Mixed reviews but overall thumbs up
It seems to me that experience is the biggest factor when getting a barbershop shave. Back in mid-april, when I was getting into the whole straight shaving thing, I was doing some internet research with regards to the legal aspect of providing shaves as part of a business idea I had. I'll share more on that when it comes to fruition. Anyway, I stumbled across an article that was kind of a "best of in Dallas" which detailed different outstanding services around the area. A place called Brownie's Barbershop was second on the list with a little write-up. This line was what sold me on this place...
"And if you want to get a really close shave, Ray is one of the only straight razor-shave barbers left in Dallas. It’s a vanishing art. And he must be good — his very first customer still comes in after 20 years."
Now, I had convinced a friend of mine to give it a try as I was discussing this business idea with him, so when I found this place, we planned a trip on our day off. My initial plan was to walk in and ask if Ray was available to shave us both, but Larry (the friend) walks through the door and announces that he's here for a straight razor shave. Well, this older barber grabs him and sticks him in the chair and my heart sinks as another barber puts me in a chair after I say I'm here for the same. I was convinced that Larry had gotten Ray through dumb luck and that I was going to get filleted by some less talented fellow. Throughout the process, I was occasionally able to glance over at Larry and was noticing little blood spots ALL over. It was then that I asked my barber "are you Ray?" to which he repled that he was.:y Irony, huh? So, after my shave and a quick hair trim which I got since I was there anyway, I had a very decent shave without even a nick. Poor Larry. His face was smooth, but at the cost of quite a few battle wounds. The base of his septum even had a cut straight across where it looked like his barber had finished his upper lip and just planned to take the nose with it, then decided last minute not to. :roflmao
At the end of the day, we were both pleased with the experience. Larry informed me that he has ultra-sensitive skin anyway and that the "old-timer" could've shaved him raw and it wouldn't have bothered him as it was the experience he was after. And he said it was still the closest shave he'd ever had. I'm assuming the difference in shaves was either experience or practice. The old-timer could've been Ray's uncle who was experienced, but out of practice. Or he could've been some shmuck. Who knows...
The article is here if you want to take a look:
Dallas Voice :: Readers Voice Awards - Services
You'll have to scroll down a bit as it's not at the top of the page.
I should just make "sorry for the long post" part of my signature...:shrug:
Adam
P.S.: Jockeys has mentioned another place in Richardson (just outside of Dallas proper) King Barber, which I will be trying soon enough. The link to their website is here:
King Barber