Thread: Any Barbers out there?

Originally Posted by medic484

Im planning on barber school in the Boston area and really want to pursue barbering as an art and craft including straight razor shaves. Ive seen a few chains trying to provide a "gentlemens" shave and cut but they seem more of a gimmick. Im a convert to the straight razor for my own shaving,and practice and learn all I can. Other enthusiest are you there?

I own a barbershop in Mass and it is not illegal to shave with a traditional straight-edge as long as you abide the code of sanitation. As a shaving enthusiast myself, I would be a hypocrite not to offer as legit Straight Shave at my shop and it is definitely a service that people in the boston area are searching for. I choose to use a shavette (Magic Razor) simply because the customer feels more comfortable seeing the barber place a fresh clean blade in the razor every use, also, I am not very good at honing and stropping a razor and I am currently unable to get an edge as clean/sharp as the disposables.

I am also a Master Barber in SC and we provide straight razor shaves. We also use shavettes but offer the traditional razor if they want the experience. Only a few people have ever requested it. It is a much needed and desired service that Men want and should never be faded out of the Barber shop.

Originally Posted by LowCountryBarber

I LOVE WHAT I DO!

EVERY SINGLE BARBER I've talked to says this same exact thing. When I look at that in comparison to my attitudes towards my boss/job, I wonder what's holding me back from making the switch.

Good for you.

A question for the barbers here... What I had heard some years ago was that the reason for not allowing the traditional straight razor shave was the concern about transmitting the long lived Hepatitis bug. Whats more, it was said that the strop was the main carrier of the bug since it could not be sterilized. Any comments?

I used to get straight razor shaves in Brooklyn, in a barber shop across from Cangiano's on 13th Ave. It was a two chair barber shop that was caught in a time warp, the guy who shaved me smoked cigars, had a Clark Gable mustache and always wore a suit. No shavette there. Cream massage, hot towel, lather, hot towel, lather, shave, lather, shave, hot towel, after shave (that felt like lava for a second or two), a couple of slaps and out the door. I think I paid $13 last time I was there, 18 years ago. That and a shoeshine used to be my treat back then. You know you feel like a dandy after a good shave an shine!

Now I get a "straight" shave in NYC, on 46th between 6th and 7th, and get a shavette job. He misses the spots where my hair is a bit too independent, but I get a decent shave, although not as nice a shave or treatment as I got in Brooklyn.

Got one last week and on impulse (since my two straights are being cleaned and honed by a well known guy here) I asked him if he would use my straight if I brought it in... his answer? "oh, no... those things are dangerous!" I kid you not.

Once, in this place, I almost got a bic shave. When I saw the guy get the disposable I complained, and the owner stepped in and did a shavette shave.

For the record, a haircut is $18 and a shave is $20 there, which I find to be a fair price. All said, after tipping the barber a whooping $7 and the shampoo girl an exorbitant $5 it comes out to a round fifty spot. I don't get a shave with every haircut, though.

Now that I think about it... the two slap thing... is that something common or it's just that the guy didn't like me?

I am actually thinking of applying to a barber school and have certainly been shopping around. After a bad experience with the local technical school basically ripping me off over a technology certification that was not supported I am reluctant to apply to another program there. They do however offer a restricted Barber and Master Barber course plus state examination. Wording that seems to be lacking in most schools I have looked at in Florida. I did find Florida Barber Academy in Pompano Beach near Miami that actually specifies on their site that they teach hot lather shave, but its so very far away clear on the other end of the state. Fact of the matter is I have just about exhausted all of my educational options financially speaking and due to economic changes with the workforces that those educational routes fallow.
I'm not anymore fond of hard labor than the next guy and as much as I fancy myself an artist, lets face it art doesn't generally pay the bills, much less for its own materials. Considering my own vain eccentricities, I'm good with my hands and although I have drawn tattoos I'm just not good enough to put them on people. So I figure why not. The sterility of instruments within a tattoo shop is very much the same as a barbers if not to a greater standard and I am quite well versed. A few shops I have been in were actually converted from old barbershops, they even have a similar smell from the styptics and medicated moisturizers.
I'm still trying to find information on the laws governing tool usage in Florida per say but I'm sure its legal in Georgia because I saw a youtube vid showing a straight razor shave at "The Art of Shaving" that I believe was in Atlanta. I do not see why a fully stainless steal razor (&scales) could not be autoclaved or at the very least boiled without loosing temper. I think disinfectant or alcohol would be sufficient as carbon steel is argued to give a better edge. Why is there a need to disinfect the strop? Of what I know, and do myself is strop after drying my razors to be sure the blade is clear of moisture before putting them away. The alcohol evaporating should aid in drying so would it not make sense to disinfect prior to stropping for the next shave anyway? It would seem feasible to add an antimicrobicide to strop dressing. SRD even sells Vegan friendly synthetic material strops that might behave differently to disinfection.
I have not told anyone that I am looking into attending a barber school yet. Its bound to turn a few heads since I don't often get my hair cut. The last couple times I donated 10" or more to Locks of Love. For awhile a lady cut my hair as she bounced from shops and salons I fallowed her around. She had a large male clientele, apparently lots of bikers, lol no doubt they enjoy the salon shampoo too. My barbershop experiences in the past were not always great. I think the last barber I went too kept trying to talk me into a buzz cut. The last trim I got for free from a friend of mine that went to the cosmetology program at the same technical school and she said styling mens hair was harder in her opinion more than likely because there is allot less to work with sometimes. I do worry about the beauty school drop out stigma with all the cosmetology schools that offer some form of barber or mens styling program ergo Paul Mitchel Orlando. Hell there is in AVEDA in just about every major city in the state now. More and more I'm seeing barbering as a trade skill that is as mentioned above recession proof and has much to do with skill. Not only are full service barbers coming back into popularity but it could potentially be a profession I enjoy with the ability to produce a sustainable income. I know folks tossing pizza with masters degrees. More than likely If I have to move to go to a better school it may wait a bit. Several of my friends are intrigued with my interest in straight razors and have volunteered completely on their own accord to be shaved except I'm still trying to get better at shaving myself first.
Wonder if they will freak at the site of tarnish or water/lather spots/marks on my old bangers? Its just good old fashioned workmanship!

Hepatitis is the major concern with strops. Disinfecting the strop is not practical.

I understand hepatitis is the blood borne disease of today but I fail to see how it can be transferred to the strop from the razor unless the razor was not sterilized after its previous shave before being stropped again.

Your correct,and nailed the problem. The barbers were not effectively sterilizing the razor after the shave & before stropping. IIRC, alcohol is not effective in killing the hepatitis bacteria. The most effective stuff is Barbercide/Clippercide and takes awhile.

Hope this helps,