Thread: Are they legal for barbers to use in Ohio?

Originally Posted by Chimensch

I really doubt that any barbers in the United States are using a real straight razor. It's probably a shavette type razor that uses a disposable blade but has a handle that looks like a straight.

Traditional straight razors could be used if they are sterilized in an autoclave. When straights started being banned in the 1980s, these were too expensive for barbers. Thus the origin of the shavette.

Nowadays, fewer and fewer barbers are giving shaves. In fact, most don't have the proper chair any more. So, I think what you are hearing is a justification for the fact that those barbers just don't want to/know how to give shaves.

My barber gives shaves with a Shavette but has offered to shave me with my own blade if I bring it in. I haven't yet had a shave from him because I'm quite good at cutting myself and need no one else to do it for me. A couple of the girls who work for him use a real straight for the neck hair. They keep the blade hanging in barbicide, wipe it off before using it on you, wipe it off again when done, and pop it back in to the barbicide. It's freaking painful. Unless they strop at the beginning or end of the day, I've not seen them put that razor to anything and it pulls like crazy.

There are a few barbers around here that offer shaves with a shavette, not for legal reasons but because they were never taught how to maintain a traditional straight. I offered to teach one of them but he was scared of messing the edge up stropping or honing and then giving the customer a bad shave.

That's a shame Theseus. He should have taken you up on your generous offer. If he was afraid of cutting a customer he could practice on himself...

Originally Posted by AceBuckeye

Sorry, for the delay, you're about to find out why.

Went for my weekly cut today. Yes I get my haircut weekly, mown pretty low so I need a trim every week.

Bill, my usual Barber is gone. Gary, owner of the shop says extended leave, most likely though he'll retire while out and not come back. Health reasons, sudden and unexpetced.

Anyway here's what I found out. It's a 4 chair shop and the other 3 definitely use a disposable shavette type blade. Gary, the owner, said he was 99% sure Bill was using a straight, as he never ordered blades as the other 3 did from their supply person, and was also seen stropping and honing.

They are not aware of a law preventing the use of straights in Ohio. Gary's answer was that none of them (meaning he or the other 3) "had the balls" to use them. He also commented that another previous barber whose name was Gerry also used a straight when he was there years ago, and was not very good at maintaining the blade and was constantly nicking and cutting customer's faces, necks, heads etc. (Which also had the other 3 even more against using one)

I go to the shop every week, if I hear anything else or see Bill I'll let everyone know.

My barber was very honest about it. When the AIDS scare came out and safety restrictions were put on the use of razors, he just decided he didn't want to fool with it. That's probably where it sits with most barbers. You can save time and make more money doing regular hair cuts only.

SRP can take pride in knowing that thanks to you, I now have the balls to straight shave.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

I really doubt that any barbers in the United States are using a real straight razor. It's probably a shavette type razor that uses a disposable blade but has a handle that looks like a straight.

Traditional straight razors could be used if they are sterilized in an autoclave. When straights started being banned in the 1980s, these were too expensive for barbers. Thus the origin of the shavette.

Nowadays, fewer and fewer barbers are giving shaves. In fact, most don't have the proper chair any more. So, I think what you are hearing is a justification for the fact that those barbers just don't want to/know how to give shaves.

If you want to travel to Enterprise Alabama try Lee's barber shop he uses real straights and gives great shaves. Call 334 347 0000 a man named randy should answer ask for Mr. Lee

I'm in a different country, but the situation here is much the same. All the barber training materials tell them they have to use disposable blade razors because it's apparently not possible to sanitise a straight properly. I disagree, but I'm not a law maker. I've read a few comments suggesting it's illegal to advertise a straight razor sharpening service here to force barbers to use disposables, but I can't find anything to back that up.
Talking it over with my old barber (an older Italian man I'm quite fond of) who spent years teaching apprentices at technical college as well as running his own shop confirmed the health department are dead set against cut throat (straight) razors and that they don't teach apprentices to maintain them at all any more.

Of course in other places things are probably different, but that's how it is here.