Thread: My shave in Italy

Well...
I went to Italy (one of the countries i visited in Europe. Seeing were the Folks grew up while they were there) and naturally wanted to get a straight shave.
Well i found a place where they would do it (No were, or almost no where, in Italy is open on Monday weird), and asked how much and sat down to wait.

Both the guys were young (a little nervous), the place had the old benches, timber, aqua colour sinks etc, very tradish (less nervous). They used a straight to do the back of necks so i had an opportunity to observe them in action. They seemed very competent and used a disposable Straight. The straight split apart and you could place a blade in side then put it back together.

So... i was called up and my spanish helped to explain what i wanted. His brush was enormous (never seen one like it). Metal handle (with matching bowl) and the bristles were straight up, about 3 inches long. He wet the brush and wacked some proraso cream inside the bristles (how appropriate). The lather that came out of that thing was In cre di ble. I felt like the was a massive vacuum on my face and i was left with a 1 inch think lather.

Now the story takes a turn not for the bad but not good either. He did one pass, not in any particular direction. Popped on some Nivea balm and i was off.

It was a fun experience and an O.K. shave. I had been using DEs for only a couple of weeks at the time and had gotten closer shaves. So all i can say is that it was fun. Learnt little and was not to impressed but it was positive.
There it is 'my shave in Italy'

+Buckler

Hi Buckler!

Where did you go in Italy?

As for being closed on Monday, it's because most businesses are still Ma and Pa operations and everyone has to have 2 days off per week, so if a barber is open on Saturday, he closes on Sunday and Monday. Other types of businesses close on different days. In Modena, all stores close on Thursday afternoon. Everything closes every afternoon between 12:30-15:30, 13:00-14:00 or 13:30-14:30, depending on the type of business. It took me living here for three years before I finally figured it out and I still end up finding the store closed when I go out to buy something.

You were lucky to find a barber to shave you. My barber does shaves but only for regulars. I was waiting for my haircut when a stranger came in asking for a shave and he told him no. Also, no barber in the world will do more than one pass unless you specifically ask him to. This is because they are trained to not to a second pass because of the risk of ingrown hairs.

Unfortunately, there is not any type of straight razor culture left in Italy. The Italians want to be modern and I think they were among the first Europeans to give it up.

Last thing ... the disposable razor: there is a law that says straight razors have to either be sterilized in an autoclave or disposable, for health reasons. An autoclave isn't very practical for most barbers, hence the disposable.

The shave was in Rome.
I also went to venice and Pordenone (Near Trieste) I LOVED pordenone!
You know what i was thinking in my day dreams; if i ever open up a barber shope ill use wapi's and have them auto claced once a week at the local hospital or surgery.

I cant belive that they only do one pass. Its just not good enough. I would not except that shave as a regular thing. Im aiming for BBS

Im gonna have to look up where you live on Google maps.

Thanks for the reply

+Buckler

Last spring I was in Greve in Chianti where they still have a barber that I saw shaving a customer. I love my own razors too much so didn't go in.

A couple of years ago I saw a shaving barber in Lisbon. Even in the Netherlands one or 2 fancy hairdressers in Amsterdam shave customers.

I think only the fancy barbers do more than one pass shaves.

The standard texbook of barbering 1946 that I recently got from ebay recommends 2 passes.

Thats interesting. Can you post a pic of the book?
My brother has an old barber text book. Ill have to get my hands on it.

Perhaps they have reduced it to one pass to reduce liability?

+Buckler

Originally Posted by Buckler

I also went to venice and Pordenone (Near Trieste) I LOVED pordenone!

Ah, yeah, Pordenone is nice, I agree

Originally Posted by Buckler

Thats interesting. Can you post a pic of the book?
My brother has an old barber text book. Ill have to get my hands on it.

Perhaps they have reduced it to one pass to reduce liability?

+Buckler

Here's the link: VINTAGE~MODERN TEXTBOOK on BARBERING~1947GREAT OLD BOOK - eBay (item 280241340325 end time Jul-06-08 18:52:00 PDT)

Shipping was more expensive than the book!

2 bucks! Well done.

If i get my hands on my brothers one ill see if i can get some pics up, But that wouldn’t happen for a couple of months. His one is dedicated to men; Shaving, different (beards/moustaches) mens hair does. Etiquette, appropriate dress, the kind of person who should be a barber (personality) it was awesome.


+Buckler