Upscale barbershops offer more than basic shave and a haircut

Men don't belong in a beauty salon -- they belong in a barbershop. Capelli's executes this simple concept in a beautiful, masculine setting.

Owner Simon Loban understands the male vibe, and has set up her Gentleman's Barbershop to make the male animal comfortable enough to lounge and the process quick enough that he can get groomed and back to business in less than an hour. Catering mainly to men in the downtown Seattle area, Capelli's has nailed its atmosphere like a Michael Jordan jumper from the old school: all dark wood, book-lined walls, plasma screens and comfortable leather chairs to relax in before entering the line-up. With only four well-appointed stations, the place has the feel of your best friend's den.

My experience at Capelli's was perfect: Loban asked what I wanted from the cut -- I told her I just didn't want to look like Dorothy Hamill, and my wife wanted me to seem, and I quote, "less like a homeless person" -- and got down to business. In 30 minutes I was a new man, with a smooth neck (thanks to a straight-edge razor, almost pain-free) and a short, brazen cut that maintained my curl. If I'd had the time and cash, I might have even taken Loban up on the "Camo Color," a $35 camouflage that allegedly will take out the gray in 10 minutes' time.

After my make-over, I decided to hang a bit in Capelli's lobby lounge, watching ESPN on the flat-screen TV while taking a gander at Maxim. If I'm not careful, I may spring for one of Capelli's Executive Memberships ($375 for 16 signature services per year). My wife would love it -- less homeless, more coiffed.

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