Thread: Always Be Specific

I'm currently in Fort Walton Beach,FL for the summer. I did some looking around and finally found a place that does a hot shave. So I set up an appointment and went in this morning for it. (I was supposed to get my head shaved and my face).

So I go in and the barber gets out an electric razor and starts shaving my head. I thought it was kinda weird, but it's been years since I've had a straight razor shave. (And I remember them fondly, which is part of why I want to learn how to do it myself) I figured that maybe it was a little long and then he'd go back over it and do a proper hot shave... He got done with the razor and asked for payment. Long story short, he thought that when I was talking about a hot shave he thought I was just talking about a shave using an electric razor. He had never even used a straight edge before. Needless to say I was pissed off, especially since I talked about over the phone what I wanted.

...so... If you go to a new place, always triple check that everyone is on the same page.

Ouch! I'm worried to even ask how much it cost. Straight shaves are hard to come by.

So I've found out. ...I didn't know that when I lived at home I was so lucky. I'm from rural MS, but there is a barber about 20 minutes from my house that would do a straight shave for $5. ....I think he's raised it to $8 a couple of years ago.

i would go to the owner of the shop and express your disappointment.
If he is the owner of the shop I would meet with him and express my disappointment.
He needs to be properly informed for the betterment of his business.

Sorry about your experience. Seems barbers are more interested in the final product than the process.

The more WE ask for the process to be proper, maybe we get more barbers willing to learn and do it. Of all the barbers that ever shaved my neck with SR, looking back, only one of those would i have asked for a full shave. He was the one that used a real razor, not a disposable.

But his shop reeked of cigar (not the good ones) smoke and he's long dead.

I have found "straight shaving" shops, but they are boutiques charging boutique prices (nothing wrong with making a buck), and but i'd rather find a place more barber shoppish and less stylish. (Where Clubman reigns supreme, not Paul Mitchell)