Thread: Straight Razor nostalgia from a newbie (LONG)

Hello Everyone,
I have been shaving with a SR for about 6 weeks now. For the last 15 years, I just got out of the shower, grabbed a multi-blade cartridge shaver (mach-3 lately) and dry shaved. Took just seconds and was good enough for me.
Then I remembered my first "shave" and had to try a SR again. I was 4 or 5 years old (1959 - 60) when my mother took me to my Grandfathers for my first "Big Boy" haircut. Grandpa took my hand and we started walking. After 3 or 4 blocks, a LONG way it seemed to me, we came to a little store with a red, white, and blue revolving pole sign out front. I remember how fascinating I found that sign going round and round . When we entered I was hit in the face with a smell I will never forget and wish I could find again. The sight of a small black and white TV on a shelf, the waiting chairs in front of a table covered in Magazines and News Papers, big mirrors, and other items found in a small barber shop were all new to me and I took it all in. Then I saw the gleaming chrome barber's chair with the leather cushions and arm rests. How beautiful it was. I don't think said I 2 words the whole time we were there, there was to much to see.
Grandpa went first. I sat in a chair way to big for me and watched the barber prep and cut his hair. Then came the part I could not believe at the time. The barber got a steaming towel out of a small cabinet and wrapped it around Grandpa's face! Then he took a gleaming object out of a case on the counter and started rubbing it back and forth on a belt that was clipped to the wall. The sound it made I had never heard before. He then took the towel off of Gramps and reached over to small shiny box on the counter and with the sound of an electric motor, white foam came out of it into his hand. He smeared this foam all over grandpa's face, then picked up the gleaming object and started scraping the foam off. Then it hit me. The barber was doing what daddy did every day with a electric machine, with a knife of some kind. I was enthralled. My fascination with blades came at an early age. LOL
Then came my turn. I was a little scared but if Grandpa could do it, so could I. The barber put a small booster chair on the big chrome chair and helped me into it. Then came a strip of paper and a big white sheet with small blue lines in it wrapped around my neck. (isn't it funny what your mind focuses on and remembers) The sound of the scissors and electric shears cutting my hair seemed so loud I could hear nothing else.
After the hair cut the barber turned to gramps and asked him if he thought I needed a shave also. Grandpa got up and came over to me, rubbed my chin and said it couldn't hurt. I'm sure my eyes were as big as plates, this was all new to me and all I had been told I was here for was a haircut. Besides Daddy said I would not need to shave for years. The chair leaned back like it did before and the hot towel was wrapped on my face. I am sure it was cooled off a little before it went on, but it was still very warm to me. Then came the sound again of the knife being rubbed on the belt. Off came the towel, on went the white foam and it was hot too! Then the barber started turning my face this way and that and scraping the foam off. Now I am sure he was not using the edge, but I did not know the difference. He wiped my face off and rubbed some WONDERFUL smelling stuff on my face.
Grandpa paid him and we left. I don't think my feet touched the ground on the way home, I was almost in shock with all the new sights, smells, and experiences. When we got back home my mom did not believe that I had a shave too until grandpa told her that yes, I got a shave.
If anyone out there knows a modern product that mimics the smell of an old time barber shop PLEASE tell me. The scent of the after shave the barber used on me is one I would love to have again.
The memories of that experience have almost convinced me to go to a SR several times in my life, but it seems I never had the time to spend on shaving. Now I have the time and I am really enjoying the ritual of SR shaving. The beard and razor prep help feed my OCD, and the shave is much better than the cartridge razors. While I was learning to shave with a SR I prepped my whole face but only used the SR on my cheeks, then finished with the Mach-3. From the very first the SR gave me a better shave than the Mach-3, even with prep and my poorly developed SR skills.
Now I have three SRs that are usable ( a "Ralf Aust", a "Ohio Cutlery", and one just marked "Sheffield Steel") and one that I am restoring ( this one is marked "Cuts Just Right". If anyone knows anything about this razor please forward the info. Thanks)
I told my wife I would save money by not buying disposable razors, but we all know few of us will live long enough to "save" money. As with most hobbies, this one is also a money pit. But money will be spent to shave so you might as well enjoy it.
Thanks for reading and I wish close shaves without pink soap to all.

That was a very nice read, thank you, and welcome to SRP

Good story, GNerol. Every boy should have a similar experience.
Welcome to SRP.

Your story makes me want to take my grandson to the barber shop...thank you for sharing.

Cool story alright. I hope I can give my grandsons a similar experience.

Originally Posted by rplunk43

Your story makes me want to take my grandson to the barber shop...thank you for sharing.

I wish I could find a barber shop with a decent barber. The last good shop went away last spring when Ed Kersey finally retired. I think he was about 73 yrs old. I have since tried 2 other "barber shops" but have been less than satisfied with the results. The one shop has an older woman barber who I recall was decent (she owns the shop), but she is hardly ever there anymore. Last time I was there she had an older Phillipino man who was a barber in Phillipines, retired for 6 years or so, come out of retirement to help her out. He did an OK job but cut it about half the length I asked for. A young guy in his 20s bought oout another shop in town a couple years ago. Tried him twice but he is really still in "apprentice" level in my opinion. Maybes he's gotten better.

I went to a Great Clips a few months ago. They offer men's and women's haircuts. I sat down in the chair of a 20-something beautician and asked for a tapered cut and leave it about 2 inches long on top. She didn't even know what I was asking for! She was a trooper, and with a little guidance from me managed a decent job, but it took her almost an hour. I hope she learned something from the experience.

I never had the pleasure of getting a shave in a barber shop (with or without my granddad), but it's on the bucketlist.

Thanks for sharing the story, I could just see this little boy, sitting in a chair way to big for him, getting his first shave. (or thinking he does).

Great story and welcome to the forum.
Roger

GREAT READ, GNerol!

My grandfather was a barber, and I spent untold hours in his shop even when wasn't cutting my hair. I don't think that Gramps ever "shaved" me...I'm sure that I would have remembered that!...so that must have been a real treat! But all the other sights, sounds, and smells you describe are etched into my memories as if into a razor's steel, despite the passage of some 5+ decades.

But there's one thing that you didn't mention...it's the sharp ka-POW! that came when old-time barbers would snap that blue-striped sheet clean!!

Great read and welcome in.

Pinaud Clubman was a popular scent from many US barber shops.
It is one I remember and I keep some on hand.
Definitely a comfort smell to me.
Thanks for taking the time to share your story.