on that one.

I love the whole advertising angle on this stuff. From the “I could only wish that happened to me,” commercials (boom chicka wah wah one is the best) to the not too-subtle instruction panel on the back of the shower gel container: (1) get in the shower (2) lather up with two girlfriends. OK, not too likely, but lots of fun.

But that’s the kicker here. There are only so many ways to sell deodorant and Axe has found a totally novel and creatively multi layered approach. Regardless, the products are what really matter and they’re good products. Give them a try – who know what might happen.

I was nearby though, in another bastion of power and style; the Senate barber, or more accurately, Senate Haircare. Even for locals it’s an open secret that anyone from anywhere can get a haircut in this time capsule of a shop located in subterranean halls of the Russell Senate Office Building. On any given day you will be seated next to people you are more accustomed to seeing on the evening news or a Sunday talk show.

Of course, you won’t bump into Senator Edwards, apparently it’s not swanky enough. No worries though, it’s his loss because they do an excellent job at a much more reasonable price – currently a mere $18. Still, it’s always an interesting experience. Once, to my surprise, I looked over and saw Supreme Court Justice Steven Breyer next to me. Sharp guy, very nice.

If you do want to swing by for a cut, its best to call ahead for an appointment. And bear in mind that if a senator or congressman calls in for a last minute trim, you’ll just have to wait. There’s even a sign on the wall telling you so, albeit in very formal and reasonable language.

Today, in fact, I was bumped by a politely grateful representative from a certain southern state. But that’s alright because it’s always worth the wait. The staff is not only talented and interesting, it’s great to hear them discuss legislation and senate traditions like the old pros they are. It’s also old school; you get a strait razor and warm lather to clean up the edges and trim your sideburns.