Thread: Nothing against the Barbers

kevint, you mentioned a straight shave you received from a barber. Is there an implied assumption that today's barber will have a generally equivalent level of skill in straight shaving as a barber from a hundred years ago?

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

kevint, you mentioned a straight shave you received from a barber. Is there an implied assumption that today's barber will have a generally equivalent level of skill in straight shaving as a barber from a hundred years ago?

How could the average barber in Averagetown, U.S. today have a skill level rivaling that of the barber 100 years ago when the average barber can probably count the number of shaves he's done in a year on two hands?

I talked with a very young recently trained barber earlier this year when I was in his shop. We talked for a bit about straight razor shaving. He was a very nice guy but was clearly more impressed with showing me how quickly he could flip open his Shavette weapon style (in a manner that I wouldn't even think of doing with a real straight out of respect for the razor) than he was about talking about anything specific with shaving.

Chris L

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

kevint, you mentioned a straight shave you received from a barber. Is there an implied assumption that today's barber will have a generally equivalent level of skill in straight shaving as a barber from a hundred years ago?

No implication and no assumption. I was "just sayin'" that I've had one.

It is equally assumptive to believe there existed the same standard of what a shave should be 100 years ago, compared to what our expectations are today as hobbyist.

Originally Posted by kevint

No implication and no assumption. I was "just sayin'" that I've had one.

It is equally assumptive to believe there existed the same standard of what a shave should be 100 years ago, compared to what our expectations are today as hobbyist.

I agree, and maybe the comparison would be similar to giving yourself a haircut today and getting a haircut from a barber. Some will be better than others

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I agree, and maybe the comparison would be similar to giving yourself a haircut today and getting a haircut from a barber. Some will be better than others

I knew you were giving me enough rope to hang myself....

In nearly every class I have ever taken the first thing we do is throw away the required textbook then learn how it's really done

Well, nothing against beginners either. But given the choice I'd rather be shaved by a barber than a newbie. And nothing against hobbiests either, but given a post on here or a barbers manual; I'll take the manual.

Having written several textbooks I am very familiar with the know it all instructor, most of whom were not doing so well in their chosen field to begin with.

At the suggestion of Alan quite some time ago, I followed stropping and TPT instructions from the barber's manual verbatim and they've both served me very very well. Thanks again, Alan!

Chris L

We've had these discussions in the past and I think they are silly and I mean no disrespect to the opener of the discussion.

I can still remember going to a barber in the 1950s and seeing people being shaved with a straight. What you maybe don't realize is modern barbers have NO formal training in straight usage with very few exceptions and do not have to demonstrate any proficiency in its use. In the old days barbers couldn't get a license until they passed a practical shaving test with a straight. Most people who use a disposable these days are self taught and when you go to them you are their source of practice.

If you got a shave by a barber in the old days you walked out of the shop with a shave far better than you could give yourself with few exceptions and if you were nicked by a barber or had any irritation, after punching the guy out he would never work giving shaves again.

Most people today seem to have an inability to accept the fact that barbers were expert at giving shaves but this was fact and as generally accepted as the sun rising in the east every morning.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Well, nothing against beginners either. But given the choice I'd rather be shaved by a barber than a newbie. And nothing against hobbiests either, but given a post on here or a barbers manual; I'll take the manual.

Having written several textbooks I am very familiar with the know it all instructor, most of whom were not doing so well in their chosen field to begin with.

I can see the manual as a starting point, not the final word on the art of straight razor shaving. Given the choice I wager that an average SRP whisker wiper would choose his own honing over the average barber shop razor of 100 years ago.

We can learn a great deal from them. Like I said: it's nothing against barbers.... but i think i'm better than you

Originally Posted by kevint

We can learb a great deal from them. Like I said: it's nothing against barbers.... but i think i'm better than you

No.

I don't really think we've blown the lid on straight shaving compared to old traditional barbers, but if I was shaving 10 faces every day instead of one I'd expect to be better.