Thread: First Barbershop shave a bad experience

Hi All,

I've recently been inspired to get into shaving with a straight so I picked up a dovo and a feather last week, and I already have nice soap and a brush. Anyways, for my very fist shave with a straight I thought I'd go to a barbershop and have a professional do it so it would be a good experience and would set the mark for how smooth my shaves should be.

So I went to the Mandarin Oriental, which is a 4 or 5 star hotel where I live. They have a guy there who supposedly just does shaves and has been doing them for years. Well, it sucked, all the preparation was nice, but the actual shave, he tore me up. He gave me some serious razor burn and cuts on my neck. I'll describe the experience and hopefully someone can tell me if it sounds kosher or not.

Hot towels were applied, as well as pre-shave oil, and though I couldn't see, I thought he was skimpy on the shaving cream. He didn't stretch my skin at all. He used a feather. And I got really cut up on my neck, the worst I've have ever had, bar none. And in the end it wasn't nearly as smooth as I can get with a Mach 3. All this leads me to believe that he didn't do a good job. Would you all concur?

Now, 48 hours later and all healed up I decided to give myself my first self-administered shave. I went through all the prep in a textbook way and took my time with the shave. I used my feather. All in all, not bad, I skipped the trouble areas (chin and jawline) but did the rest of my face, and it was ok. I slightly nicked myself twice, but very minor compared to what Sweeney at the Mandarin did to me. Judging by what most of you write the first few shaves should be like, I was pleased.

Thanks for reading and sorry this post became so long.

Cheers.

Welcome to SRP. Yes it sounds like you got a bad shave. He shouldn't have cut you up. Glad your next shave was better. I've never used a feather, but from what I've read, a regular straight is a little more forgiving. Good luck with your next shave.

Thanks for the quick replies;

And one interesting aside, the day before the barbershop shave I went there to make an appointment. I casually mentioned to his colleague I wanted to learn how to straight shave, and he looked at me like I was a crazy fool, he said I was far too young and it was far too dangerous, and their shave guy had spent a year and a half in Japan learning the art of straight shaving. Go figure.

Originally Posted by Alpine

Thanks for the quick replies;

And one interesting aside, the day before the barbershop shave I went there to make an appointment. I casually mentioned to his colleague I wanted to learn how to straight shave, and he looked at me like I was a crazy fool, he said I was far too young and it was far too dangerous, and their shave guy had spent a year and a half in Japan learning the art of straight shaving. Go figure.

A year and a half in Japan to learn how to shave with a straight razor?

Sounds to me like the barber did a lousy job. As others have mentioned, stretching is fundamental to a good shave, otherwise the skin bunches, and you get a lot of resistance.

Also, Feather's are notoriously harsh shavers. Old School had a thread a while back chronicling his adventures in learning to shave with a feather. The poor guy looked like he was mauled by a dog at first. From what I understand, feather's are laser sharpened, and are so sharp as to be harsh. A VERY light touch is needed, that's for sure!

Good luck - sounds like you already know more than that barber!

Mark

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Good memory, but those pics were of the damage done with cartridge shavers.

Oh yeah! I seem to remember that now that you mention it! Still was horrifying!

Mark

I agree with all of you +O_S about stretching.
That barber had some issues . Try learn yourself and you will do a lot better and enjoy.

I have had two different barbers shave me with Feathers. The first guy was at a "gentleman's barber shop" (new, lots of dark oak paneling and pedicure station) and he sucked at it and was so embarrassed he wouldn't let me pay for the shave. Also, at the time I had a beard so he only had to shave my cheeks and neck. The second was, how to say this politely, approaching retirement age and she did a wonderful job. No beard that time. I plan on going back to her again.

Yes, supposedly the barber I got thrashed by learned in Japan, I'm in Hong Kong, therefore the regional hotspot for grooming culture is Japan.

You know, I've read on a lot of forums that sharper is better, and yet that (in some opinions) feathers are too sharp, that's a bit confusing as a newbie. But I'll check out Old School's study. I suppose it's personal preference though, the blade needs to be sharp enough to effortlessly slice through the hair without being microscopically sharp and therefore easily catch on skin. It kinda makes sense.

I was disappointed with the Mandarin Oriental. I tipped the guy, out of reflex, but later regretted it. Another peculiar thing he did was apply shaving cream, and then a hot towel, which if I'm correct, would take off a lot of the shaving cream? He did not reapply after removing the towel.

In the end, slice, err I mean chalk one up for experience.

Originally Posted by Alpine

You know, I've read on a lot of forums that sharper is better, and yet that (in some opinions) feathers are too sharp, that's a bit confusing as a newbie. But I'll check out Old School's study. I suppose it's personal preference though, the blade needs to be sharp enough to effortlessly slice through the hair without being microscopically sharp and therefore easily catch on skin. It kinda makes sense.

Alpine,
Sharper is better - but there is a difference in feel depending on how the blade was sharpened. Some feel smoother, some feel more aggressive, and some feel somewhere in between. They could all have the same level of sharpness though.

It doesn't really make that much sense - but a razor honed on a man-made stone will have a different feel to a razor honed on a natural stone. You get yet a different feel when you move to something like diamond paste (usually harsher), and yet another feel when you go to CrO2. Let's not get started on DMTs, or any number of other ways of sharpening.

Straight (real straights, not feathers) are usually "softer" on the skin somehow than DE blades or feathers - they're equally sharp, but not usually as aggressive.

I hope that makes some sense and didn't confuse you even further. I'm sure other members can jump in here and explain it much better than I have.

Mark