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In the year of Our Lord 1805, William Francis
Truefitt opened his first gentlemen's salon
at 2 Cross-Lane, Long Acre London. In 1811
he moved the business to 40 Old Bond Street
and established himself as "Court hair cutter"
and "Court head dresser" where, along with
his sole employee, his brother Peter, he
was soon to become Wigmaker, by Royal Appointment
to His Majesty, King George III.
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Throughout the early part of the 19th century,
when regular visits to the barber were essential
to facilitate the wearing of wigs by gentlemen,
Old Bond Street became increasingly more
fashionable and the Truefitt's hairdressing
salon flourished.
In 1911 Edwin Hill & Co. set up as hairdressers
at 23 Old Bond Street, and it was to this
address H.P. Truefitt (Francis Truefitt's
nephew) moved in 1935 to form, the still
existing, Truefitt & Hill. Other Truefitt
regional outlets were merged into the present
company in 1941. The present location of
Truefitt & Hill at 71 St. James's Street,
London, was taken up on Valentine's Day
1994.
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"The World's Oldest Barbershop"
Guinness World Records
April 2000
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A part of the history which in the early
days represented a formidable 'gamble' was
the Ladies Department. Opened in the late
1800's when it had always been supposed
that women needed no improving, and that
any such secret embellishments should take
place in the privacy of the home. This salon
operated on the first and second floors
of 23 Old Bond Street throughout both World
Wars up until the early 1960's.
Not only does it appear that Truefitt's
were the first ladies hairdressers, but
it seems that they were to continue to be
innovators by introducing, in 1880, a lady
manicurist from America who worked for the
company for sixty years; attending the hands
of England's best, and training hundreds
of manicurists in the salon, who have undoubtedly
gone on to form the basis of today's beauty
industry. The salon today still has its
attending manicurist.
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Truefitt & Hill occupies the position of
one of the leading men's hairdressers in
the World. Glancing at the appointments
book, it reads like pages from Debretts
and Who's Who. Clients include members of
the male line of the Royal Family, members
of visiting royal households, captains of
industry, members of both Houses of Parliament,
the city, the theater, ambassadors and the
diplomatic service, visiting dignitaries,
the professions, the arts, and all other
strata of British Society.
Walking into the salon at 71 St. James's
Street is like stepping onto the set of
an old film. The carefully polished barber
chairs stand with almost military precision
solemnly in a row facing gleaming mirrors
and shelves filled with "lotions and potions"
of every color under the sun.
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- Truefitt's premises circa 1920"
- Truefitt's advertisement circa 1820
- Seven day set of razors circa 1850
Ceramic pomade pot as found on "Titanic"
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The gentlemen's barbers snip quietly away
at the heads of their often very distinguished
clients, while the manicurist busies herself
upon the hands which direct the nation.
A haircut, a shave with hot towels, and
a manicure at Truefitt & Hill leaves a gentlemen
ready to face the world knowing that he
has been well and truly groomed for the
occasion, whatever it may be, by one of
England's Hairdressing Aristocracy.
Throughout the entire history of Truefitt
& Hill and their predecessors have been
involved in the production of hairdressings,
shampoos, perfumes, and colognes.
Truefitt & Hill's gentlemen's toiletries,
including the world's finest shaving cream,
after shaves, colognes, hair preparations,
shampoo, soaps and bath/shower gels, and
all are carefully blended with natural fragrances.
The range of products bearing the name Truefitt
& Hill are unique. They have produced their
own decidedly masculine fragrance range,
'Trafalgar', which owes its name to Lord
Admiral Nelson's victorious battle fought
at Cape Trafalgar in 1805, the year in which
Francis Truefitt first established his business.
They also stock accessories of the highest
quality: silver tip badger shaving brushes,
razors, shaving mugs, hair brushes and combs,
nail cutters, manicure and pedicure sets,
toiletry bags and natural sponges.
Truefitt's fame has even spread across the
Atlantic. Truefitt & Hill, Chicago USA,
is based in the most prestigious shopping
complex in the city. It continues Truefitt's
tradition by providing our american cousins
with the finest in men's grooming and Truefitt's
line of gentlemen's toiletries.
A recent revelation that has added to Truefitt
& Hill's storied history was the discovery
of H.P. Truefitt products among passenger's
belongings brought up from the infamous
wreck. These artifacts can be seen in the
new TIME LIFE / DISCOVERY Book, Titanic:
Legacy of the World's Greatest Ocean Liner.
The future holds many exciting projects
for Truefitt & Hill, including extensions
to the traditional Truefitt & Hill range
and the introduction of new fragrances.
In years to come, Truefitt & Hill will be
a household name - but only in the best
households.
Welcome to our world.
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