Don't worry guys, your faces are in good hands at Barber & Co.

Third generation barber Ian Daburn of Vancouver’s Barber & Co is quick to convince you how remarkably intact the culture of barbering is today and how it’s likely to stay sharp in the future. Daburn alongside founding partners Martin Rivard and pub mavens, Donnelly Group, have recently launched a men’s grooming line aimed at natural hair, shave and face care for the modern man.

Three years in the making, most of the products are handmade at Barber & Co’s Yaletown laboratory in downtown Vancouver using natural and ethically-sourced ingredients whenever possible.

“It all started when I felt there was a need for a good shaving oil in the market. I began doing extensive research, experimenting with various ingredients and tinkering, quite literally, in my kitchen. After a few months I developed an oil that got rave reviews from testers at the barbershops. The product line grew from there,” says Daburn.

Image: Barber & Co.

Daburn blends each formulation using a few select ingredients, most of which are food-grade quality and vegan, and follows up with real-world product testing by barbers and their clients. Key natural ingredients include Vitamin E, Shea butter, beeswax and essential oils like Himalayan cedarwood and Bergamot oil, all chosen for their ability to groom, moisturize and nourish the skin and hair.

The line has come out at a time when men’s facial hair is clearly experiencing a boom in popularity, particularly among millennials. “That’s part of the reason I developed the beard oil,” says Daburn. “All these guys were complaining about their stiff and scratchy beards. They were looking for something to soften the hair.”

Image: Barber & Co.

The current line includes pomade, matte paste and matte putty to shape and style the hair as well as moustache wax, beard balm, beard oil and shave oil to groom the face; all ranging in price from $18 to $28. Most importantly, they want to make it as easy as possible for every man to have quality products in his kit, so they’ve made everything available for purchase on their slick new site: www.unionofbarbers.com. You can also pick some up when you’re in at one of the five Barber & Co locations around Vancouver.

Just in time for Christmas, Vancity Buzz readers get an exclusive offer to take 20% off grooming products online by using code VANCITYBUZZ.