My barber is not a resource

So I have been going to my barber for almost a year. He is a master barber and even taught at the barber school here in town. There is some new Texas code that has not allowed any types of shave at the shop till they become certified at a cost of over $500.

I take this opportunity to fish around about old hones and strops. This is how my story goes....

Me: Tell me Mr. Barber, How long have they made you use disposables..

Barber: About eight years now...

Me: What did you use to sharpen the blades with?

Barber: We used a leather strap...

Me: And what if the razor dulled to much. What type of sharpening stone did you use?

Barber: NOOO... you cant use a sharpening stone on razors. The edge is too thin and it would cause the edge to scratch you when you use it. All you ever need is a leather strap..

Me: (internal dialogue) At least he can cut hair..

It's a shame aint it!?

Things that make you go "HUH"!

We've all heard stories here of barbers doing things with razors that make us cringe.

And yet most of them pull of a damned fine BBS shave.


Could be this barber managed to get a stropping technique that kept a blade sharp for a long time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Desdinova

Could be this barber managed to get a stropping technique that kept a blade sharp for a long time.

---

Cant say for a long time...it would be forever. I just dont see how it is possible.

I gave a very dull razor to a barber who happened to be a recent graduate, and asked him to hone it. Actually, he offered. When I got it back, it was still just as dull but now it was also deformed! Too bad he didn't stick with the strop. I'd post pictures of the mutilation but I sent it off to one of our own honemeisters to see if it can be salvaged.

We moved to this area about a year ago and I stopped by one barbershop and was talking to this guy about straight razors. You won't believe what this guy told me... he said using a straight razor as compared to a multi-blade cartridge would be like going back to a mule and buggy from a Cadillac.

I never went back there again. He was playing top 40 anyway so it never would have worked out.

Whats even worse, are that there are two barber shops here in town that give a nice Mach 3 shave. My brother actually forked over 20 bucks and the barber, who had a strop hanging from his hair leaned him back, and proceeded to shave him about 6 times with the mach 3.

My brother walked out with a beet red face, and alot of weepers.

Maybe they used the strop to maintain it and when it got too dull they just tossed it aside and got a new one? Or, they had enough in the rotation that nothing really got dull.

It seems as though the thought you were talking about a sharpening stone used for knives and/ or tools and not a hone of fine grits suitable for razors?...

What bothers me about the story is someone won't invest a mere $500 into their business. That, to me, doesn't really say a lot. Perhaps I am misinterpreting, but I am wondering if this is $500 for the business or for individual and per year or one time? Either way it is a small investment to be able to offer something great to your clients. I mean, at $10/ shave, you will earn your money back rather quickly. Unless, of course, they are just that slow and lacking of clients.

Other than the experience and relaxation, having a shave at a barber shop really isn't all that. Then again, I've only had one.

He used a leather what?

Around 20 yrs ago my friends decided it would be interesting to see what I looked like without a beard. Had been going to a local barber for haircuts and seen the strop hanging on the side of the chair. Seemed to me that it would be an interesting experience if I was going to end up clean shaven.
His reply: "Oh no. That's just there for decoration. I can trim it short and then you would have to shave yourself."
Back home to the Mach 3 that someone had brought me as a joke for the bearded guy.

Last October I got rid of my glasses via laser surgery. Figured I would experiment with the beard going as well since it had been there for 19 years. I found the only barber in the city that does straight shaves and booked in for the whole experience.

They are not allowed to use traditional straights due to problems with sterilising equipment so a "shavette" type system is used.
The overall experience was relaxing: hot towel prep and mid-way, cooling balm after.
BUT... the shave was not that great, no-where near BBS. There was lots of irritation/small nicks, especially under my chin. Unsure as to whether this was his technique or just that my skin was unaccustomed to being shaved.

I mentioned that I was looking to take up straight shaving and asked if he knew anywhere that could hone/sharpen. Sadly he had no idea as he only uses the shavettes. His advice on learning to shave myself was that it was "bloody difficult" - and I don't think he was referring to the red stuff.

Shaved with a Mach 3 for a few months before I got hold of my first straight and started my journey. My first attempt was smoother and more comfortable than his "professional" job. Sad to see an art dying out among those that should be proficient in it. GREAT to see a diverse group of users out there who are reviving it for themselves.

Been 'straight' now for about 5 months and really enjoying the experience. Have gone back to a goatee but the straight is far superior for a comfortable/non-irritating shave than the Mach 3 and SOOO much more enjoyable to use. :)

That always seems funny to me. Let's see, I think I should go to a barber that does know how to sterilize equipment. Just where has the comb and scissor your using been lately?

That's why whenever I see someone say with authority they know how to do this or that with a straight because their barber told them so or a knifemaker told them I always think... yea...

My barber's not a resource.

Not to the folks here, but think of the minds he has poisoned along the way...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nzFuzzy

The overall experience was relaxing: hot towel prep and mid-way, cooling balm after.
BUT... the shave was not that great, no-where near BBS. There was lots of irritation/small nicks, especially under my chin. Unsure as to whether this was his technique or just that my skin was unaccustomed to being shaved.

---

That pretty much sums up my experiences with barber+shavette shaves. It doesn't matter anymore, as I can shave myself better with my real straights.... for free!

This is why quite often older barbers are a great place to get starter razors. My first razor was from a barber and he never honed it. When it started to dull and the strop couldn't fix it he just bought another razor. He had drawer full of the things and I took my pick. These were not fancy razors and he got hem cheap. I guess he figured it was a waste of his time to spend time honing when he could be making money shaving.
This was over thirty five years ago. I had to teach myself to hone.

It really is a shame. Since I was a toddler,my grandfather had always taken me to Earl, his navy buddy who owned the only barber shop in my home town since And after my pop pop's shave and haircut he'd give me a shave with the back of his comb. 5 years ago Earl retired at 81 years old and his grandson took over the business. Shortly thereafter I went in and his grandson was using one the straights to trim up painters tape on the window. What do you even say to that?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by baakabak

What do you even say to that?

---

AARGH! :rant:
Here's a lovely $2 craft knife, I've even brought a pack of spare blades for you. I'd love to look after your grandfathers razors if you're not inerested in them as I enjoy shaving with a straight.

Was lucky enough to get 2 from him. Also talked him into letting me buy the old barber pole from outside before it landed on eBay.

I've had two shaves at Trumpers, the second was very good, but the first really was truly excellent.

That first shave the guy mapped my beard, did loads of face prep, had great lather and a superb shaving technique. I think I was BBS for about 2 days lol..!

That said, the guys at Trumpers are all very skilled and have given me some excellent advice every time I've ever been into the shop. But then they do pride themselves on their olde worlde barber shop feel, and they also run a shaving school, so their advice has to be pretty good!

I've been to other barbers though who've been pretty uninformed, making comments like Mach 3's are the best shave ever and you should only shave ATG to get the closest shave. I always respond that thats what I used to do, and had ingrowns, razor burn and all sorts of other horrors. Now I use straights, I have none of the problems and a far better shave, plus I enjoy it WAY more..! :)

My 2 Cents; Had a haircut today and got into a conversation with the hairdresser, an older bloke in his late fifties early sixies, about straight shaving. He learnt the skill back at barbers school many many moons ago and is still very strongly in favour of straight shaving, but because of Australian law he has to use a Shavette setup which he isn't very happy about. He gave the same reasons most people do in favour for straight shaving, the skill of stropping, honing and making a good lather, the top notch shave.

Interestling enough he told me he doesn't actually straight shave himself, he enjoyed shaving other people but was hopeless when it came to shaving his own face! It's good to see that there are still hairdressers (He wasn't working as a barber) are still in the know, even if it is slowly fading.

It was my old barber that got me into straight shaving.

I started shaving with a DE in 1979. I also had a "mini-lawnmower", but I gave it up. It was too painfull. I haven't tried one since about 1990.

About 1988 I got a straight razor shave from a barber north of Seattle. It was just amazing.

A few years later I bought a straight razor just to try if it was even better than the DE. My first few shaves with my first straight wasn't all that. So I put it in a drawer and forgot about it.

Fast forward to a few years ago. I bought a Thiers-Issard that had been honed by Lynn Abrams.
That one was a lot sharper. That guy knows how to hone, I said to myself.
So I googled him, and found this great site. Got RAD, and will never turn back to any other method of shaving.

This is why I decided to go to barber school. I feel its my obligation to bring what is right in the world of mens grooming back.

On that note I would say 50% of the people I go to school with could care less about shaving and 99% could care less about using traditional straights, Its sad really.