Thread: First straight razor shave at a hair salon...

Originally Posted by pcm

It was nice to experience, a bucket list kind of thing. There is another barber in a neighboring town that does shaves too, and there is a barber at this place that will do a shave using the razor you bring. May try again some time, when I want to pamper myself.

For now, I'm pretty happy with my own shaving skills (haven't had a nick in months - knock on wood).

Hey pcm - I also live in Southern New Hampshire, there are at least 2 barbers in my town (Milford, NH) that do straight razor shaves. I believe they use a shavette as well. These are just regular barbers with the barber pole out front - not salons. I don't know where you are in NH but you might want to try one of those places. When I go in to get a haircut, we always talk about straights but I've never gotten a shave at a barber shop or a salon. Might have to give it a try after reading about your experience. Any other folks in Southern New Hampshire into honing? Maybe we can all get together and share some tips and tricks. I've been honing for a little over a year.

Adam

I'm near Manchester., where one place is and another is in Nashua. Not sure how many people around the area into straight razors, but it would be fun to get together with people.

great to hear some a good experience was had
I have had several shaves by "barbers" & been disappointed every time
all but 1 have had a go with one of my str8s but finished with the Shavette still
& have a voucher from the Daughter for a new guy in town to try so hopefully he will be onto it a bit better

Originally Posted by pcm

I'm near Manchester., where one place is and another is in Nashua. Not sure how many people around the area into straight razors, but it would be fun to get together with people.

Yes it would - maybe we can find someone who is an expert at honing and see if they would be willing to teach a few of us. I think you and I have both been honing for about a year and are getting pretty good results. I would love to have my technique critiqued by someone with more experience.

Adam


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Originally Posted by aalbina

Yes it would - maybe we can find someone who is an expert at honing and see if they would be willing to teach a few of us. I think you and I have both been honing for about a year and are getting pretty good results. I would love to have my technique critiqued by someone with more experience.

Adam


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Yeah me too - would love to get pointers from an experienced honer. I have a stainless steel razor (won from SRP) and it'll need honing in another month or so. Will be interested in knowing if there are different techniques/procedures with that type of steel.

Iv'e only had one shave from a barber and he could have not done any better. He is about my age 57 and an experienced barber from Russia. He used my 1830 Wostenholm. I brought 2 razors with me a 9/16ths Greaves and the Wostenholm. He chose the later, said the Greaves was to big. I think he got a bigger kick out of using the old straight then I got out of the shave. I will definitely be back for another.

There is a story in Illinois that straight razors can not be used in barber shops. I had a good friend who is a barber here tell me that was BULL. He said most barbers just don't want to take the time to learn to hone - strop & properly use a real straight razor. One other barber friend said he would shave me with a razor that was mine & I may ask for a gift card for my "B"day to get the full treatment shave. He does a lot of shavette shaves.
Think I will take a couple for him to choose from. My Pre. 1881 7/8" Wade & Butcher hollow ground or my Red Imp. Two very different razors but both give great shaves. I will also take my vintage Koken Shell Cordavan strop.

Slawman

There's a barber shop I go to when I can, near Chicago, NW burbs, that uses a straight with a hair cut. The barber, an older guy, lathers, strops and uses a straight to shave the back of the neck. I've never seen a sign or indication that they do straight razor shaves, and I don't know about the law. Not all the barbers there do that, but the older guy does. It still makes for a very nice finishing touch on a hair cut.

Addition: I've not seen him strop but the strop is hanging there. It's not a new razor either but a sharp one and is cleaned with barbicide .

I have a haircut scheduled for Friday, I'm going to bring a straight and tell her to trim up the back with it