Thread: blade antiseptic

Originally Posted by Magpie

I have been told (but this could be wrong) that in New York state, straight shaves can only be given if there is no strop, or brush, or blade being used on more than one person.

Last time I got a NY shave, it was lather from a can, and disposable straight blades, and when I asked, was told thats how it is.

Anybody have any other info on this?

Laws very from state to state. Generally barbers use disposables because it is easier than conventional straight razors in term of upkeep and sensitization. In Michigan is is legal to use a conventional straight razor and strop however brushes are not permitted. I have found that the best alternative is to use Lucky Tiger Molle brushless shaving cream in conjunction with hot lather from a latherizer.

Originally Posted by SRC

Avatar and Detroyt...I have been following your progress on here and it sounds like you are both doing well. When I am in Detroit this spring I will stop in for a haircut and see how you do...lol. PM me if you have any questions.

That's three of us in school!...Avatar and Detroyt, how far in are you? I started school in Merrillville, Indiana on Feb. 2. Scott, your input as a working barber will be highly valued. I wonder if there re others....

Maybe there should be a barber's corner here, or something.

Detroyt, haven't I seen you posting aver at the Barber Pole, also? Scott, have you visited there? It's a barbers, forum.

I haven't done much posting anywhere lately. Too busy driving and studying.

See 'ya around,

Kevin

Originally Posted by kevbell

That's three of us in school!...Avatar and Detroyt, how far in are you? I started school in Merrillville, Indiana on Feb. 2. Jim, your input as a working barber will be highly valued. I wonder if there re others....

Maybe there should be a barber's corner here, or something.

Detroyt, haven't I seen you posting aver at the Barber Pole, also? Jim, have you visited there? It's a barbers, forum.

I haven't done much posting anywhere lately. Too busy driving and studying.

See 'ya around,

Kevin

I started barber college in January. I think it would be an awesome idea if we had a barbers corner here perhaps I should start a new thread.

Good luck to ya this would be a great place to share our experiences.

I have been to the Barber Pole website several times Kevin but have not joined or posted there. With being busy at work and home SRP is the only one I have time for.

I have some friends in Merillville that I see quite often and maybe sometime I will stop in your school and you can give me a haircut.

Good luck to everyone on here who is in school.

Originally Posted by detroyt

Laws very from state to state. Generally barbers use disposables because it is easier than conventional straight razors in term of upkeep and sensitization. In Michigan is is legal to use a conventional straight razor and strop however brushes are not permitted. I have found that the best alternative is to use Lucky Tiger Molle brushless shaving cream in conjunction with hot lather from a latherizer.

+1 here. Here in PA, we are allowed to use traditional straights on customers. In fact, each barber shop is REQUIRED BY LAW to provide 2 razors, and a strop for each Barber employed in that shop. Just like detroyt, we cannot use brushes, and have to make due with canned cream, or a latherizer.

Originally Posted by kevbell

That's three of us in school!...Avatar and Detroyt, how far in are you? I started school in Merrillville, Indiana on Feb. 2. Scott, your input as a working barber will be highly valued. I wonder if there re others....

Maybe there should be a barber's corner here, or something.

Detroyt, haven't I seen you posting aver at the Barber Pole, also? Scott, have you visited there? It's a barbers, forum.

I haven't done much posting anywhere lately. Too busy driving and studying.

See 'ya around,

Kevin

I started school up here in Camp Hill, PA on Feb. 16 of this year. Will be done the beginning of December, and should take my boards that month if I'm ready for them I'm gonna have to look up this "Barber Pole" site...sounds interesting, but I doubt I'll find much time to post being busy with school and my son

I'd love to hear how your school operates Kevin

My way around it all, is to bring my own. As long as I am providing the barber with my personal tools, they can perform the services with them.

However its a bit of a pain in the ass to carry around the mug and brush and strop. But I typically can pocket 2 straights, and take them along with no problems. (of course the cops could give me grief for concealed weapons!)

Some barbers have never even used a real straight, and get all nervous. But mostly I try to find old timers, who usually smile a happy smile at the thought of shaving a guy with both the appreciation, and the tools!

The shaves I've had at Trumpers have both been with Feather type razors, but using the same brush and soap as everyone else. AFAIK, the barber only has to change the blade between each shave, but can still use the same brush and soap.

I'm going to have to try bringing in my own razor and strop next time though! I like the idea of handing a TI or Wacker to the barber and getting a shave with it. I'll have to phone them up and make sure they are happy to do it before I go next time.

Originally Posted by SRC

I have been to the Barber Pole website several times Kevin but have not joined or posted there. With being busy at work and home SRP is the only one I have time for.

I have some friends in Merillville that I see quite often and maybe sometime I will stop in your school and you can give me a haircut.

Good luck to everyone on here who is in school.

Scott,

I noticed in your profile that you are zeroing in on straight shaves in the shop. How cool is that! I'm going to do the same thing. I haven't found one other barber in South Bend that does a straight shave. So...the market's open and I plan to seize upon it.

Now to keep things on topic. Here in school we can use a brush and bowl. the school supplies a latherizer of course. Last week i shaved another student and made up my own superlather of Godrej Limes and a nice glycerin soap that a soap maker in Wynona lake, Indiana makes. It was a heck of a lot better than Campbells. I used a vintage badger brush to apply it. My "customer" liked it, also.
Of course in school we use disposable straights/blades. The one the school gives us is the Diane. Pakistani made thing. After school I'll use my Feather AC RG.
An instructor told me that we can use a conventional here in Indiana if we want. Of course they will have to be sanitized. I'm thinking opening the razor and putting the blade in hospital grade Barbisol for 5 or 10 minutes and wipe it down good to dry it off or dip it in alcohol to disperse the water and then a few passed on the linen.

Kevin

Originally Posted by kevbell

Scott,

I noticed in your profile that you are zeroing in on straight shaves in the shop. How cool is that! I'm going to do the same thing. I haven't found one other barber in South Bend that does a straight shave. So...the market's open and I plan to seize upon it.

Now to keep things on topic. Here in school we can use a brush and bowl. the school supplies a latherizer of course. Last week i shaved another student and made up my own superlather of Godrej Limes and a nice glycerin soap that a soap maker in Wynona lake, Indiana makes. It was a heck of a lot better than Campbells. I used a vintage badger brush to apply it. My "customer" liked it, also.
Of course in school we use disposable straights/blades. The one the school gives us is the Diane. Pakistani made thing. After school I'll use my Feather AC RG.
An instructor told me that we can use a conventional here in Indiana if we want. Of course they will have to be sanitized. I'm thinking opening the razor and putting the blade in hospital grade Barbisol for 5 or 10 minutes and wipe it down good to dry it off or dip it in alcohol to disperse the water and then a few passed on the linen.

Kevin

Do not ignore the value of a UV box as
well as time in addition to the use of hospital
grade Barbisol.

Barbisol + UV + wall clock time + soap and water is
better than any one in isolation.

You will also fall in love with the Feather in this context.
Now that Feather has three slightly different blades to select
from, you will be be able to match the new edge to
the face and whiskers much better than other solutions. This
matching the edge to the face is something some of the old
time barbers were able to do. Some customers will
appreciate the choice of a replaceable blade or a classic
straight, I know I would.

70% isopropyl alcohol (yes 70% is better than higher or lower concentrations concentrations, look it up) is an intermediate level disinfectant requiring a contact time of 10 minutes. Intermediate disinfection is sufficient for about anything except surgical instruments.

The only high level disinfectant that seems practical to use at home is boiling water. 20 minutes will kill just about everything, but to kill some of the more heat resistant bacterial spores (like those of the tetanus bacteria) you'll need more like 90 minutes. Boiling water seems like it might run a high risk of damaging your scales, inducing corrosion, or possibly harm the edge (not sure on that last one, just shooting in the dark).

For me, the only time I can see worrying about disinfecting a razor over just cleaning it is between users. If I were to give or loan a razor to someone, I'd alcohol soak it first, but that's me. Before I was medical, I probably wouldn't have even done that, but my training has made me a little paranoid.

But to each his own; if you wanna disinfect your razors, do your thing.