Babygirl Barber... Never trained in the Art of Shaving..... New Member

Hey all!! It's nice to meet you!! I found this website searching for techniques for the lefty, realizing that it doesn't quite matter. I am a licensed barber in the state of Hawaii, but I never learned the fine art of shaving. Being a female, I feel that if I could add this service to my repertoire, I would be a sensation. I mean what guy wouldn't want an incredibly close, amazing shave (with all the perks of facial massage, hot towels, and lotion) by an attractive capable woman? I was wondering if as veterans and connoisseurs of the staright razors... what tips, techniques, and tidbit can you offer me? I have been gifted 3 razors by an old skool barber who, unfortunately due to health & old age, can no longer shave, and moved away before he could mentor me.... SO!! I was left with these amazing blades, and no one to teach me. :( PLEASE HELP!!!! Thanks all!!!


<3 Megz

G'day Megz, and welcome. I would suggest, like the barbers in more modern times do, practicing shaving lather off a balloon without the balloon popping. that will give you an idea as to touch...But teaching someone else how to shave another human being is well outside my means as a Mentor. A good thing their are wiser people than me here who might be able to point you in the right direction.


Mick

Welcome Megz,

There's a few barbers on here that perform straight shaves, hopefully one of them will chime in and offer some advice. Personally I've never shaved someone else's face (haven't found a willing volunteer yet), but I know it's a little different then shaving ones own face.

I do know that it's probably going to be a good idea to have those razors of yours honed up proper by a pro and begin learning how to maintain and hone them on your own. There's a ton of info on that in the wiki here (located top of screen).

Good luck, I'm sure someone with more barber experience then me will come along soon and help out :)

~Z

I tried it once with a brave mate of mine. I didn't cut him, but it was the scariest bloody thing I had done for a long time! And the shave was basic. I do better on myself than other people.


Mick

Hi megz,
I think there are a few members in Hawaii, you can search by location I think. From memory jonnywhim or johnnywimm is in hawaii, along with one of two others, you might be able to meet up with someone who is there and watch what they do. Also there are quite a few you tube videos of barbers giving shaves and explaining what they are doing.
You will probably need to get the razors honed (sharpened) before use, but I can't tell you that for sure.
Good luck, and keep us informed as to hoe you get on.
All the best
Ed

Once you get them honed, and ready to shave, I would say try shaving your legs with them. I've tried convincing my wife to let me shave her legs, but I feel that the straight razor intimidates her a bit. I think once she lets me, she'll really like it. A lot of the guys here test their edges on the inside of their forearm, to see if the blade will pop hair easily. I know some of the guys even test on their legs too. I have. :)

Start in an easy spot and do a bit at a time. Do small areas to build up your confidence and do more and more once you start becoming more comfortable with the blade. If you can't shave yourself, how could you ever shave someone else??? :)

Shaving someone else is a hell of a lot easier in my opinion then shaving ones own face as you can map and move quicker and more efficiently. I am not a barber but I like to dress as one.

Wellcome to SRP,Can you use traditional straight Razors legally in your state??

Welcome to SRP Meg, and good luck in your straight shave journey.

Welcome to the forum!

I'm not familiar with the laws of Hawaii, but wouldn't using a traditional straight potentially violate health rules? I know in my neck of the woods, barbers all use the shavettes, so either the blade is replaced for each customer, or it gets a minimum 10 minute swim in the old Barbicide. That old potential contact with blood thing....'-)

But yes, having a straight shave would be a great service to offer...I've heard of the practice on the balloon thing as well.

Cheers and welcome!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Welcome to the forum!

I'm not familiar with the laws of Hawaii, but wouldn't using a traditional straight potentially violate health rules? I know in my neck of the woods, barbers all use the shavettes, so either the blade is replaced for each customer, or it gets a minimum 10 minute swim in the old Barbicide. That old potential contact with blood thing....'-)

But yes, having a straight shave would be a great service to offer...I've heard of the practice on the balloon thing as well.

Cheers and welcome!

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I don't believe a straight blade is against health code, but that is certainly an awesome question that I will definitely look into.... Sanitation standards for all equipment require that all tools be sanitized in barbicide to kill any infectious bacteria/germs/disease/etc.... So I would assume as long as you follow the state health codes you'd be fine??

Before I start getting on with the balloon - I think I should have mentioned that I might need to sharpen these blades... which I don't know how to do either... The blades are both concave-ish, meaning no side is flat.... How would I sharpen these? Do I need to get a strop & hone, or can I use a stone?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Hi megz,
I think there are a few members in Hawaii, you can search by location I think. From memory jonnywhim or johnnywimm is in hawaii, along with one of two others, you might be able to meet up with someone who is there and watch what they do. Also there are quite a few you tube videos of barbers giving shaves and explaining what they are doing.
You will probably need to get the razors honed (sharpened) before use, but I can't tell you that for sure.
Good luck, and keep us informed as to hoe you get on.
All the best
Ed

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Oooo I didn't know you could do that!! Awesome! I'd MUUUUCH prefer having someone teach me than just trial and error (thought about using my Knees as a comparison?).... might get a lil' messy!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

Once you get them honed, and ready to shave, I would say try shaving your legs with them. I've tried convincing my wife to let me shave her legs, but I feel that the straight razor intimidates her a bit. I think once she lets me, she'll really like it. A lot of the guys here test their edges on the inside of their forearm, to see if the blade will pop hair easily. I know some of the guys even test on their legs too. I have. :)

Start in an easy spot and do a bit at a time. Do small areas to build up your confidence and do more and more once you start becoming more comfortable with the blade. If you can't shave yourself, how could you ever shave someone else??? :)

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Thanks Harry!! I did that to figure out that.... OH.EM - my blades are dull :( BUT!! I Do have a straight blade that is capable of having blades replaced?? Do you know of these and where would I find replacements... should I just search or are they any old kind?? SO many questions......

There are a pile of threads regarding honing, along with quite a few vids including one on the main page. You will needs strop either way, and to hone (sharpen) them you will need a few stones, however you may be better to send them (or at least one of them) out initially then you will have a reference point. Once they have an edge, you should be able to take care of basic maintenance with a barber hone or high grit stone, then work up from there.

Ditto what Ed said.

That replaceable blade razor depends on brand, We have a sub forum on the ilk called "Shaving with Shavette Razors". I recommend you browse through their as well. I believe the brand that really is Shavette takes either a longer shavette blade or with the right insert, can take a DE blade that has been split in two. I don't know a great deal about these styles of razor, but from what I've been told, Feather is the better brand of replaceable blade razor.



Mick

Mayby pic up some friends and use them as a shave model before you hurt custemers so can you practice the techniek and the products you want to use. Shaving on others is practice and many shave under the belt as posible.

Do you have a friend that use s straight? Ask him/her some tricks they use for there face. Ask the friend if you can shave him, and let him give you advise.
Good luck and let us now how it works out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Megz

I don't believe a straight blade is against health code, but that is certainly an awesome question that I will definitely look into.... Sanitation standards for all equipment require that all tools be sanitized in barbicide to kill any infectious bacteria/germs/disease/etc.... So I would assume as long as you follow the state health codes you'd be fine??

Before I start getting on with the balloon - I think I should have mentioned that I might need to sharpen these blades... which I don't know how to do either... The blades are both concave-ish, meaning no side is flat.... How would I sharpen these? Do I need to get a strop & hone, or can I use a stone?

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Hi Megz - I can totally understand that this would be an important service for you to offer, so I've had some ideas to get to end of job on this.

I've got several straight razors, a nice strop, lots of different soaps, pre / post shave stuff, alum blocks and even a shavette with several different types of blades. So what I was thinking was, you could fly me to Hawaii all expenses paid, put me up in a nice beach side hotel with an all inclusive package, preferably a resport with a nice big pool as well, and I'll bring all my stuff, show you some of my techniques, and you can practice on me, for, say a month.

It would be a big favour on my part, but I'm willing for you to fly me, 1st class by the way, it would be a long flight from Toronto, put me up in a great 5 star beachside hotel, and we can work together for an hour a day on your shaving technique.

No need to thank me, here at this forum we aim to help each other, so if it means you flying me to Hawaii, darn it, I'm willing to make the sacrifice!!

Ohh, and I'll need some spending money whilst I'm there!

Let me know when you're going to make the arrangements!!

:rock:

Hi Megz,

have a look here ( it is a German page but some literature is in English)

Literatur über Rasiermesser |
Go to:
http://www.antike-rasiermesser.de/da...20Barbiere.pdf

If Link dos not work:
"alte Anleitung fuer Barbiere (Ausbildungsunterlagen)

It is only an example you will find more on this page (in English) as .pdf

If you get skilled because of my hint --> I will get one shave for free if I come to Hawai once... OK?:D
(but unfortunately this may never happen):cry:

If you google "Barber schools Hawaii", you'll find quite a list. Maybe there's one
near you where you could get some specific training without having to take the
whole course.

Good luck on the new enterprise. Please let us know when you get started on
the shaving in your shop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Wellcome to SRP,Can you use traditional straight Razors legally in your state??

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+1 to this question.

If you're doing it for money, you may want to go with a shavette (straight razor with a disposable blade) as it would probably be more cost and time efficient...which is another point worth mentioning.
The reason why it's so hard to find a barber in my area who will give you a shave, or so I'm told, is because it's not a cost/time efficient thing to do these days. That's why it's so expensive ($47 for a hot lather shave from T+H in Toronto).
For me, I have a hard time justifying paying so much for a shave that I can do myself, and with my own (and much preferred) soaps and creams.
Now, that's not to say that people who don't shave with one won't pay for the luxury! My point is that investing time and money in hones may not be worth it for you...but that all depends on you!

Megz,

Welcome to SRP, and I also want to say thank you, on behalf of men everywhere (or at least in HI) for deciding to try and offer such a fine service.

In regards to your current situation, I would do the following:

1. Start by reading through the SRP wiki (under the "Library" link at the top of the site). Even though it is geared for shaving your own face, pretty much all the knowledge you would need is contained there.

2. Also in the wiki, research the different equipment types, be it razors, hones, brushes, strops, soaps, creams, etc. to get an idea of what else you'll need, as well as how to use them. This will be invaluable to you, because in a way, you can somewhat "try before you buy".

3. If you do decide to move forward after all of that, send all of your razors that do not have a disposable blade (a shavette is what we call them) to a professional to have them honed. If you check under the classifieds section of this forum in the "Member Services" area, you will find a slew of talented pros who can get your blades in tip top shape. They offer everything from honing to shave readiness to a full restore or custom work.

4. Start obtaining the other gear you'll need, mainly a strop and brush as well as an offering of creams and soaps to offer. Aftershaves and post shave products such as alum blocks or talc would fit here too. There are many, many reviews of which gear is good and not so good here, and if you have any specific questions on them, all you need do is ask.

5. Watch as many videos on youtube as possible on shaving with a straight razor, namely the ones from gssixgun and Lynn Abrams. Also, if you can get in touch with another member here who is in HI for an in person session, that would be even better.

6. Once your gear has arrived and everything is properly honed, start practicing just shaving your legs or a balloon as mentioned earlier. In order to truly understand how much pressure/correct angle/etc. it takes to shave someone else, you need to know how to do it yourself first.

7. Learn to build a good lather. This one would be an easy one to practice, especially on yourself. Since the surface area of your legs would be much greater than a man's face, if you can build a great lather to cover that much skin, you should have no problem building one in your profession.

8. Practice your stropping technique. You will need to strop between each customer, so this will be an imperative thing for you to know. In fact, I would say you might know how to strop more successfully than a lot of members here in a shorter amount of time due to the volume.

9. Give thought to what type of prep you will offer your customers. This could range anywhere from a good facial scrub and cleaning to hot towels and lather. The choice will be yours, and, it's possible that one type of prep may not work for all customers, since no two beards are exactly alike.

10. figure out if you would like to maintain your own blades or send them out again to a pro. Since you'll be shaving more frequently than we do, you''ll need them maintained more frequently and sooner than we will. If you go the route of maintaining them yourself, keep at least one that is professionally done as a benchmark to how well your own honing is progressing.

11 (bonus step). Convince as many of your professional peers, friends, family, neighbors and perfect strangers to begin shaving with a straight razor. No, really, it IS that much better! :)

Good luck and let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Also, check out the women's subforum... I dunno how active it is, but I know there are plenty of threads there with good info for a woman to start shaving with a straight, so this could be valuable to you if you practice on yourself.

Aloha and welcome Megz I have been a shaving with a Straight Razor for a year now. I have not started to hone yet but I plan too in the future. I don't know how much help I can be but I am on Oahu.

Megz where did you go? Last activity was 9/13/13 I hope you come back I would like to make your acquaintance and check out your razors.