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

Originally Posted by DaveTheGeordie

Ooooh yes. Like everyone said its a different blade in the hands of one of those chaps. Stropping? I've never seen it done so quick.

My dovo special, for that was my 30th gift and the only razor with me, is a cracking blade apparently.

Very skilled and confident too. He didn't hesitate to tell me where to go when I asked to buy the dorko in the display case either.

I really can't speak highly enough of that place. Like I said, offer me Trumpers or G.Scotts and I'll be by the river Tyne every time.

Excellent - guys at my barbershop are fascinated when I bring a blade in. Started bringing a blade in about 6 months ago along with a strop. Like you, never seen my strop used that way!!

Yup, I learned more watching him that first time than I'd learned reading and watching video's!!

You got a Dorko, that's one I don't have, I hear they are superb shavers?

Originally Posted by Phrank

Excellent - guys at my barbershop are fascinated when I bring a blade in. Started bringing a blade in about 6 months ago along with a strop. Like you, never seen my strop used that way!!

Yup, I learned more watching him that first time than I'd learned reading and watching video's!!

You got a Dorko, that's one I don't have, I hear they are superb shavers?

Didn't get the dorko. I was told to go forth and multiply in a more direct way

I'll be paying a couple of visits when we go home to introduce the baby to his family in April.

I used to go to the barber when I was a young man with my father for hair cuts and on occasion a shave. Certainly, before weddings and other formal family gathering or parties we always went for hair cut/shave.
I continue to enjoy a shave done by a barber. The entire barber shave experience continues to be a source of enjoyment for me and I allow myself the time and money several times a year. Last Saturday I was walking in the mall and as always, went to the AOS store and asked if they had an open appointment for a shave. Unlike most days, they did and immediately took me in.
The young man who shaved me did a wonderful job. He was no hack, but rather a well seasoned barber. I asked him about bringing my own razor to which he responded he was not permitted to use it by store policy.
I thoroughly enjoyed the shave and just considered the time and expense my "Me" time. The shave always reminds me of the times with my Father. So if you ask me, it is more than just a shave. Was it a "better" shave than what I can do to my face? Nope, but it was just as good and very, very relaxing.

all the old barbers around here dont do shaves anymore. and the couple that do are girls who just finished taking a barbering course... they dont tend to know much about shaving.
thats why i decided i'd take up a straight razor, myself.

Originally Posted by Phrank

I've posted this before, but my local, old Italian barber Sam, been cutting my hair for probably 25 years, used to do actual straight razor shaves, now he has to use shavettes.

He says, and I believe him, that he could shave anyone blindfolded or in the dark. When I first started shaving with a straight, I was there one time, watching him give me a shave with the shavette, and I asked him if he would be cool with me bringing in one of my straights for him to shave me with, he said no problem.

So I brought about five different blades in, along with my strop (just in case he needed it), he picked one, stropped it like I'd never seen done before, and gave me a shave.

Wow!

What a lesson! Was fascinating to see a real pro use one of my blades, really shows you what your blades are capable of, and what they can do in the proper hands.

Have done that several times now, he gives me tips, last couple of times, he'll watch me do a 1st pass and give me tips. Last couple of times I've been there, (now just for the lessons and experience in both shaving and stropping) the other guys will gather around and watch, they are stunned at how beautiful the blades are, and have asked me if they could get a shave with my razor.

I said no problem, but Sam said no, it's one thing with my blade, but he won't use it on anyone else...

So ask your barber to use one of your blades and give you some tips...it's a great source of knowledge and my barber loves now for me to bring him a different blade each time.

Cheers!

What a wonderful story, made me all happy. Seems like a great guy. Getting lessons like that is probably very helpful. I'd like to have a barber like that around.

I think it is a very different experience depending on where you go. You find a good place, wonderful experience. You find a bad place, horrible experience.

Originally Posted by Phrank

I've posted this before, but my local, old Italian barber Sam, been cutting my hair for probably 25 years, used to do actual straight razor shaves, now he has to use shavettes.

He says, and I believe him, that he could shave anyone blindfolded or in the dark. When I first started shaving with a straight, I was there one time, watching him give me a shave with the shavette, and I asked him if he would be cool with me bringing in one of my straights for him to shave me with, he said no problem.

So I brought about five different blades in, along with my strop (just in case he needed it), he picked one, stropped it like I'd never seen done before, and gave me a shave.

Wow!

What a lesson! Was fascinating to see a real pro use one of my blades, really shows you what your blades are capable of, and what they can do in the proper hands.

Have done that several times now, he gives me tips, last couple of times, he'll watch me do a 1st pass and give me tips. Last couple of times I've been there, (now just for the lessons and experience in both shaving and stropping) the other guys will gather around and watch, they are stunned at how beautiful the blades are, and have asked me if they could get a shave with my razor.

I said no problem, but Sam said no, it's one thing with my blade, but he won't use it on anyone else...

So ask your barber to use one of your blades and give you some tips...it's a great source of knowledge and my barber loves now for me to bring him a different blade each time.

Cheers!

Phrank,

So what tips have you picked up? Anything you can share/pass along?

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

Phrank,

So what tips have you picked up? Anything you can share/pass along?

Some tips? Absolutely!!

#1. I'll never be a barber.

#2. I definitely won't ever try to shave someone else.

Seriously though, I always though using short strokes with the razor was a no-no, you wanted to use long strokes. Nope, he said to always use short strokes, it helps maintain the angle and prevents a potentially bad cut by keeping the strokes shorter. Also, it allows you to constantly change how you stretch your skin, which to him was a vital aspect of getting a good shave.

When he watched me do my right side, aside from being corrected about the long strokes, he said I was to impatient, I was rushing. He said if you don't really care about an getting a good shave, that a couple of rough patches don't bother you, then fine. But he said slow down, short strokes, constantly ensure the skin is properly stretched and shave the area that is stretched, then move on.

He said this takes time, but it ensure a thorough shave, DFS / BBS shave first time around. He wasn't familiar with the terms DFS or BBS, when I explained what they meant I could tell he wasn't pleased. To him, you either shaved correctly or you didn't????

He said he would do the complete shave in one pass, then with water, go around to do some touch up.

He also thought the way I described my shave, first pass WTG, second pass XTG, and final pass ATG rather funny. He gave me the distinct impression that I had no idea what I was doing or talking about - and ofcourse - he was correct.

Then he asked me to show him how I stropped. I brought the Dovo small strop I had, and the SRD 3" strop I have. He said it was not bad for a beginner, at least I kept the spine on the strop, and that was important. He said to keep doing that, don't try to go fast, and told me to make sure I continued to roll the blade.

He asked how many times I was stropping before a shave, I said maybe 20 on the linen and 50 on the leather. He told me to do more, whether the night before, or before the shave, my technique wasn't all that effective he said.

Then he stropped my blades for me (I brought 5, he stropped the 6/8th TI I brought before he shaved me with it), and it was clear what a rank amateur I was. He also told me my strop needed a lot more breaking in, which again affected the effectiveness of my stropping. From this, I then gained an understanding of why those old vintage strops are so valuable.

He also didn't really like the blades I brought too much, he said they would be nice for a person to use at home, but never really in a barber shop, they're to fragile and wouldn't really last.

That's where I think I then understood the meaning of, Wade and Butcher, For Barbers Use, wedge, or some similar big heavy blade.

Just typed this out, didn't really check for typos or such...it was a great experience, I knew I had only an inking of shaving with a straight and what went into it, it just turned out I had a lot less of an inkling than I thought, maybe more like a dim, vague glimmer.

But I loved every minute of it.....

I've never had a shave at a barber shop but watching one done on youtube is about the most relaxing thing to watch, so I can't imagine what its like to get one with the works. Most of the ones posted in the middle east and asia seemed to all have a neck, shoulder and arm massage thrown in. Talk about pampering.

Hi guys,

Being that I'm not on gods own country, Newcastle for you chaps not in the know, this Christmas and birthday, I began to look for a barber for my birthday pamper.

There really aren't many down in Portsmouth/Gosport. I found one which was very expensive for what it was, £40, and they only use shavettes. It also looks wrong inside. Trying to look old fashioned and not doing it very well. Another only works the odd day each month so no joy there.

My luck was in on the third shop I hit, by chance, around the corner from my house.

It's a fairly modern barbers but has a younger lad who seems really keen on the shaving side of things. Hot towels and a good range of creams etc. He also seemed quite pleased when I asked if I could bring my own blade. I may need to find out what type of blade he'd be comfortable with as I'd hate to take a wedge and get my face chopped off

Results to follow and may be worth a look for anyone local to me.

Originally Posted by eddy79

My barber still uses straights and strops. You wont find a shavette in the store. Don't know about health code but if they managed for as long as they did without infecting people I would say the risk is pretty low after barbercide/sterilizer. This bloke is second generation barber and is 67 so really know his stuff and is really helpful to anyone wanting to learn.

Is this barber in UK? You used the word "bloke" and I just assumed