Thread: Barber shave: sterile?

Hey, I was wondering, how do the barbers sterilize there blades? I mean, you wouldn't want to catch one or the other disease (maybe HIV) because you had you face shaven. I know in the middle east they just put it in hot water and wipe it off with the same towel.

Joe,
It's been a while since I've been to a barber that uses a straight razor. In the early 90's, I was in the Navy and there were barbers who would use a straight on the back of your neck. After they were done, the razor would sit in a jar of blue fluid, along with combs and scissors. I recently found out that this fluid is called marvcide. I now have a bottle of it and I soak any razor that I buy used. Marvcide is supposed to kill the HIV virus as well as herpes 1 and 2.
-Fred

Marvycide and Barbacide are two brands of antisceptic fluids that barbers use to steralize their instruments. Many barbers use razors with disposable blades, and only use the blade on one customer before discarding it. Barbers used to keep dozens of straights, use one for each customer, and sterilize them all every night in an autoclave.

Plain old hot water will NOT sterilize the blade, and it is not an acceptable method of cleaning a blade between customers.

Other possible vectors in the barbers shop are shaving mugs, brushes, towels and the strop. Barbers in the good 'ole U.S. of A. are not allowed to use the mug and brush on a customer unless it belongs to the customer. A cenutry ago, a barber would keep all his customers mugs and brushes in his shop. When a regular came in for a shave, he would get his own personal mug and brush. Now days, barbers use the lather machine. As for the strop, it was only used on a sterile blade, not after the barber started shaving with it. And of course, towels should never be reused without going through the wash.

Mentioning the lather machine reminded me of something. I remember seeing one of the hot lather machines on Ray's site (I think it was called the Lather King) and there was a notice that Ray would no longer sell them because of all the problems they have had with them. Isn't this the same model that the barbers use? It looks the same in the picture. Do the barbers have a lot of trouble with them and what do they do about it? I wish someone made a reasonably priced hot lather machine that worked, I'd like to have one.

Smokey

Wow I know this thread was posted a long time ago but to answer your question, yes barbers have trouble with Campbell hot lather machines. They are very temperamental and should be serviced a time or two every year. There's little to no other reputable machines that I'm aware of. When working properly, they are very handy and pleasing to the user/customer.