Thread: 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

Mitigate the likelihood maybe, but not guaranteed circumvention.