Thread: Argument with a Barber

So, you didn't actually get a shave? Hard to judge that way

Even with the best training and schooling you can still be wrong.

So can anybody that is unschooled. So it goes both ways, who's to say what's right and wrong. Only one way to know for sure, practical application


My local haircutter / barber is obligated to use a shavette for hygienic purposes and doesn't use the most high end gear, but she gives decent shaves and her technique is on point. Nothing wrong with her method.

I don't shave that way, but we're kinda maniacal about our shaving. Actually a bit 'abnormal' about it, in a good way.

Had he not gotten all arrogant and started telling me how good he was and just asked if I wanted a shave and showed me how good he was I wouldn't have had the inclination to question his experience. I was taught to be confident in your field not arrogant. Show your work don't talk about it. I guess it was just how the guy came off and the fact he was using a no name ebay special shavette. Had he pulled out a feather shavette I would've been like ok this guy knows something. But the fact he was reciting words from a barber textbook, and using sub par tools, I'm gonna call bullshit on his "best shave of your life" claim.

-Laramie-

I am by no means saying you can't get a good shave from a cheap shavette, simply saying there are better tools better suited for the job. Just like a walmart hammer will hammer nails, any carpenter will tell you that a balanced quality hammer will make the world of a difference.

The two guys who own my barbershop used to give straight razor shaves (presumably with a shavette), but quit doing so due to the high cost of liability insurance. They still shave the back of the neck, but not around the ears. They do not use a new blade for each customer. They only dip the razor and blade in Barbicide. The skin of my neck is far less sensitive than my face, but from the harsh feel of the blade on my neck, I would not want them anywhere near my face.

I have only been going to a barber for a few years now. For over 40 years, my wife cut my hair, using nothing but scissors and a shavette. I much prefer that to the clippers the barber uses.

Originally Posted by yondermountain91

I am by no means saying you can't get a good shave from a cheap shavette, simply saying there are better tools better suited for the job. Just like a walmart hammer will hammer nails, any carpenter will tell you that a balanced quality hammer will make the world of a difference.

I get your point.
But what's the difference, in the end you're shaving with a shavette blade, I couldn't care less what type of shavette is used.

I don't like DE or shavette blades personally, so there's that.

However I agree with using high quality equipment and the right tools for the job in my personal life and will spend the money for them.

Then again, my friend who's a professional musician can play amazingly well on my crappy guitars, while I can't play nearly as well on his exuberantly expensive ones.
So again, don't always judge by what he uses and see what he can do first. Sometimes the people that learned to use crappy equipment had to up their skill n'at

I'd prefer a good hammer for carpeting as well, but know others that use regular ones and do a perfect job with them, I wouldn't personally do it myself, but whatever works for whomever.

I'm also not a fan of arrogant people, but that's life, it's how they are, they won't change.


Somehow this reminds me of those Indian / on the banks of Ganges shavette shaves you see popping up from time to time, I wonder how good those are, guys seem to be skillful

Originally Posted by yondermountain91

I am by no means saying you can't get a good shave from a cheap shavette, simply saying there are better tools better suited for the job. Just like a walmart hammer will hammer nails, any carpenter will tell you that a balanced quality hammer will make the world of a difference.

I don't recall seeing any 8/8 W&B straights being used by barbers when I was a kid and they used them. Dollars to donuts they probably used something like a 5/8 DD #1 Special. Besides being barbers they ran a business and used what works for the least outlay in cash to buy. I don't see the business angle has changed much with using inexpensive shavettes as opposed to Feather ones. Pretty don't shave.

Bob

The big populars for a barber when I was a boy too young to shave were Red Imps, Yankee Shavers, and an assortment of ducks and engels and "economy supply"
In NY, barbers are not allowed to use a true straight, but they ARE allowed to use YOUR straight.
The fella by me does a passable job, with as much time spent on hot towels as the shave. He does it more as a hobby to fill his retirement hours, so he doesnt care if hes only charging 10 bucks a shave. Hes not losing out on 4 $25 dollar haircuts while hes chatting away with his limited clientele.
He enjoys using the straights I bring him, but still goes back to his shavettet when he needs to clean up the tricky areas. He lacks the confidence, and the insurance!

It's been many a year since I had a barber shave me. He'd gotten his Barber's License after he got out of the service at the end of WW2.

He used regular straights and from what I recall they were probably in the 5/8 area. He didn't use a brush but the lather machine. However he was quite particular about the prep-hot towel etc.

He 'Always' stropped before giving a shave OR if he trimmed around my ears and neck.

As I said, it's been many a year ago since I had a barber's shave but back then you could get a shave and a haircut for $10.

There's a couple of barbers here who give shaves with the shavettes and I asked one about bringing in a pre-stropped razor of my own and having him shave me.

He said he couldn't due to state law. Well I thought that was BS so I went looking. Sure as hell, he was right.

Oh well.

My barber gives a great haircut that is fully military compliant. She went through hair cutting school and is quite competent, but there is no way I would even consider letting her give me a shave. She does make me dinner though, and takes care of our kids. Yep, wife cuts my hair and was trained to do so (she didn't like the work environment so she never did hair cutting outside of family). As far as shaving, I prefer to do it myself. I would consider a shave at a barber if they could still use a real straight razor, but as has already been mentioned, that isn't allowed in NY.

I've only been shaved by a barber once, in Rome. It was before I got into wet shaving, so I wasn't paying much attention to what he was doing, but I had quite a lot of irritation afterwards. I do remember he spent time mapping my hair before beginning the shave, though. Too bad it didn't work out too well.

The barbershop I went to in Montreal was amazing, and I always meant to get a shave there but never did. Hopefully I'll still have a chance one day, but it will be difficult now that I live 90 minutes away. The shop is owned by two brothers originally from Sicily who emigrated to Montreal back in the 70s. Their current shop has been open since the early 80s and they're still going strong. They charge $20 for a haircut and $15 for a shave (CAD).

The first time I was in their shop, they had just opened for the day and the one brother was shaving himself. In Quebec (and I'm guessing in the rest of Canada as well), they also need to use shavettes. But watching this guy shave, it was obvious he knew what he was doing. He got an amazingly close 1 pass shave. Since then I've seen him shave people's heads, but never their beards - but I would trust him to shave my face, I'm positive it would be a good shave. The only reason I never got around to it is that I also enjoy shaving myself.

We've talked a bit about straight razors. They grew up shaving with them in the old country, but found they could never get them sharp enough in Montreal - they blamed the climate. That, along with the laws against using straights for customers, made them eventually give up on them and move full time to shavettes.