Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 29
Like Tree37Likes

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

  1. #1
    pcm
    pcm is offline
    Senior Member pcm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    562
    Thanked: 41

    Default 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.
    Regards,

    PCM

  2. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Pompano Beach, FL
    Posts
    4,014
    Thanked: 631

    Default

    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.

  3. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Posts
    2,224
    Thanked: 481

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bouschie View Post
    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.

  4. #4
    pcm
    pcm is offline
    Senior Member pcm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    562
    Thanked: 41

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bouschie View Post
    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.
    Regards,

    PCM

  5. #5
    Senior Member DoughBoy68's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Crossville, TN
    Posts
    1,711
    Thanked: 304

    Default

    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.
    Marshal likes this.
    "If You Knew Half of What I Forgot You Would Be An Idiot" - by DoughBoy68

  6. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Virginia, USA
    Posts
    2,224
    Thanked: 481

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by pcm View Post
    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.

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    53
    Thanked: 4

    Default

    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?

  8. #8
    pcm
    pcm is offline
    Senior Member pcm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Southern NH
    Posts
    562
    Thanked: 41

    Default

    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.
    Regards,

    PCM

  9. #9
    Senior Member dinnermint's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Waukesha, Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,943
    Thanked: 390

    Default

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

  10. #10
    illegitimum non carborundum Utopian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Rochester, MN
    Posts
    11,544
    Thanked: 3795
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dinnermint View Post
    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.
    rolodave and aalbina like this.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •