Grooming and Gender-Inclusive Brands Are Reshaping the African Economy
Lifestyle
African Men are Moving Beyond the Barbershop
By Gagandeep Kaur
•
August 16, 2026
•
5 min read
•
16
Walk into a neighbourhood barbershop in Lagos, Nairobi, or Johannesburg in Africa a decade back, and men’s skincare was simple. It included a quick trip to the local barbershop for a haircut or a traditional shave. Skincare was often an afterthought, limited to basic soap and whatever lotion was sitting on the bathroom shelf.
