Thread: Does anybody here get a straight blade shave at the barber ?

I've always said, if you have someone nearby who can shave with a straight type blade and you get a close comfortable shave you need to run and buy a lottery ticket cause you are the luckiest person in the world and will win for sure.

Most folks giving shaves have no formal training and you are the one they use for practice to learn. Most guys who learned the art are retired or probably in their 80s by now and probably haven't given a shave in years assuming they still give shaves.

Just based on experiences around here I think I would pass on barbershop shaves.

I think most go for the pampering experience more than a good shave. To me that's like the old car saying, "all show and no go".

In my area (long island NY) Every Barber shop gives straight shaves, hot towels and a neck rub while the towel is steaming on your face. Most of the shave i have gotten have been good. All shaves are done with shavettes though as mentioned repeatedly on this thread. If done right getting shaved is a very, very pleasurable experience. I guess the local culture where you live has a lot to do with whether or not you can even locate a shop that will give a straight shave.... Around here i am hard pressed to think of one shop that dosnt offer a hot towel shave, and i can think of at least 10 barber shops in my town alone. Most shaves at these shops are at least passable, however the skill level of the barbers and the technique they use dont weigh up to my own. All and all i get a closer shave at home, but like other things though you may be able to do it just as good your self it's always nice to let another take care of it for you ;-)

Call me stupid,call me an old fart,but why in the hell would anyone pay 30/40 bux to get a shave,with a faux razor,done by a hack?? when you can do better at home yourself.
I can buy 10 gals of gas for the money you spent to be pamperd..

I'm with pixel on this one. But then I would do my own dental work if it was possible.

Originally Posted by 10Pups

I'm with pixel on this one. But then I would do my own dental work if it was possible.

It is possible,I actually ground down a chipped front tooth with a dremel and a carbide tip,saved a trip to the dentist.Had the wife remove a metal splinter from my eye with a magnet once.just need to be creative.

I used to get straight shaves in Brooklyn, NY some twenty years ago. Real straight, sadly can't remember what it was. Old guy with a Clark Gable mustache and pomade on his hair. I went there a bunch of times and got a haircut and shave together. Very nice shave, better than what I was doing myself at home with disposables. Didn't talk a lot. Finished me off with Aqua Velva. Good times.

Now I get shaves in the city, sadly with a shavette or something like it. Ok shaves, but I do better. I only get one pass, whereas at the Brooklyn shop I'd get two. I asked the barber if he'd use on of mine to shave me and he said, and I quote: "No, man. Those things are dangerous." Go figure. I should mention that if you go thee with more than a few days worth of stubble you get a progressively worse shave, except for one of the guys, who is masterful (the first shave he gave me was so smooth that on the first pass I thought he'd forgot to put a blade on that thing.)

I don't remember what I paid in Brooklyn, but I seem to recall that a twenty spot covered haircut, shave and tip. I pay $20 for a haircut and shampoo, and $18 for a shave, not including tip in NYC.

It's fun! However, it definitely pays off to have it done by somebody who knows what they're doing and has a respect for the art. I have had very comfortable shaves with some, and the most painful and irritating shaves with others who were lacking training, skill, and passion. I'm a little reluctant to try anyone unless I have a feeling it's going to be the real deal. But the best straight blade shave around sounds quite promising! Can't wait to try a fancy one someday, like at Trumper in London!

Every time I visit Turkey I go to the barber for a haircut and a shave. Yes they use shavettes, but the treatment and the skill they provide is excellent in all ways.
First a haircut then a thoroughly cleaning of the face and a really good shave, trimming eye browsers an some hot wax for these areas that cant be worked with the knife, (outer ear and so on).
Ending with an massage of shoulders,arms, hands and fingers.
Leaving the place with the feeling of a new man.
Costs: About 10 to 15 dollars.
Worth every penny.

I tried it once and got buchered,and this guy had bragged how good he still was. I would like to know where Joel goes as I live on Long Island also,and there are no barbers near me that do it anymore (in and around Merrick anyway).

I go for a shave at the barbers a couple times a year, mostly when I've been stuck in the bush for a while. Just makes a guy feel human.
The down side is that it's with a shavette, but my barber is also a collector, and is decent. Though I think some of my own work is better, there's something to be said for just sitting back with a scotch (cleverly hidden in a coffee mug ) and letting someone else do the work.

Also not sure why I haven't asked yet about bringing a blade to use, gonna check that out next week.