Thread: Barber Shave Breakin' The Law

I just called every barber in my city. Not a single one offers a shave of any kind.

Maybe I'll get some more practice under my belt and start a new business

Has everyone forgotten the old flavor favorite "Barbers Itch"? And then of course there was Ring Worm etc. etc. I think that today most gents are bit better kept, hygiene wise that in the <gulp> olden days that I remember. With HIV, the various hepatitis strains and whatnot, it's best to be on the safe side. Cleaning a straight shouldn't be much trouble but the strop is an entirely different story...... and it is capable of transferring all kinds of nasties to the blade considering that most barbers would have to reach for it on a regular basis during a shave.

I just wish that barbers who want to provide shaves, would do so with a Feather AC rather than a shavette or clone... those DE blades are just too damn thin and flex too much for a truly comfortable shave on my face at least.

Regards

Christian

When I lived in Manhattan there was (and probably still is) a place called 3 Aces and they gave the best straight shave I ever had - that wasn't done by my own hand. At the time I think it was $5 for a shave. They would do the hot towel routine. Hot lather and did a really nice job. I used to go once a week and it was a great way to start a day off. I can't remember for the life of me whether they used an actual straight or a shavette.

I also learned by calling around that there is a place that apparently deals in illegal shaves. It probably does all come down to barbers not sanitizing their blades and diseases/rashes etc being spread.

I'll have to check out these rebels that give shaves around here and see how they do. It would be worth the drive for a nice relaxing shave.

Who would think that letting another person put a razor to your throat would be a relaxing experience!

I live in Tarpon Springs, FL, and there is a barber here that still offers straight razor shaves. I haven't been there to have it done since I do my own, but I have considered it.

Originally Posted by kaptain_zero

Cleaning a straight shouldn't be much trouble but the strop is an entirely different story...... and it is capable of transferring all kinds of nasties to the blade considering that most barbers would have to reach for it on a regular basis during a shave.

With a good blade, there would be no need to strop during a shave.
Most INOX blades are capable of keeping their edge long enough...
If a barber uses quality steel, The strop wouldn't be an issue.
He could strop before the shave with a sterilized blade, or strop before he sterilizes... but there is no reason for a dirty blade to touch a strop.
I frequently dip my blade in near boiling water while I'm shaving, this would be easy to set up, and maintain, and there's nothing like a hot blade against your skin.

The barber could even use a fresh blade for each pass, if stropping was such a huge issue, and he wanted a freshly stropped blade that often... It's really no more difficult to sterilize 3 blades than one. He would just need to have more razors to chose from.

The barber I have been going to for many years still does straight razor shaves just about every day. A haircut done by him for those of us that get the whitewall cut still includes shaving with a razor around the ears and the back of the neck as it should. Probably a vanishing thing I suppose.

I got a straight shave in San Diego, and when I mentioned that most barbers would not give a straight shave (or with a real straight) because of bugs etc, he wanted to know if that was true what did they sterilize their clippers in?
I don't know what the real law says, but wouldn't be surprised if there is a lot of misinformation.

John P.

Originally Posted by Loochie

When I lived in Manhattan there was (and probably still is) a place called 3 Aces and they gave the best straight shave I ever had - that wasn't done by my own hand. At the time I think it was $5 for a shave. They would do the hot towel routine. Hot lather and did a really nice job. I used to go once a week and it was a great way to start a day off. I can't remember for the life of me whether they used an actual straight or a shavette.

I also learned by calling around that there is a place that apparently deals in illegal shaves. It probably does all come down to barbers not sanitizing their blades and diseases/rashes etc being spread.

I'll have to check out these rebels that give shaves around here and see how they do. It would be worth the drive for a nice relaxing shave.

Who would think that letting another person put a razor to your throat would be a relaxing experience!

I used to go to that exact barber shop and they DO NOT use a real straight, just a disposable. As far as I know, it is illegal across America to use traditional straights on customers. Of course there are places that break the law and will offer a shave with a real straight but the spreading of disease is just the tip of the iceberg. Personally I would not be able to relax with a stranger shaving my face unless I was 100% certain he was a master at using a straight. That is my biggest issue with this concept.

My understanding on this is that it not actually illegal in most areas to give a straight razor shave, but most barbers will tell you it is as an easy out on why they don't offer them. Also it is becoming a dieing art for most barbers as it is not taught at most of the barber schools anymore. My wife used to be a barber and when she took her state exam in Arizona many years ago that was a skill she had to demonstrate was the ability to give a satisfactory straight shave, it is no longer part of the exam requirements unfortunately.

Chief

My old barber in long beach, CA used a real straight (MV, I'll have to send you the location info.) as did all that used his shop.

But then he flouted the law, he used to be a customer at the cigarette shop I worked at. I decided to start using him when he said that customers complained about him smoking cigars in his shop and his response was to stop cutting right then and say "feel free to go."