Thread: Fresh Meat

Hi all - my name's Lisa and I've never really used straight razor before.

I'm doing an event in about 6 months where I anticipate that I will likely shave 50 people at the event.

So, obviously, I need to start learning this now!!

I'm trying to decide on what to order. I'm not 100% certain that I'll have many "customers" after this event, so am not sure how much moola I'd like to invest.

Also, I'm basically lazy, so the stropping and honing, well would be fun for the event, I suppose, but it also seems labourious. (Yes, I'm also Canadian.)

Anyhow, for reasons stated above, as well as for hygienic reasons, I was leaning towards a disposable shavette, but after reading a few sites, I've heard that the disposables are a lot less forgiving and much more difficult to shave with than a regular blade.

Any insight greatly appreciated. I wanted to start practicing asap.

I think you need to elaborate a bit more about the event you are holding. If you are going to be shaving around 50 people alone, that is going to take a long time especially for someone who has not been using a straight razor for more than 6 months. It sounds as if the shavette is going to be the best choice for you since having to strop the blade 50 times and administer 50 shaves would be far too time consuming, and there is the matter of hygiene as well.

I have been shaving since Christmas. I have shaved every day since then. I shaved about an hour ago and it took me 20 minutes to prep, lather and shave. I would start practicing soon.

It is an outdoor festival of sorts. My camp is a western-themed large camp. We build a saloon, have pig roast, can-can dancers, etc. for the week. We host talent nights, bourbon tastings, poker, etc. Think "Deadwood" and that's us. Anyhow, I want to give some shaves. You might be right -- 50 would take forever. Let's reduce that to a more likely amount of 2 or 3 shaves per day. Would I still want a disposable? Thanks so much!

Barbers use disposable shavettes for the same reason that it appeals to you. No honing, a fresh clean sharp inexpensive hygienic blade in just seconds. I've heard that a disposal blade can be unforgiving to use, however.
I'd try one out and see if it works for you. Straight razors add a whole new level of cost and complexity.

The ultimate "Shavette" style razor is the Feather SS folding razor. It uses Feather replaceable blades and one can get very many shaves out of one blade. I expect I could shave 50 times with at most two of the blades. It is far more forgiving than standard "Shavette" style razors, quite easy to shave with, and it does a wonderful job, easily up to the standard of straight razors. The price is reasonable, and the razor is easy to learn to use.

This is really a barber's skill, meaning, people used to go to actual barber's schools or train as apprentices of sorts to learn to be barbers. Before there was a such thing as a "cosmetology major", there were barber's schools and REAL barbers. Every now and then you might even find one, too - and not somebody who just cuts hair.

But HEY, you've got six months. Why not learn one of the rare old world skills that are unusual enough for men and practically unheard of for a female? In other words, do it for YOURSELF first, and then maybe you can make a better decision doing it for the event in time.

We do have some females who shave with a straight razor here on the forum, so is it worth the cost of a razor, strop, brush and a bowl for you to get started? You could order a bunch of shaving cream/soap samples that would easily get you through that week, as well. (Maybe the real point here is that the best way to really learn to shave is to really learn to shave!) It takes something of a commitment, patience, practice and a bit of pink lather for awhile, but then again, I was getting good enough results (for me) after just a week. Still, I don't think I'm ready to shave other people for money! For the BETTER part of six months, however, you'd get to experience how much better a straight razor shave can be, at the very least.

There is a barbershop local to me that is run by 2 females and they provide straight razor shaves: Fort Collins Barber 80524 | Scissors and Sinners | (970) 482-1111

It might be worth a phone call to see what they use, advice, etc.

In 6months you should be a pro at shaving other people. Shavette is the way to go. Check amazon.com for totally disposable ones. They recently had some lords on sale at a very good price. I Canada check the Italian Barber Site see what they have. Soap. Don't use anything that you need a brush for. Sanitation again.
The hard part about learning is angle and stretching the skin on the area to be shaved. Easy if you're doing it to someone else.
Practice on legs. Then move to some guys face. A few brewskis should loosen him up for the experience.
Remember it always grows back... Unless you cut off an ear there no real damage done!

I guess when you get comfortable with shaving your legs... if you have a hubby you might want to see if he will let you practice on him. Better to get feed back from a face. You could ask him how the pressure was, if he got any irritation, what kind of product he would prefer (scents of soap/cream, aftershave and the such). It might help build an even more enjoyable experience for the clientele.

Also a shavette would be the easiest way for speed an hygienic reasoning since the blades are disposable. Once you get used to them they aren't too bad. I have one for air travel reasons.