Thread: A retired barber and I = An afternoon of learning.

Yesterday I headed into town to meet a retired Barber, though he claims to be retired he still goes into his Gents barbers to oversee the youngsters that are now working for him and occasionaly does a hair cut or two. This Gentleman Barber is a legend in the Cotswold community and has owned a string of barbers across the county and I was lucky enough to get a few hours with him of instructional help.


Mr C, has been a barber for 50, 60, years and was apprenticed at the age of 13 to 8 barbers, he spent this early time learning the barbers trade and became a dab hand at hair cutting, but he hated shaving with a vengeance, he told me that he would spend hours honing the master barbers razors only to have a couple of them thrown back at him for not being sharp enough! which leads me onto my instructional with him.


I originaly set up an appointment with Mr C for a lesson in honing and to get a few other old school tips on straight razors etc, he sat me down in one of his leather chairs near the sink and took out from a cupboard a stone and a razor, he explained the razor was his best one and proceeded to show me how to hone whilst warning me that if I didnt pick up the skill quick enough he would slap me around the head!

Well with the stone he spat on it whilst telling me that spittle was far better then water and oil, he focused the razor on the middle of the stone and did short little strokes almost like a stropping motion but much smaller strokes, he then handed it to me and warned me about getting a slap and so I i kept at it for about 20 mins before he showed me again.....he went off and made a cup of tea and came back to find me still practicing.

Eventually I got it and he seemed pleased, I asked him about knowing when a razor was shave ready as I know this is a hot topic on this site and he shrugged his shoulders and said: "After honing the razor shave a patch on your arm or drag your thumb along it, it should be a smooth edge, then shave with it yourself, if it drags and cuts you to buggery then take it back to the stone and keep at it, but know this: one mans idea of shave ready is different to another".

He then proceeded to tell me about how he honed several razors as a boy for the master barbers, he would give a razor to one barber who would throw it back at him claiming that it wasnt fit for shaving, he then would give that same razor to another barber who would be pleased with its sharpness! what an excellent anecdote I thought to describe shave ready to Newbie such as myself!


Mr C then had me stropping for him and patted me on the back for how well I had mastered it, As the time drew on I asked him about shaving some problem areas on my neck, he then grabbed my neck and manipulated it telling me to pinch the skin tight here and there and to try wrestleing with my features, I have yet to try this pinching technique.


As we finished Mr C smiled and told me that he had fun and enjoyed reminicing about the past, he was pleased that a young man was taking an interest in "Old time shaving" as he called it and then gave me his best razor and the stone telling me to take great care of the razor, he dug out of a cupboard two more rusty razors and handed them to me telling me how best I might restore them at home.


I couldnt believe it, I walked out of his barbers not only armed with some usefull tidbits of advice but with three razors and a stone.


I will put some pics up of the items later, but the stone is an "India" and has "Medium" printed below the India. This is an old stone that he has had for many decades, I asked him about what Mircron it was and the likes thinking I could get some better details to post up on here but all he did was a raise an eyebrow and in his Gloucestershire accent said "It sharpens razors and thats good enough for me".

In all I had a wonderfull afternoon with Mr C who sadly is a rare breed of barber in the UK, he is old school, his barber shop is pannelled out it wood and leather, the smell of hair tonic fills your nostrils as you enter his shop and your offered a cup of tea if you should find yourself waiting for a chair, he has a team of 4 working for him and the barbers is always busy.

I only wish there were more of Mr Cs kind around on everyones doorstep to help a newbie like me get settled into straight razor shaving.

I dont know if this account really fits into anywhere on the forum, but I was really keen to share with my friends here the afternoon I had with the perfect Barber.


Hope you are all having a great weekend.


Byron