Thread: Any Barbers out there?

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?

My dear Medic 484,

No, I am not a barber, but I have the highest regards for real barbers. Indeed, it is a noble profession. I wish you the best in your studies to become a real barber.

Regards,

Obie

I am not a barber either but something interesting happened to me this week. I stopped into a new Mens barbershop that offered "Hot Towel Shaves" I decided to get one as I have never had anyone else shave my face in my life. Well, the barber gave me a subpar shave but he was on to something. Theres noone in my area that gives old school shaves anymore. My wife said"maybe after you retire in 2 years you should start a gentlemans barbershop and offer straight razor shaves, you do a waaaaay better job than that guy did" Well, I doubt I can cut hair but I think giving shaves would be cool, bad thing is, you cant survive just giving shaves. I wish you luck Medic, I think what you are doing is awesome! I always thought a shop that catered to men is what every city needs. Leather couches, sports on the TV, Pool table, a humidor full of fine stogies, and a master barber giving haircuts, shaves, and telling stories.........Ahhhh the life!

Billy

So is shaving with a traditional straight razor legal in Massachusetts? I'm not talking shavette, which should be legal since they use disposable blades. I got a shave from a barber in Colorado this summer but he said legally he couldn't use a straight razor. He used a disposable and cleaned up with a shavette. I'm just wondering because I'd like to find somewhere in the U.S. where I could get a real barber shave. And since it looks like I might be visiting Boston in the next few months.....

Keenedge,

That's interesting about the Colorado barber's comment regarding the use of straight razors being illegal in barbershops. I have never heard of that. Unless, it has something to do with insurance, maybe?

Perhaps one of the Straight Razor Place experts can explain the Colorado barber's claim.

Regards,

Obie

Most states will allow a barber to give a shave but they must have a onetime use blade so most that still offer a straight shave use the straight looking razors with the disposable blades a shavette. If you can find an old barber that has been trained and take one of your blades to them some will give you a shave with your own razor! I don't know that this helps any but I just thought I would throw that in. And Medic I hope you do well in your quest to become a barber! I only go to old barbers to get my hair cut. They seem to always do the best job!! So seek out an old barber and just learn all you can!

In Mass you cannot use a straight for reasons of hygine, you just cant get then clean enough for public use, although mabey if they were autoclaved, and of stainless steel blade and scale, so here and i suspect most areas of the states barbers use a shavette, im gonna make so inquieries. I hope to be able to deliver a proper shave with the shavette. My plan is for my own shop would be five years down the road after Ive got some experience, ha! was gonna say after Ive got some cuts and shaves under my belt but that does'nt seem to be saying what I mean to say, that would be for a differnt forum.

Originally Posted by Obie

Keenedge,
That's interesting about the Colorado barber's comment regarding the use of straight razors being illegal in barbershops. I have never heard of that. Unless, it has something to do with insurance, maybe?

Obie,
I think it had to do with sanitary regulations. From what I remember, when AIDS came along many health regulations started to change. I may have that wrong though, since the information is coming from my feeble memory.

In just about every state that I know of you can't use straights for sanitary reasons and its in the health codes. Even in states where its legal (if it is) many won't because of insurance issues. No different with using the same shave brush on everyone, you can't do that either. Of course you could set up shop in your house and do it as a private thing but you'd never get insurance.

Originally Posted by keenedge

Obie,
I think it had to do with sanitary regulations. From what I remember, when AIDS came along many health regulations started to change.

That's exactly what my barber told me recently. He said certain states still allow the traditional shave, but you have to have a special license (something about barbering license vs. cosmetology license) and the process was very tedious and expensive. Alas, we get the same thing as others described: hot towel & a disposable-blade razor.