Thread: Professional Barber Shaves-Squawkbox

The guy that originally got me interested in starting straight razor shaving has a barber shop in Tacoma Washington called Beacon Barbershop. Great haircuts, laid back atmosphere, always cleans up around the ears and neck with a disposable straight. I got the $20 straight shave a couple of years back. Nice guy, clean shave, good haircut. Needless to say he is now my regular barber.

There are a bunch of places in NYC that supposedly offer great shaves, but the prices might hurt worse than any nicks you get! (Truman's comes to mind and it's $55+tip.)

If I've got about $40 burning a hole in my pocket, I go to Joseph at York Barbershop on Lexington Ave. He uses a shavette, but he takes his time, does a nice pre-shave ritual, and I walk away smooth. Last time I went for a shave was over a year ago on my wedding day. Now that I shave with a straight I probably won't go back for a shave and just buy a new razor with the $$. The prices in this City are crazy, huh?

Hey RichZ - I'd like to know where that place is in Queens. $8.25!?!? It might be worth a trek! I also heard that Tomcats in Brooklyn is a good old-time barbershop. They specialize in all those greaser cuts like pomps and DAs, if that's your thing. But I can't comment further since I've never been there.

Originally Posted by Proraso Man

I too live in phoenix and somewhat near this location. Not sure why but I have never even thought about having someone else shave me. I guess I have had such trouble and have now figured out what works for me that I can't imagine some barber getting it right on the first try.

Have you gone back there yet?

Sorry for the late reply, I've been gone awhile, but I'm back now...

Nope, haven't been back, but if you're on the west side, head on over to Westgate and check out Men's Ultimate Grooming. They just opened up. The reason I mention this place is because Hillary does her barbering over there. Hillary is good and my my family and I love her. We followed her over there when the Floyds on the west side shut down (darned economy).

I gave Hillary a couple of str8s although she uses a feather (I think).

Hillary is a member here (AZBARBERCHICK), she deserves lots of props.

Today at lunch I went for a haircut at a barber shop in Winnipeg that does straight razor shaves to check it out for a possible shave next time (had already shaved this morning). The shop is Brava Hairstyling for Men on Ellice Ave across from the U of W. I was impressed. He used a shavette for my neck and around the ears and we chatted about straight razor shaves for a bit. I plan to go back there for my first barber's shave. He tells me that he uses a shavette rather than a traditional blade to eliminate customer's concerns about the cleanliness of a blade, but that he will use customers personal blades on them (obviously they need to be sharp).

The shop was spotless with a traditional barber's chair (and a revolving lit barber pole outside) and the haircut was good. I found him from an article online... here's the link Giuseppe CianfloneBrava Hair Design for Men-WMOnline

I will post a review here after the shave!

Today I tried my first straight razor shave at a barber's. I highly recommend it! The shave was very close/smooth, the experience relaxing with hot towels, preshave oil, shave (straight razor with disposable blade), more towels, followed by a face, neck and scalp massage. The price was $18, the shop was clean and upscale with an old fashioned chair, and the owner/barber was confident and professional. This is someone who knows what he is doing...I have found myself a new barber. I expected that the experience would be relaxing but that the closeness of the shave would be somewhat less than what I achieve myself with my straight razors, but I was pleasantly suprised...BBS for sure!

been to him dgst8, once and i will be going back to him, i enjoyed every bit of it! have to agree with you!

Originally Posted by BAMARACING8

there is an old barber down in san diego called high mountain barber shop i think thats the name i was down there last christmas and got a good shave down there i dont know the exact price because i got a good man haircut as well..no asking what number on the clippers it was how do you want your hair cut!

From a quick google search, I cannot find a barber shop with the name, "High Mountain" or "Mountain High". Just FYI. ^___^ And if anyone knows of any other good barbers in San Diego, or the outlying areas, well... we ARE in a thread for that aren't we?

(Admins, if this belongs somewhere else, please, move it wherever)

Last barber shave I had was about 3 years ago.


Was a men's stylist shop in a major mall. Their schtick was trying to introduce a lower end AOS type store. The feel of a classic barbershop for the Dockers wearing, SUV driving suburban type.


On a whim I asked for a barber shave.


The young man was a muslim and ended up giving me a Turkish type shave. The shave itself was normal, but after the shave and before the AS, he took a disposable lighter and starter flicking it for a flash flame over my face. I suppose having a lighted flame was a no-no in the store so this is what he did.


I found it odd so asked him afterwards. He said it was better than any alum or stypic pencil or AS for closing pores and addressing nicks.


As far as the shave, this was before I got into straights so I will assume it was a shavette as I don't recall any stropping. It wasn't any closer than the disposable blades I used at the time but I did enjoy the pampering.

My regular barber shop is one of the new barber shops where they have beer and the talk is crass and a cut takes about an hour. I love getting my haircut there. But I would NEVER get a shave there. I gave my regular barber a shumate as a token of my appreciation and I was surprised that none of the barbers there knew the first thing about maintaining a razor. They didn't even know how to strop!

I even ended up taking home one the guys razor to sharpen because the edge was absolutely destroyed. I had to reset the bevel and he had been trying to shave with it with visible chips.

The barber college that they went to must have emphasized disposable razors. It was shocking, because you could tell they had a genuine interest, but no training.

I found am old barber and he and I had a long talk. He graduated in 1961 from barber school.
I asked about a shave, he doesn't do the them any more.
He told me most barbers quit giving shaves years ago.
I asked why.
According to him the main reason most barbers got away from shaves is the time it takes, and some barbers had trouble keeping their razors sharp.

He did give me some good advice on honing. He has 500+ st8s in his collection.

I am going to keep going to him, I like listening to his stories.

One thing he told me, is years ago you couldn't use the lather brush on you're customer's face, you had to apply the lather by hand and in small towns barber's would have a place for the customer to keep their own shave mug and brush.