Thread: I'm going to start offering straight razor shaves at my barber shop,, any advice?

So I have been contemplating it for awhile and I'm ready to start offering shaves at my shop. I have been a barber for about 20 years and have never offered them because of time and not alot of interest.There is a growing interest in them, so it's time. ( I also shave myself with a DE and a straight) My question to you guys, tell me exactly what you like or dis-like when going into a shop? Be honest beacause the more you tell me , the better I can serve my clients. I appreciate any feed back! Thank you!!!

I offer shaves in my shop. You should come down and let me give ya a freebie and then you see how you feel about it. Lol

Heres my questions.

Price, compared to haircut price? I charge the same for a shave as a haircut, youll get where it doesnt take much longer than a cut as you get comfortable with it.

Plan on using a real straight or a shavette? I use both usually start with a straight and if the feedback I get from the straight is bad I swap to shavette...some faces just arent cut out for it and I prefer to keep it comfortable.

I do hot lather, hot towel, relather, shave, once over for any missed spots with just water or a light lathering in needed spots (if needed), hot towel, aftershave, cold towel.

PS, tips on face shaves on average are better than haircut tips, I get 10 dollars per cut, 10 for a shave, and almost always get 5 or 10 dollar tip when I give both. Ill charge 5 for shaving around a beard but I bypass the hot towels.

I'll probably charge a little more for a shave. At first, I'm going to do shaves by appointment only, after hours. I have to see how the demand is and dont want to mess up the flow of customers we have coming in for cuts. I think that will get me by until I get it down pat ( as far as time) We stay packed and dont want people leaving because its taking to long because I'm shaving someone and taking forever. I also dont and would never rush a customer. My most important customer is the one in the chair.

Oh yea, I sent you a customer the other day. A guy moving down there.

Ok awesome, I appreciate it

When I have had a shave at my barbers. I am not really paying for the shave but for the experience of being pampered. Give your customers a luxurious experience and they'll come back for more.

Not to mention giving shaves promotes customers to try wet shaving, if you carry any products and razors it can be a bonus there as well

I would recommend offering shaves by appointment only. I personally would charge 10 for haircut, 10 for shave, and an additional five for the appointment and set aside an hour for the appointment. I think it will get more customers used to making appointments and customers will get used to the wait time. as long as the other barbers in your shop keep on truckin customers will wait.

When I was in Victoria on course, I went shopping for shaving supplies. One of the shops was a barber shop. One of my friends that was with me decide to get a haircut and a shave. $90. I thought it seemed a little steep. I paid attention at the barber shops as we made our way through town. I also kept looking after in other cities. They all charged way more than Dennis. Although they often make fun of the cost of living in British Columbia in other areas of Canada, I've heard a lot of people say that BC stands for bring cash. $5.29 a US gallon at the pumps today.