Thread: Had my first shave at a shop

I have never been shaved by a barber but from what I've heard they aren't really that skilled. At least not the younger generation. I went to a barber to get my brand new razor honed and shave ready...well...the next day the razor was on its way to Lynn.

I got my first straight-razor shaves in India at the local barber-shops there. It hardly cost anything and the one I went to most of the time were really good at it. He went WTG, XTG and ATG and it was BBS all over afterwards. He used some kind of Shavette-like razor.

The shaves I got down there is the only reason I started doing this, I just hope to be able to get it BBS soon.

MichaelRork. It's disappointing to here that the experience was not everything you had it cracked up to be. Did she use one of your razor's or did she use a shavette? I've shaved a few faces and a couple of legs of others and I've found that even though I can shave my face with a certain level of proficiency, it's a different feeling when you're doing someone else's (although if she has 30 years experience ).
Anyways, my main question is where abouts in Burlington? My alma mater is Saint Mike's (08) and I still frequent the usual stomping grounds (I live in Southern VT). I don't think it'd be appropriate to put the business's name in the post but would you mind PMing me the name? I'd like to check it out next time I visit. Heck, maybe we can compare experiences.

Originally Posted by claytor

MichaelRork. It's disappointing to here that the experience was not everything you had it cracked up to be. Did she use one of your razor's or did she use a shavette? I've shaved a few faces and a couple of legs of others and I've found that even though I can shave my face with a certain level of proficiency, it's a different feeling when you're doing someone else's (although if she has 30 years experience ).
Anyways, my main question is where abouts in Burlington? My alma mater is Saint Mike's (08) and I still frequent the usual stomping grounds (I live in Southern VT). I don't think it'd be appropriate to put the business's name in the post but would you mind PMing me the name? I'd like to check it out next time I visit. Heck, maybe we can compare experiences.

Yeah, definitely. I'll PM you the shop.

And to clarify, I don't KNOW that she had 30 years experience, but from the way she talked about herself ('I'm so ancient"), mentioned that she learned straight razor shaving in Europe before she learned hair cutting, talked about how everyone in Europe is more likely to take the time to go to the Barber Shop and from the appearance of her age (seemed around 50 or so) I assumed she'd have a lot of experience doing it.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

When I first started getting shaved at a barbers it was done by women, they can shave as good as anybody. The problem as I see it is experience, how many men go to a barber for a shave these days, not many. Times have changed, styles have changed the AIDS scare of the 80's etc have all combined to make a shave at a barbers a rare thing. I dont care who you are, if you dont have the oppurtunity to keep your skills up, they will erode. When barber shaves come in vogue again the skills will re develop.

I agree completely with this. Just because it's a woman doesn't mean she doesn't have the experience to be as good as a man. Shaving other people's faces for 10 years would give her the experience of a man shaving his own face for 10 years. With that said, like nun2sharp said, if she's not getting much business for facial shaves due to the decline in popularity then her skills could fade. (And likely have.)

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Kind of like saying an auto mechanic who has never owned a car himself probably won't be competent.

Its all about training and experience. if a woman had the proper training and did shaving on a regular basis she would be as good as any man.

We keep going back to this issue that man or woman these people have no training in shaving and the ones who give shaves pick the skill up themselves and have insufficient practice so when you go into their shop your the test subject.

I wonder if there's ever been a barberess who's shaved her legs with a straight razor. Just something to think about =P

BTW, this is my first post so i guess you all get an instant and upfront impression of my strangness. Huzah!

Lack of skill on the part of the person shaving you is the problem. Unfortunately, this seems to be a common problem these days.

I had my first at my local barber yesterday. When I made the arrangments I asked the owner if I could bring in my own straight rather than using one of he disposables. He was amenable to that. So, in addition to the razor, I brought all my own things in yesterday including strop, shave soap, brush and aftershave. I didn't look forward to the cream that came out of the dispenser, which was the reason I bought my own soap.

The shave was very good, but it was abundantly clear the shop was not equipped or set up to do these shaves. My barber is an old barber who used to do these. He was a bit out of practice, but did fine. The sink for hot water was all the way across the shop so the towels weren't all that hot. The chairs were not really meant to be used for shaving either. There wasn't any place to hang my strop.

Was it fun, yes. Would I go back for another at this barber shop, no. They give me great haircuts, but the shaves leave a lot to be desired.