Barber supply shops in Toronto will help you get that barbershop-smooth shave at home. Of course, plenty of gents are happy with their Shoppers-special shave gel and whatever razor Gillette has managed to shoehorn another blade onto, and that's fine. But for others, a time comes when they're ready to graduate to shave brushes and fine soaps, imported blades, and non-Grandpa-scented aftershave.

Here are my picks for the top barber supply shops in Toronto.

See also:

The best barber shops in Toronto
20 essential beauty shops and salons in Toronto
The top 10 places for manscaping in Toronto
The top 10 spa and salon treatments for men in Toronto

GROOMING STORES AND BARBERSHOPS

Toronto Barber & Beauty Supply
In business since 1937, this Dundas and Bay store started out as a business that sold razors door-to-door. Now, though they've expanded to include women's beauty products, they still focus primarily on barbering and men's grooming supplies for both pros and the public. Aficionados go there for reasonable deals on J.M. Fraser shaving cream, Merkur razors, and pro-quality brushes.

MenEssentials
When it comes to men's grooming, there isn't much that this store on the Danforth doesn't sell. In-store, you'll find friendly staff that will hook you up with everything from entry-level shave gear to high-quality straight razors. (In the extremely unlikely event that they don't have what you're looking for in-store, head online for the full range.)

Sleuth & Statesman
Located under First Canadian Place, this shop specializes in everything a Refined Gentleman Of Leisure needs - specifically, cigars, fancy pens, and men's grooming products. If it's the latter you're after, they carry the full range of products from Geo F. Trumper, a heritage British line of shaving soaps, skin products, razors, brushes, and more. You'll also find Dovo and Merkur shaving equipment and high-end manicure tools.

Cure Apothecary
This brand-new go-to spot for all-natural beauty products doesn't leave the fellas out - in fact, many local blokes have already fallen for their selection of moustache waxes, pomades, shaving soaps, and beard balms from brands like Brooklyn Grooming, along with numerous skincare items. Along with woodsy, lumberjack-friendly fragrances, priority is also given to neutral, fragrance-free items.

BARBERSHOPS

Saul's Beauty Shop
This all-genders-welcome beauty spot is known for including complimentary beard care and conditioning in all of their facial treatments; you can also get those specialty products to go, including treatments from Beardbrand, Bluebeard's Originals, and Brooklyn Grooming, and shaving soaps by Hudson Made. (New in store: A coffee-infused beard balm.)

Crow's Nest
This Kensington barbershop is a cut above (ha) its peers when it comes to their in-shop selection of grooming products. In addition to an absolutely ridiculous selection of pomades (Layrite, Cool Grease, North Standard and Grant's), they've got a full line of the Drake General Store's grooming products and vegan shaving brushes from local line Crown Shaving Co. (more on them later).

ONLINE

Fendrihan
Yep, it's online - and yep, they ship from Oakville, but Fendrihan is still a favourite grooming source for in-the-know Toronto gentlemen. They began as a shaving supply store (and still focus on importing hard-to-find lines from overseas), but have since expanded to carry all manner of grooming products and gifts from dozens of brands. As a bonus, they throw in free samples with each order.

Classic Edge
Another online destination, Classic Edge shines (ha) when it comes to razors; straight or safety, $50 "beginner" models to $1700 vintage ivory-handled Sheffield blades. Everything comes professionally sharpened, and they'll set up a follow-up honing for you free of charge. (It should be noted, however, that they've got comparatively less going on in the soaps and grooming products department.)

Italian Barber
Founders Joseph and Michael have assembled a rich selection of shaving products, including hard-to-find items imported from around the world. Unsurprisingly, they stand out for their selection of Italian products, including RazoRock aftershave and handmade, limited-run shave brushes commissioned specifically for the site from an Italian artisan.

Shaving Style
Shaving Style has a strong focus on classic shave brands, though they gear their site toward modern men (follow them on Facebook for frequent online deals.) Some of their top sellers also give the time-honoured shaving ritual a modern twist, including eShave, which features a variety of unusual scents.

BONUS

Crown Shaving Co.
This Toronto-based company's shaving products are carried at a number of international retailers (and several of the spots on this list) - but you can go straight to the source by ordering from their website. In addition to skin care products, their shave creams, after-shave products and beard balms feature all-natural ingredients like white tea and ginger extracts, spearmint oil. (Obviously, you're going to smell terrific.)

Did I miss any? Leave your favourite spots for shave gear in the comments.

Photo of Saul's Beauty Shop by James C. Lee.