A tale of two Barbershops...

[KaiserKrebs]

Well, today I treated myself to a haircut and a barbershop shave. This was my first barbershop shave and though enjoyable, I feel that I missed out a little on the whole experience. As the post title says, I ended up in two barbershops on the same day...it happened like this.

I'd been wanting to try an old barbershop located in the old downtown section of my city. I'd passed by it many times, and was encouraged by a antique barberchair and antique barbering implements in the window. I decided that I was just going to walk in get a haircut, and possibly a shave. Well, the shop was definately a throwback, opened originally in the early 60's it had all of the original fixtures, chairs, cabinets etc. The chairs were partitioned, so I couldn't really see that there was only one " Barber " with a client. There was a nice female stylist there that greeted me when I came in, being that I didn't want to seem rude, I mentioned needing a haircut, and she directed me over to her chair. I made small talk about the age of the shop, but she didn't seem to share my enthusiasm. I inquired if they did shaves, and unfortunately they didn't. So, Ok ended up with a nice haircut, but disappointed by the lack of a shave.

I decided to kill some time after the haircut, and wandered a few blocks away, in a direction I'd not been before. Then all of a sudden I see the barberpoles attached to the facade of a building. I decided to check it out. The place was definately newer, and nothing overtly impressed me, but there was another very old barberchair in the first station. I was approached by a friendly woman, and asked if I needed help. I asked if they did shaves there, and she replied yes...starting at 25 dollars. I guess I should of asked more questions but, decided to give it a go. The woman asked me if I wanted to wait, but not being sure why she asked, I said no.

So, she says " I can go and take you here in this chair " (Not the antique one) So I sit down. She does the cape, etc. and tilts me back. I see her with a brush and mug mixing some lather. No hot lather machine, but the lather as it hits my face is cold! (It was likely Campbell's or similar) Ok it felt nice, though. Then I got the hot towel, which was great. After a few minutes, she put some type of weighted blinder on me. ( I guess for relaxation purposes). After the towel came off, another batch of lather, and then I felt the betrayal..... a Fusion was shaving my face! My stomach sort of sank, I was thinking my first barbershop shave and this is it?

I couldn't very well get up in the middle of it, but she did one complete pass with the evil Fusion, and then I felt shave oil going on, Cinnammon, and clove scented. There was a lot of facial massage, and kneading, then some more shaving cream. Well, as resigned as I was to my disappointment I noticed a different razor being used. It had to be a shavette of some type, and she did an XTG pass, and ATG pass, with touch up, with more stretching of skin etc.

After this, some sort of balm was applied, and then some mentholated aftershave, of which I don't know the brand. Then after this, she used a brush and applied Clubman aftershave talc to my face, and that was it.

Now the verdict, I damn near fell asleep in the chair, and could feel my face....super smooth. This was about as BBS as I'd ever experienced, and even saw the result in the mirror. However, as I'd mentioned I was bummed that a true straight razor wasn't involved. I paid, and even gave her a five dollar tip, I never know how much to tip in those situations anyway. As I was leaving, another guy walks in off the street ( I guess he'd seen me getting a shave) so he asks, gets the same response, but he asks about straight razors. The stylist replies that yes, they have them there, but only the owner of the shop ( male barber ) uses them. That was his antique chair at the first station, and he wasn't in today. So, I guess I made my leave as my BBS face turned a shade of red.

I guess, I will go back at some point...but now will I be offending the woman who shaved me ( and did a great job ) if I only want to be shaved by the barber because he uses straight razor's ? I'm sure it won't be similar with the facial massage etc. or will it? Will the end result be similar, or better?

 

[Niles]

If you go back and the woman asks, I would think letting her know you want the straight razor shave would let her know that you didn't have a problem with her.

 

[AlanL]

I agree with Dennard. Just walk in when the old barber is there, and say you "really want to try a straight razor shave." She won't mind.

 

[jpakstis]

...I guess, I will go back at some point...but now will I be offending the woman who shaved me ( and did a great job ) if I only want to be shaved by the barber because he uses straight razor's ? I'm sure it won't be similar with the facial massage etc. or will it? Will the end result be similar, or better?...

I don't know if you live in an area that allows commercial non-disposable blade straight shaves. Wikipedia says the following (under the posting for straight razors):

Some areas require barbers who provide straight-razor shaving to use a version that employs a disposable blade system. Still other jurisdictions ban the use of all straight razors and barbers use modern disposable blade razors instead. In places such as Australia, New Zealand, Pennsylvania, Denver, Boston, Texas and San Diego, however, the use of straight razors is legal.

I don't know how accurate that is, but it could be that straight razors are not allowed.

 

[proxymoron]

In places such as Australia, New Zealand, Pennsylvania, Denver, Boston, Texas and San Diego, however, the use of straight razors is legal.

Gotta love Wikipedia. Four cities, two countries, and one state treated with deadpan equivalence.

FWIW, New York (city and state) only permits disposable blades for barber shaves.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

Great post! I'd definately hit up the old timer for a straight shave next time you are ready for one. I can't imagine the lady would be upset at all!

 

[xjrob85]

That's cool that you had a good experience, despite it not being exactly what you expected. If I were in your situation, I would go in tell her that you want to find out if the straight shave will turn out to be as good as the shave she gave you. That way you can flatter her and express your curiosity about the traditional straight shave. Let us know how it goes.

 

[miamimoe]

That's cool that you had a good experience, despite it not being exactly what you expected. If I were in your situation, I would go in tell her that you want to find out if the straight shave will turn out to be as good as the shave she gave you. That way you can flatter her and express your curiosity about the traditional straight shave. Let us know how it goes.

I don't know if you live in an area that allows commercial non-disposable blade straight shaves. Wikipedia says the following (under the posting for straight razors):

Some areas require barbers who provide straight-razor shaving to use a version that employs a disposable blade system. Still other jurisdictions ban the use of all straight razors and barbers use modern disposable blade razors instead. In places such as Australia, New Zealand, Pennsylvania, Denver, Boston, Texas and San Diego, however, the use of straight razors is legal.

I don't know how accurate that is, but it could be that straight razors are not allowed.

+1 on telling her you want a shave with a straight razor. As far as the Wikipedia article goes, the last time I was stateside, and saw my barber, I asked him about a real straight shave. He confirmed that the local law requires a new blade for each shave (shavette). He then told me that he can do a straight shave with a real str8t razor, but he would have to charge a lot of money ($50.00) because of the time involved in doing a proper prep. towels, oil, cream, etc. between shaves, stropping the razor, and in essence, in order to really do it right, it takes a fair amount of time. In that same amount of time, he can do lot of haircuts, shavette shaves, etc. It's sad, because I still remember treating myself to a straight shave with a real str8t at an old fashioned barber shop a few times a year.

 

[solar]

I've only ever had straight razor shaves in barber shops, never a cartridge shave.

Lay back, hot towels, followed by hot lather and straight razor work on the face, repeat, then rub down with AS and a dusting of Pinaud or Proraso talc.

A massage with razor blades........certainly worth finding your spot and your guy (or gal as it may be), and making it a bi-weekly treat to yourself. My barber is very talented, does a very good job of haircuts, shaves, etc. I very much enjoy his company, I feel its important to tip very well, since that level of talent is deeply appreciated.

We've been company to one another for years now. He doesn't do shaves as a rule. When people ask and he says no, they'll point me out. He'll mention that I'm grandfathered in since he's been shaving me so long, but that he doesn't do shaves otherwise. Its too tricky with a wide variety of clients he doesn't know well. Too many people in a rush for what a straight razor shave should be, amused at the novelty and talking during the shave to their wives or children in attendance. Its a ritual, not a sideshow.

In Schindler's List, Oskar Schindler's character says, "My father was fond of saying you need three things in life – a good doctor, a forgiving priest, and a clever accountant." He forgot to mention a skilled barber who cuts your hair to look like a man's haircut in masculine surroundings, who can trim an errant nose hair or eyebrow hair as we get older...and who can do a nice shave on an unhurried morning. Like riding passenger on the back of a motorcycle, the client needs to move and accommodate the barber in these matters, like the rider on pillion has to move and assist the driver of a motorcycle when riding. Some people don't understand this, and I imagine the complexity, as well as public health issues surrounding the straight razor, have led to the decline of the public shave. My barber uses the disposable razors in the straight razor. My previous barber, now gone, used a real straight, honed on a strop that hung beside the great huge red and white Belmont that held you like the most regal of thrones.

Life's too short not to have these sheer pleasures, and its too short not to be grateful for same.

C

 

[beginish]

Great post, Solar

 

[DunEdinRanger]

I don't know if you live in an area that allows commercial non-disposable blade straight shaves. Wikipedia says the following (under the posting for straight razors):

Some areas require barbers who provide straight-razor shaving to use a version that employs a disposable blade system. Still other jurisdictions ban the use of all straight razors and barbers use modern disposable blade razors instead. In places such as Australia, New Zealand, Pennsylvania, Denver, Boston, Texas and San Diego, however, the use of straight razors is legal.

I don't know how accurate that is, but it could be that straight razors are not allowed.

In NJ, I believe it is regulated by the counties. From what I can tell, Hudson & Passaic allow only disposable straight razor shaves, while Essex and Bergen permit "standard" straight razors.

 

[pauls51]

Good work!...

+1 on requesting a straight razor shave.

 

[fluffman86]

I, too, recently went to the local "old timey" barber in my town. I had never been to a real barber, instead opting for a distant relative's beauty salon. But reading Art of Manliness directed me both here and to search out a barber, so I gave it a shot.

The reviews online of the Fort Mill Barbershop in SC were absolutely inspiring. Nothing but great reviews, but more importantly was the mention of everyones favorite part of the haircut: hot lather and a straight razor shave to touch up the neck and behind the ears.

So I went in, waited, was pleased with the haircut given to the only other guy born in the same decade as me (I'm 24, everyone else was either 40 or 70-something), and finally got in the chair.

Once there, I asked for a trim and somewhat nervously and giddily asked if they did straight shaves there. The answer was an emphatic "no, but I'll be happy to give you a shave with a safety razor if you want."

Well, I was pleased with my haircut, and *REALLY* loved the hot lather and straight shave behind my ears and on the back of my neck, so the barber asked again if I was still interested in that shave. Of course I want to be shaved!

The barber lathered my face lightly with hot goo from a machine (yeah, it still felt *REALLY* good!), then grabbed a hot towel and wrapped my face, leaving just my nose poking out. Oh man, was that heavenly.

He then re-applied the lather, this time really thick and well-massaged, and proceeded to give me one of the best shaves ever...WITH A FUSION!!!

Yeah, I said it. I was really disappointed at first, but I got a great shave with a fusion. And the best part? I learned a *lot* about shaving myself. Hot lather is *really* important. Short, quick, sideways strokes on my chin is the best way to get BBS on my chin (I was going S-N before). A good aftershave can right a world of wrongs.

Long story short: get a trained barber to shave you, even if it's with a fusion. You'll learn a lot in the process.

And the best part? He only asked $14 for the whole shebang! I thanked him and gave him $20.

 

[aport]

Gotta love Wikipedia. Four cities, two countries, and one state treated with deadpan equivalence.

FWIW, New York (city and state) only permits disposable blades for barber shaves.

Two states, three cities

I can verify that straights are used in San Diego. I got a shave a few weeks ago from a fairly modern barber shop. It was a younger guy but he did a phenomenal job! I would highly recommend it.

 

[solar]

And the best part? He only asked $14 for the whole shebang! I thanked him and gave him $20.

Good man. Support your local barber! Shows good class to lay down a solid tip for such personal service.

By the way, for barber shaves, I've had both lather ups with a brush and hot foam from the ubiquitous machines in barbershops. The hot foam feels great, but there's just no working the skin and exfolliation like you get with the brush. Either way feels great in my opinion.

And if you ever visit Turkey, barbers who shave with straits are much more common (blades are soaked in a Barbicide solution). Even in small sea side cities such as Bodrum, you'll find a barber who'll do the full straight razor shave. If you watch the video below, you'll see a real nice shave, the burning wick I've never seen, and the electrolysis using thread is also a new one, but impressive. I love watching the fin-de-shave massage, its relaxing even to watch! My barber massages my head--wonderfully--after each haircut.

Dig this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbOuCslWosQ

C