First straight razor shave at a hair salon...

My wife gave me a gift certificate to a place that does shaves (and massages, head shaving, hair cuts, etc.), so I figured I'd give it a try.

The woman who did the shave, used a hot towel, preshave lotion, and then shaved with a straight (and not a shavette), afterwards they did another hot towel, more moisturizer, and then a cold towel. I was surprised by several things...

She didn't use shaving cream at all! I was expecting some lather application, but she used some shaving lotion (not sure if more of the preshave or what).

Instead of three or so passes, like I do at home, she did just one pass. She used her one hand to stretch sections of my face, and then did very short strokes an small areas at a time (maybe 1" at the most), almost like a buffing motion.

There were times that it almost had a sensation of a dry shave, but wasn't uncomfortable (must have been a very sharp blade). She did reapply some lotion, during the process to certain areas.

Granted, she cheated a bit with hair clippers, before starting the whole process. Hitting a few of the spots with longer growth. I usually shave every other day, and today was the second day, although this was 1:30pm, so almost a half day longer.

The end result was a very close shave, and it was not irritation. I was surprised to say the least.

Just thought I'd share the experience.

Very surprised she did not use a shavette. Thought board of health did not allow reuse of a straight razor. You learn something new every day.

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Originally Posted by bouschie

Very surprised she did not use a shavette. Thought board of health did not allow reuse of a straight razor. You learn something new every day.

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I think it varies state to state. Last I looked here in VA, the barber's test still included honing/stropping a straight and use there-of and the law does not disallow their use, but it does require all bladed barber tools to be sanitized.

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Originally Posted by bouschie

Very surprised she did not use a shavette. Thought board of health did not allow reuse of a straight razor. You learn something new every day.

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Yeah, me too. Just from a liability standpoint, but I guess it is ok in NH. I was really surprised to be shaved without lather. She did will though.

I believe regular straight razors are not allowed here in TN for shaving or trimming the back of your neck. So, to get around that I take one of my own straight razors and when the barber starts to shave my neck I pull it out and say "Here, use this", you should see the look on their face! Only one of the ladies in the barber shop I go to has seen a real straight razor.

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Originally Posted by pcm

Yeah, me too. Just from a liability standpoint, but I guess it is ok in NH. I was really surprised to be shaved without lather. She did will though.

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Yea, that was also interesting. I wonder what she used instead of standard lather.

A barber in NH once explained to me, while performing an excellent shave with a Feather, that NH allows real razors, but they do not allow a barber to re-use a strop. Obviously that makes using a traditional razor highly impractical. I wonder if this barber you saw has found an alternative to a strop which could be sterilized? Maybe a fine hone?

Marshal, Not sure what she used... some kind of lotion that was applied before the hot towel, and then during the shaving process she reapplied several times.

thunderbidr47, I didn't see any stops around. I think the razor was in a jar of solution - I was wondering how they maintained the blade (and how many they have). I going to use the rest of my gift certificate for a massage on Tuesday - I'll have to try and ask them about what blade they use and how they maintain it.

I would imagine if you had the razor in barbicide, then strop, then reintroduce to barbicide, one could circumvent sanitary issues with a strop?

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Originally Posted by dinnermint

I would imagine if you had the razor in barbicide, then strop, then reintroduce to barbicide, one could circumvent sanitary issues with a strop?

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Mitigate the likelihood maybe, but not guaranteed circumvention.

Well, I would imagine if the only thing to toucheck the strop was a sanitized razor, that should keep things fairly clean. Whether that's sanitary enough for regulations is another thing.

Hopefully PCM will have more info for us after his next visit to the barber.

I was there today and had asked them some questions. The showed me the razor, which I really didn't get to see closely, when I was there. Turns out it is a shavette, which makes sense. They said that the state doesn't consider strops as sanitary.

There is one customer that comes in and brings his own straight razor and the one guy there uses it to shave him. They said the customer just sends the razor out to be sharpened, when needed. I guess if I want to pamper myself, I could go there for the whole hot towel treatment, and have them use one of my razors.

The barber I talked to today uses Tea Tree shaving cream, but said that each of them has their own preferences and techniques. The barber I had Saturday, likes to use a gel as it provides a lot of moisturizing (not sure of the brand).

Interesting...

Well, I have to say I was fully expecting to read yet another horror story by a member of a visit to a barber for a straight shave. I was very pleasantly surprised that it was a good experience this time! Those are pretty few and far between from what I have seen! Congrats to you for finding a decent place and getting a decent shave there. Good stuff.

Over the years I have had several "professional" shaves. I had one that featured quite a bit of overshared areas with a lot of weepers and a mild rash and have had several very good ones. The first was a very long time ago and had an old Italian guy shave me with a traditional razor. The last person I dot shaved by said that they can use a razor and strop in BC but nobody does because of the maintenance and in Alberta they can use a traditional straight but it has to be sterilized in an autoclave, so stainless scales only in Alberta I guess, and that goes for their shavettes too. There are some skilled hands out there and some that are still learning. The last shave I got the barber asked if I shave with a straight then why get a barber shave. The answer is quite simple, I can get a perfect shave at home but not the whole treatment. I still like to try the different shops for a full service shave.

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Originally Posted by DoughBoy68

I believe regular straight razors are not allowed here in TN for shaving or trimming the back of your neck. So, to get around that I take one of my own straight razors and when the barber starts to shave my neck I pull it out and say "Here, use this", you should see the look on their face! Only one of the ladies in the barber shop I go to has seen a real straight razor.

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I take one of my razors so Bob the Barber can do my neck and sideburns. He thinks Bruno blades are awesome but prefers a 5/8 for normal shaving.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

Over the years I have had several "professional" shaves. I had one that featured quite a bit of overshared areas with a lot of weepers and a mild rash and have had several very good ones. The first was a very long time ago and had an old Italian guy shave me with a traditional razor. The last person I dot shaved by said that they can use a razor and strop in BC but nobody does because of the maintenance and in Alberta they can use a traditional straight but it has to be sterilized in an autoclave, so stainless scales only in Alberta I guess, and that goes for their shavettes too. There are some skilled hands out there and some that are still learning. The last shave I got the barber asked if I shave with a straight then why get a barber shave. The answer is quite simple, I can get a perfect shave at home but not the whole treatment. I still like to try the different shops for a full service shave.

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Did you find a Barber in Haida Gwaii that still used a straight or shavette? Plus...you live in Haida Gwaii? You lucky dog you!! :)

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Originally Posted by Attila

Did you find a Barber in Haida Gwaii that still used a straight or shavette? Plus...you live in Haida Gwaii? You lucky dog you!! :)

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There are no barbers here that do any shaves. In fact at times I am hard pressed to get a simple hair cut. The closest barber that does straight shaves is in Prince George. All of the shaves I have gotten from barbers in recent times has been on mainland trips. I have lived here for not quite all of my life, but since I was a small child. It is the very end of everything, and there are not a lot of people that choose to call this home.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

and there are not a lot of people that choose to call this home.

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That is a rare thing this day and age. Everywhere is looking crowded these days. Need me a trip to the country soon I think.

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Originally Posted by RezDog

There are no barbers here that do any shaves. In fact at times I am hard pressed to get a simple hair cut. The closest barber that does straight shaves is in Prince George. All of the shaves I have gotten from barbers in recent times has been on mainland trips. I have lived here for not quite all of my life, but since I was a small child. It is the very end of everything, and there are not a lot of people that choose to call this home.

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Sounds like a place i would like. I was born and raised very country and now live close to the Tn. River with almost no neighbors. I've seen films of BC and with the help of the computer have seen the area where you live. It has to be beautiful.

My first pro shave was across the pond. She was a real looker (or hooker) and I was young so quality really didn't matter.

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).

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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).

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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

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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.

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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


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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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


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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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 :D