Thread: Barbershop shaves: what's been your experience?

As I have never had a straight razor shave, I thought a good way to break myself in before trying to shave myself would be to get one at a local barbershop. However, I've heard some horror stories about guys getting butchered. What have people's experiences been with getting barbershop shaves?

Anyone else here from the Chattanooga, TN area? I found a web site for a local barbershop that offers straight razor shaves: whiteoakbarbershop.com/shave.html. Apparently this place has been in business since 1925 and is a landmark in the area. Their detailed description of the shave sounds good. It costs $15.

I was thinking I might pick up some good tips from the barber. Let me know what you guys think.

Payne

I had the same idea. Went to a barbershop for a shave before I decided to do it myself. Overall it was a positive experience, but the shave was not nearly as close as I had expected. The barber only did one pass and nicked me up a bit. He spent all of about 10 minutes on me. He did give me some good advice so it was not a total loss. The biggest take away was to observe his shaving technique and to get the feel for a straight razor on my face.
BTW I gave myself my first shave today...the barber got much closer than I did! I cut myself about as much as the barber did. I'm going to try another barber in the city and see if I can get a better shave. Just in case you were wondering I am in the philly area. There are tons of old italian barbers in south philly to choose from. hopefully the next one will be better. Best of luck.

My experiences have been awful.

In fairness ive only had one shave from a very well known barber in N.Ireland and London (Jason Shankey). He left me rough and my skin was on fire. This was 7 years ago so maybe he has improved.

I was getting my hair cut last night and as I always do, I asked do they do shaves. Yes she said but with a lot of growth she said its best to trim it down with clippers or using a mach3 to cut it down so the straight can shave better. I almost burst out laughing!!!!! I didnt have the will to tell her that all my 'real' straights (not some crappy injector) cut through a weeks growth with ease.

Ignorance is bliss for these people. Straight razor shaving really is a lot art.

I used to get shaves from time to time back when I lived in Buffalo (about 25 years ago). I went to Chick's Barber Shop on Elmwood. He'd keep you under a hot towel until you melted, and then do one pass with a DE. Then, he'd finish with a straight. All in all, an excellent shave and a nice experience. In all the time I was there, he never cut me once.

I believe Chick relocated up to Hertel Ave. He'd be getting on by now, but one could hope he still has a few good shaves left in him.

I can't think of any way to be turned off to straight shaving then by going to a barber for a shave. Remarks like gee he didn't even cut me once make me laugh. Imagine if you went to a dentist to fill your teeth and he passed the drill bit through your gum or cheek. Or if you went to a ritsy restaurant and got poor quality food, badly prepared and a surly waiter.When barbers gave shaves years ago and were competent at it to cut someone of have them leave with the slightest irritation on their fact would be a travesty and totally unacceptable.

People used to go to barber to get the best possible shave experience. Kind of like going to a good restaurant and getting the best dining experience. If you have a truly competent barber who gives shaves with even a disposable your the luckiest guy in the world.

I've had two barber shaves. One was the best shave I've ever had and the other was poor. The good one I got from an old Italian barber out on Long Island. It was amazing. He finished by buffing my face with talc. My face was like glass and felt great.

I think its hit or miss these days.

Jordan

I've had 3 barbershop shaves with the most recent one on the Saturday before Memorial Day. I had grown a beard and wanted it shaved off for the summer. I decided to take a chance at a shop I'd never been to before. The shave was just okay -- honestly mine are better. I got 2 small nicks and he used a shavette. My second shave by a barber was by the barber I had been going to for haircuts for several years. Gotta say that was the worst of the 3 I've had. Several cuts and he used an actual str8 razor, but he felt so bad about it that he didn't charge me. The first one I ever had was very close, but my face was red and was on fire for about half a day. There is one other barber in my area that I know gives shaves and I eventually will try a shave at his shop.

I would definitely tell you that I would not base my shaving with a str8 razor on my shaves at a barbershop. For me, I use a barbershop shave as a comparison factor to my own shaves and if it turns out great at the shop, that's just a bonus from the experience. Good luck!

Its been a lon long time but the barber shop shaves I had back long ago were excellent, but my barber back then still used a real straight and had about fifty years of oing them under his belt. Sooner or later I'll give my current barber a shot at my face and see how he does, I will make it clear though that the quality of the shave will very much effect the size of the tip.

I've had quite a number of barber shaves, but they've all been either in foreign countries or at Indian barbers here in the UK. It's very common to go for a shave elsewhere, less so in US/UK now, so the barbers are much less practiced. I was in Morocco recently and had the best shave of my life. It was a tiny little barbers in the souk, like all shops it was the sort of place that if it was in the UK I'd probably walk right past. However, this guy was amazing, spent plenty of time lathering me, letting the hair soak, then did 3 passes with a shavette, the cheapest, lowest quality one you can imagine, with blades that were a dollar per ten pack.

Man, my face has never been that smooth ever. I watched him shave my friends head and face and it seemed like he dropped into some sort of zen trance when he shaved, quite amazing to watch. My friend and I both shave with straights, and both came out in awe of his skill. He used a cheap boar brush, cream that was a dollar a tube, and that shavette with cheap blades. He did change the blade twice on me, but then I have a tough beard.

I used to live in the far east for a little while and would always have a shave when I got my hair cut. I think it's much more common in these places, everyone would get a shave with their haircut.

So, try an indian, turkish, moroccan barber if you have that sort of area near where you live. For me it's always been a great example of 'it's not the tools that make a difference, it's how you use them'.

Originally Posted by jnich67

I've had two barber shaves. One was the best shave I've ever had and the other was poor. The good one I got from an old Italian barber out on Long Island. It was amazing. He finished by buffing my face with talc. My face was like glass and felt great.

I think its hit or miss these days.

Jordan

Could you tell me the location of the barber shop on Long Island.
Thanks.