Hot-Towel Beard Shaves in Portage Park, Chicago

This is the full hour: a haircut, then the beard, and the part of the appointment that reviewers keep describing as relaxing rather than efficient. Warm lather goes on, a hot towel comes over the top of it, and the beard is shaved or shaped from there — finished with something cool to close everything back down.

José works with all types of beard, from a shaped full beard to a clean shave down to the skin, and the line is set to your face rather than to a template. It's the natural pairing with a cut for anyone who wants to walk out finished rather than half-done, and at $60 for the hour it's the best-value item on the menu at the Portage Park shop.