Thread: Barber Shop Shaves

I was curious to see how many members have actually gone "under the knife" and recieved a straight shave from a barber. I was just thinking how scared I would be to allow anyone to put a razor to my throat and was curious as to how many people out their actually go and get this done regularly or have tried it for the experience or to say you have.

Cheers

I checked out a couple places where I live, but at $30-35 plus tip for a hot towel shave I rather buy another vintage off ebay. A haircut was 16-20 bucks in the same places.

I did many years ago (about 1980) at a barbershop on Main in Santa Monica, CA. Was an older Italian barber (probabbly in his late 60's, early 70's). I was nervous and excited at the same time. Kept trying not to smile the whole time for fear I'd get cut. It was great.

I would love to have one someday. But I'd have to make sure the barber knows what they're doing first, and use real straights, not shavettes...

Originally Posted by LikesBBS

I was curious to see how many members have actually gone "under the knife" and recieved a straight shave from a barber. I was just thinking how scared I would be to allow anyone to put a razor to my throat and was curious as to how many people out their actually go and get this done regularly or have tried it for the experience or to say you have.

Cheers

I've had a couple at my local barber, but he's pretty reasonable - like $12-14. It actually helped to go get one about a month or 2 after I started straight shaving. I instantly realized I was using way too much pressure myself.
I get one occasionally every now and then for the relaxation aspect, but I enjoy shaving so much, I usually would rather do it myself.

I had a ball to attend, and knew the wife and kid was home. I knew I would get no peace or time to shave when I arrived home, so I splurged. 40 bucks and a few nicks by my ears (I have no idea why he nicked my ears) I had a pretty decent shave. I have not done it again, but it is always there in a pinch. I should have done it myself. I recieved alot of those comments "did you learn to shave this morning". All in all it was an experience I think you should go through atleast once. I hear that art of shaving in Las Vegas is nice. Next time im down there shedding some fat off my pockets I want to do the royal treatment as another members stated it was excellent-

I am from India, i used to get SR shaving from a barber quite frequently. Its cheap and they normally do a good job.

While it’s been years since I had a barber’s shave, I was never nervous as I’d seen him do it time after time. I always found it very relaxing! I never got a single cut, nick or any irritation!

As I recall a shave and a haircut was $10 but that was about 20-25 years ago.

He passed away a few years ago and I ran into a young man who is his grandson. He has 15 of his grandfather's straights, we've been trying to get together so I can take a look at them and possibly hone one or two up for him.

So I just was in Santa Fe, and had a shave and a haircut at Johnny's Classic Barber Shop.

Here's the review I put on Yelp with 5 stars:

First things first - I'm a New Yorker who is a straight razor shaving enthusiast, and wound up finding Johnny's while planning a New Mexico vacation that would put my family in Santa Fe for a couple of days.

In New York, you can get two kinds of haircuts - a quick machine cut with no frills and no finish anywhere between $10 and $15, and a salon type cut for $100 or more. Neither comes with a shave - which you can also get for upwards of $50 separately from a new variety of shaving boutiques.

So if you want a good haircut, with a straight razor shave, you're looking at $150 or more.

Enter Johnny's.

I made an appointment for a shave and a haircut (which Johnny also advertises as coming with a hot towel/warm lather back-of-the-neck straight razor shave and a head/neck/shoulder massage - unheard of in NYC as being included). Shop is one chair, roomy, tastefully appointed with some old movie pics and a very Zen vibe that comes at least partly from the relaxing music.

Johnny spent a full hour giving me the works. Encouraged me to take a nap if I wanted. Didn't stop cutting until I agreed it was perfect - encouraged me to be to be perfectly honest about my impressions, and spoke like his website reads.

The haircut - I have short hair, which routinely winds up looking unfaded unless I want to spend $100 or more. Perfect in every way.

The back-of-the-neck and facial shaves - I have a goatee he trimmed to absolute perfection - better than I can do myself by a long shot - trimmed my unibrow while he was at it and the hot towels/warm lather/classic aftershave (my choice: Bay Rum) and massage were excellent. He pointed out that I was on vacation and should not have been carrying so much stress in my shoulders - completely changed the rest of my vacation the massage was so good.

The service - uncompromising, unhurried, completely tailored to whatever I wanted, the absolute most thorough haircut I have ever had followed by one of the most enjoyable third party shaves I have ever had and flat-out the greatest effort ever put forth in ensuring both my satisfaction and relaxation.

And, he has free beer. I opted for coffee - but seriously, come on. Who does this at any men's barbershop?

Simply, I cannot envision a way - any way at all - in which my experience could have been improved.

Really, Johnny is *that* good. I wish there was a way to give a "+" on the 5 star rating - I'd consider making an unplanned stop in Santa Fe if I knew I could get on his calendar.

I am moving to eastern New Mexico soon, within driving distance of Santa Fe, I'll have to check out Johnny's!

as for a straight razor shave, I've had it done with a group of fellow groomsmen and groom as a pre-wedding guys' afternoon, and my regular barber does it as well, for $25. Like others have said, I would get them more often if I didn't enjoy doing it myself so much! A couple friends of mine who haven't gone full-SR get it done more frequently.

As for barbers who only use shavettes for health or legal reasons, I have heard that its legal in some places to bring your own in for the barber to use only on you. Worth asking.