Thread: 2 barbershop experiences from last week

Decided to try a barbershop who advertises str8 razor shaves. The shave was good from the standpoint of no nicks or cuts and was pretty smooth from running my hand across my face in a N to S direction. However, from a S to N direction, I personnally do a better job. The barber used several different creams so the whole experience was pretty cool. He uses Dial liquid soap and told me he has found that to be the best shaving soap. He used a feather razor, but after I told him that I use a str8, he told me that due to the cost of the blades for the feather, he's considering using regular str8s. He also told me about a new str8 he's thinking about buying so I asked him if he uses a str8 to shave himself with. I'm guessing he doesn't because his response was, "It's much different to shave yourself versus shaving someone else." He was pretty cool because when I told him that I have not gotten the hang of honing, he offered to lend me a dull str8 from his wall collection in the shop to practice with. I then asked him if he could show me a few pointers and he agreed to do so. I told him that the next time I stop in for a shave, I'll bring in one of my razors.

After leaving his shop, I went to the barbershop where I get my hair cut. As I was waiting for my usual barber, I overhear the conversation of another barber and the guy who was in his chair. The guy must have been in his late 70's. The barber was cleaning up around the guy's neck and ears with a feather razor and the guy asked the barber if they gives shaves. The barber told the guy that once in awhile they do, but not very often (interesting response since I posed that same question to the barber who always cuts my hair and I was told that they do not give shaves). The guy in the chair said, "Do they even teach how to shave in barber school any more?" The barber's response was, "Barber school? What's that?" The customer then told the barber that he still has some str8 razors laying around. I was tempted at that point to jump into their conversation, but decided not to since I remembered the responses I received from my previous post about the barber who told me that he has some str8s that he doesn't use anymore and I offered to maybe buy some of them. Just because someone has something that they no longer use, doesn't necessarily mean they want to sell it.

My theory now is if a guy doesn't say he's selling his str8s, I'm not offering to buy them.

If done so properly, it never hurts to ask.

...with chloroform and some duct tape