Thread: That's it, now I've got to go to Vegas again

http://www.lasplash.com/BeautyAndBod...r_s_Day_2_.php

Good article!

Went there about a month ago, it rocked. Here is the story I posted on another forum after my trip there.


I went to Vegas. I had a great time to say the least. I stopped by T + H and looked around. They had all the creams layed out for my scent examination and the customer service rep (a woman) told me which were the most popular. I found some I liked, and some I didn't. They gave me a few samples for free, but then I turned around and bought a tub of the sample scent anyway. She showed me a long handled DE which they wanted $75 for. It was a typical Merkur so I passed but I decided I wanted one after checking it out. Seeing things first hand was great. I'll visit classicshaving.com later. The creams ran $22 each, reasonable. The razor was about 3 times the going price. She told me the creams lasted 6 months which I found strange to hear from a woman but I think thats about right. She was very professional and knew what she was talking about. I looked at few straight razors that were overpriced as well. My girlfriend suggested I get a shave while I was there. At $65, I thought I would pass. She insisted that I deserved it. They were able to get me in right away (unusual, I suggest a reservation if your interested, they had a "party" at the time I assume a pre-wedding group of guys getting shaved)

The shave was by a young man (my gf assured me he was gay) who appeared to me to be about 25 and sortof metrosexual looking (hopefully you understand that reference) He was professional and well groomed, I'll leave it at that. I sat down and he checked on my beard and asked if I could handle an against the grain shave. I said "yes" and he asked if I had ever had a straight shave before I said "Yes, I shave with one occasionally" (I usually use one on the weekends). I asked him "What kind of razor are you using?" and he said something like "Persona, with an injector blade" I was thinking...dang I gotta see this.

Then it began. He placed a hot towel on my face, folding it over my forehead after it layed on my face, then checked my nose to ensure I had a clear airway. The towel was not wet but somehow moist and hot. So no water ran down my neck at all. I immediately felt my arteries in my face start to pound. He added a second towel afterward waiting about 2 min between each. He then applied a generous amount of shaving oil to my face. I noted the towel and the oil were scented in some kind of exotic scent that began to just loosen all my worries in life. After the oil he applied hot lather from one of those lather machines. Shortly afterward he turned my head and began shaving...

I could barely feel the razor on my face but could tell I was being shaved, a pleasant feeling. I began to realize as my mind wandered into and out of blissful relaxation that his technique was amazing. I realized what stretching the skin for a straight shave really was and what a hack I had been all this time (I have been straight shaving for about 1 year). He placed his thumb and index finger on my face about 2 inches apart and separated his fingers forcefully. He did this for every single inch on my face, carefully shaving with care every millimeter of skin. As he shaved I began to drift in an out of a nirvana kind of sleep and lost all sense of time. It was an amazing feeling. Although I didnt fall asleep I was almost there and yet was still somehow "aware".

He did three passes total, applying oil and cream with each pass. He paused momentarily as he replaced the blade on the razor before the upward against the grain pass (or as you say on this forum, the S-N pass). At one point he grabbed my entire chin in a technique I never even imagined lifted it up and shaved my neck. He then said "you can relax now" referring to the chin extension. I laughed, I have never been so relaxed in all my life, save for a few deep tissue massages I have received. Being told to relax seemed funny. Really cool.

He applied a hot towel (something I wasn't expecting) then a warm towel, then a cool towel and examined his work. Then applied a fabulous aftershave (I typically don't use one) He began examining and worrying over a spot, applied what I could tell was styptic on my face. He looked really worried and angry with himself. I asked "did you nick me?" because I expected to feel blood running down my face and didn't. As an aside, I have actually nicked out a small portion of my chin permantely, I think, learning to straight shave so I figured a little blood is no big deal. He said "Ohhh gosh no, you had a pimple and its seeping a little". Jeez, this guy was pretty good.

You will probably think this is stupid but I'm going to be honest with you...its a forum after all. At this point I felt kinda wierd. I became a little teary eyed and emotional, like I had just "felt" my own emotional spot in the world and truely realized how great my life really is. It was the scents and the shave and all the doding this barber had done on my shave...it was the kind of life affirming moment you might have after an acupuncturist or any other top end spa treatment. If you don't understand, I empathize completely. I don't think many men ever have that feeling in their whole life, for me it was great....but I was in a barbershop...so I quickly got my emotions in check and got out of the chair saying in typical macho fashion...."that was great". He said "does your face feel ok?" It did.

I suggest if you ever have an opportunity for a straight shave consider that the end product might not be the only point of the experience. At $65, having the opportunity to feel that good was well worth it, shave not withstanding. I moved around the chair and over to his table.

Out of curiosity I began examining his equipment. He shared openly. Dovo razor (two) with broken in half DE blades. I tried to surmize in my mind why he said "Persona with an injector blade" but didn't worry too much about it. The Dovos looked cool, and shaved great, atleast in his hand. I may buy one, I thought to myself.

Afterwards his shave felt very close, it took me two hours to find some small spots he hadn't gotten as close as I thought. I was pleased to learn that these spots matched the same spots I typically have trouble with, the neck and that little spot in the crook between chin and lower lip, deep in that hole. This is where I worry with my straight razor as well, and I thought maybe I should have moved my face around to help him when he shaved, but moving your face around with a straight razor nearby is scary.

All told a really great experience. I bought some of the shaving oil on the way out, that seemed like great stuff and I felt like I walked away with a life affirming experience akin to the best moments in life. I understood now the subtext of the movie "The Scent of a woman" where the main character gets a straight shave before commiting suicide and then couldn't do it. That made alot more sense now. I also feel like I walked out with some better knowledge about shaving techniques. All told I'd say, after leaving a $10 tip, that I might have stiffed the guy alittle and should have given him more....I walked away in a daze for an hour afterward. My girlfriend just giggled everytime she looked in my half closed blissful looking eyes. Overall, an amazing experience.

THAT was a good read. Thanks AF. Like I needed more incentive to go HAHA

Good shave story! Kind of got lame when the emotions came into play, though. Run away with me to paradise, metrosexual barber! (Just kidding. Heh heh.)

I think ten dollars was a good tip. I'd be happy to get it.

So what are these "DE" razors everybody keeps mentioning? A link would be helpful.