Thread: Straight razors obsolete, says barber shop franchiser

It's interesting that in Mr. Grondin's reply to Azjoe, he states that nostalgia is not as important as doing what's in the best interest of his clients. I find his comment a bit odd because his whole business model is based on nostalgia.

Maybe I'm being a bit picky here, but if a business is selling an old fashioned barbershop experience, I want it to be an authentic experience. If I could find a barbershop where I could have my own mug and razor and be able to get a shave with it, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Of course that assumes one could find a barber that has been trained to shave with a straight and has done it enough to be proficient. I don't think there are many left.

Here in NC, they have to learn to straight razor to get their license. I go to a barber in Charlotte every once in a while, he uses a shavette, but that's the health code.

I don't know what they teach here in California but my barber uses a Shavette too. Oh well....

I have to put a lot of stock in what
Jolene had to say on the subject.
I mean he has been in that business
for 20 plus years and he would definately
know a LOT more about it than myself.

I was actually going to make some of the same
comments yesterday that he ended up making
in his post. Glad I opted not to and we got to
hear it from an expert.

We can beat this ole' horse to death guys, but
let's face it, the straight shave in a barber shop
in the US of A has went the way of the Model T
Ford, the rotary dial telephone and common sense,
all of these thng have disappered, and they ain't
comin' back.

Just my two cents......


Terry

Terry,

As sad as it is to admit it, I think you're right.

Ed

It doesnt matter to me anyway...I would never go to a chain barbershop I dont care if they shaved me with the real straights or not. The place I go to now isnt perfect and they do use DE blades in their disposable straights, but it is owned by two brothers, the guys that work there have done so for years and a shave and haircut lasts over an hour and fifteen minutes. There is no rushing and they dont make you feel like your just another head in the herd. I hope this guys business goes under, the last thing we need is a walmart style barber shop.

I think I have to agree somewhat with JL. From what I read earler it seems like its just another marketing trick.

I go to a small barber shop in Queens NY (note I said barber shop not salon) and they still shave with shavettes. It is very much like an old time shop, magazines on a small table, cofee in the back and a bunch of regulars. Haircut $7.25 shave $7.25. Old chairs and pretty much old barbers . The owners son works as a barber and I watched him shave a customer - not bad.

I would never go to a barber shop chain. Sounds like a salon with different window dressing. Just my 2 cents.

It seems to me there will always be people who will pay whatever is required to get the services they desire... be that a shave, a massage, a manicure, or " whatever". Hence, there will always be a need for people who can provide these services. Providing products and services the WAY THE CUSTOMER WANTS has always been pretty much a universal axiom for success.

In a another thread I mentioned I used to get my hair cut (circa 1995) by a barber that charged $28... that was twice the going rate for a good razor cut back then. Why did I go to him... plain and simple, OUTSTANDING SERVICE. He gave an outstanding haircut and paid extra attention to the details that made his customers feel special... from good cigars, to the magazines he had in the waiting area, to keeping notes on the conversations they had the last time so he could discuss relavent topics at the next appointment. He was fully booked 2-months in advance... he accepted no walk-ins. If something unforseen happened he would stay late or open early to take care of a long term client. Most of his customers got their hair cut every 3-4 weeks, so his client base was likely less than 200 people. He marketed his shop via word of mouth, the Chamber of Commerce, and occasional advertisements in the local business journal and newspaper. Other customers I met in his shop were mostly regular business men... not movie stars, sports stars, or top executives (although there were a few). I never got a shave from him, but he talked of shaving several clients on a regular basis. I stop going to him when he was forced to retired after he had bypass surgery.

Just for kicks I checked the curriculum at one of the barber schools here in Arizona... thankfully "shaving" is still part of the curriculum. The student must perform at least 40 shaves to meet requirements (but I didn't see anything about how to sharpen/hone anything... LOL). I also checked the health rules... the blade needs to be wiped with an approved disinfectant solution and air dryed between customers. (BTW, the course costs approx $7K and AFAIK "shaving the balloon" is still on the State exam.) Now... if I only knew a couple hundred people that would pay $$$? for a shave .......

Originally Posted by Jolene

Hi Guys,

I can understand your desire to "educate" and spread the word about straight razor shaving, but the bigger issue today as a business owner is finding skilled emplyee's, especially in a franchise setting. You have all heard the horror stories about haircuts from those mall franchise shops, well there is a reason for this. Nobody trains them and unless each individual is self motivated to advance their skills and specialize the level of service reflects the corporate culture, "Get em in and out fast".

I have been a barber for 20+ years and even when I started in the 80's shaving was a dying art because of the emerging trend in hair styling. Time versus dollers meant you could make more money doing a style rather than a shave. So all the new barber/stylists learned the new skills that made them the most money and the skills of shaving have not been passed along, and today many states forbid the use of straight razors at all.

Gotta go,
Jolene

Jolene,
I agree with most of your input; however, your statement that "many states forbid the use of straight razors" is simply not true. If straight razors were forbidden, all razors would be, when in truth, many barbers tell clients it is forbidden because they are not skilled in using razors. Men are being lied to and cheated out of the joy of receiving full service. I have been told that many barber schools don't even teach students to use razors of any kind.

Barbers and clients are missing out! I attended barber school in 1981 and shaving was a part of the state board exam in Oklahoma and Colorado. Shaving is no longer a part of the practical exam, but it is still a portion of the written exam, proving that it is legal.

My clients truly enjoy the process of a monthly shave and haircut, and I thoroughly enjoy providing both services! Some of my clients come in twice a week for a shave! I charge the same for a shave as for a haircut and every haircut is finished out with a straight razor. Men say that they are getting pampered for the first time in their lives. I use a disposable, straight-razor with no health risk or safety violation. Every client is shaved with a new Shark, disposable straight-razor. Brushes, tools and towels are sanitized, as with all barbering tools. If someone has a tough beard and sensitive skin, I may use a disposable Mach III (sorry guys). I also use an Oster with changeable blades, rather than guards for clipper-cutting.

All men appreciate the quality and effort of good service, so don't sell them or yourself short! ~LynDee

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