There’s an unwritten rule among men that one should never cheat on his barber. Those who abide by this code, however, might find their loyalty tested with the arrival of Singapore’s acclaimed hair studio Rogue & Beyond in Kemang.
Designed by architecture firm FFFAAARRR, stern lines and sharp corners are the running theme inside the space, complemented by wooden accents and monochromatic hues of black and white with touches of silver. At the centre lies a triangular mirror underneath a single-panel white light, surrounded on all three sides by classic barber chairs where the action takes place.
This minimalist and ‘clean-cut’ interior reflects the hair studio’s bespoke and almost architectural approach led by co-founder and creative director Joel Phua. Rogue & Beyond’s barbers—including both the local talents at the Kemang outlet and those in Singapore—meticulously refer to each client’s head shape, hair texture and structure as the blueprint of their custom cuts.
Once that’s determined and the client’s hair is washed, the haircut goes through a very specific order of steps, going section by section through pattern-making and tapering to connecting the corners and texturising the hair, followed by another wash and a soothing warm towel (or cold, if you so choose), and concluded with a styling session using their in-house hair balm product ‘Hairsauce’ as a final touch.
Every haircut is designed to take roughly 30 minutes—a response to the high-paced Singapore lifestyle. Even so, the process feels far from rushed, and it’s this precise, straightforward system that is also applied at the Jakarta outlet (with a little more time leniency and added banter, because well, Jakartans love a good chat). And whether it’s a full haircut or a shave, it quickly becomes clear that barbers here are driven by their pursuit of perfection, a standard established by Joel.
“Our goal is to create an environment where barbers can not only refine their skills but also learn and grow by being exposed to different techniques and approaches. It’s about fostering a space for creative growth and elevating the industry standard in the region,” shared Joel, who also teaches aspiring barbers at Rogue & Beyond’s academy back home in Singapore.
They may not be able to make just about anyone look like Henry Golding—who is, in fact, a client of Joel’s—but there’s definitely comfort in knowing how seriously these barbers treat your hair.