Barber and shave questions

[aodenkou]

Hi, I have been interested in trying a shave with a straight razor but really don't want to spend the money on a razor, and to be honest, I am scared of trying it myself. So........I thought I might go to a barber and have a shave and see what the talk is all about. But I could not find a barber that does them anymore. One said why with HIV, Hep, and other stuff - fair enough comment. But - any ideas for me?

I do travel quite a bit so I guess I can look for places that do give shaves.....

Thanks in advance.

 

[Fnord5]

Check out BarberOfDeville He is working in Jacksonville FL now.
From what I hear, it would be worth the drive.
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/member.php?u=8148

 

[J Howard]

When did Ferrell move to Jacksonville?

 

[Fnord5]

When did Ferrell move to Jacksonville?

http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=94609

 

[gugi]

I thought I might go to a barber and have a shave and see what the talk is all about.

And depending on how good the barber is the experience can be terrible. Or even if it's a fantastic experience it may take you years before you can replicate it on your own.
IMHO there is no shortcut to finding what it's all about.

 

[Antique Hoosier]

IMHO there is no shortcut to finding what it's all about.

And unfortunately to add to gugi's statement, a barber will likely use a "straight razor" with a throwaway blade. Not my cup of tea.

 

[gone down south]

Most barbers do very few shaves anymore, your odds of getting that magical "old style" straight shave are a lot slimmer than they used to be.

 

[strr]

The barber I go to uses a throw away blade as well bc of diseases. I know the Art of Shaving stores do straight razor shaves still.

 

[J Howard]

And unfortunately to add to gugi's statement, a barber will likely use a "straight razor" with a throwaway blade. Not my cup of tea.

Don't knock it till you have tried a shave like Ferrell performs. Fromm cutter and all... it was extremely smooth, and more importantly it was the most relaxing shave I've ever had.

 

[mdunn]

And unless you get it from someone who knows that theyre doing (like Ferrell) youll have some bozo who saw sweeny todd, who does maybe 3 shaves a year. Thanks but no thanks - I'll do it myself, or get a pro to do it.

 

[J Howard]

If you want to come close, simply buy a set of barber towels and soak them in hot water. Apply them to your face (you can find instructions for how to fold them around) and sit back for a few mins. Massage lather (and shave oil if desired) into your beard and repeat with the towel. Lather up for real and then shave. Not quite the same, but the closest you will come without the risk of trying someone you don't trust. For an experience closer to the real thing let your S.O. perform steps one and two.

 

[MrGuy]

If you ever find yourself in the Black Hills of South Dakota, I just found a new shop in Spearfish that is offering shaves. Disposable blades, yes, but at least it's not one of those M3 shaves I've heard about.
I might give him a shot on Friday and see what happens.

 

[J Howard]

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

 

[mkevenson]

Hi, I have been interested in trying a shave with a straight razor .

Well sir, First question that pops in my mind is why? If it's cause you want to experience shaving the way they did in the OLD days, then you gotta do it yourself. If it's cause someone told you that the str8 shave was way better than anything else, well then know that every mans opinion varies and every shavers skill aint the same. If you really want to enjoy the whole process of shaving with a str8 including making a great lather and applying it with your own badger brush and stropping on that fine latigo strop, and holding that fine piece of steel in your hand and then making it glide over your skin, Well son, you gotta do it yourself. If you really want to get into str8 shaving and don't have lots of cash, there are many who have xtras that can get you started. Now I don't want to twist your arm but, if your start today within a few months you will be well on your way to the most rewarding, best darn shaving experience known to man (and women of course). HIP HIP HURRAY!!!

 

[aodenkou]

Well sir, First question that pops in my mind is why? If it's cause you want to experience shaving the way they did in the OLD days, then you gotta do it yourself. If it's cause someone told you that the str8 shave was way better than anything else, well then know that every mans opinion varies and every shavers skill aint the same. If you really want to enjoy the whole process of shaving with a str8 including making a great lather and applying it with your own badger brush and stropping on that fine latigo strop, and holding that fine piece of steel in your hand and then making it glide over your skin, Well son, you gotta do it yourself. If you really want to get into str8 shaving and don't have lots of cash, there are many who have xtras that can get you started. Now I don't want to twist your arm but, if your start today within a few months you will be well on your way to the most rewarding, best darn shaving experience known to man (and women of course). HIP HIP HURRAY!!!

I guess one reason I would like to "experience" someone else doing it for me is to get a feel for how it's done, see it first hand so to speak. Just grabbing a straight razor and having a go sounds a bit ....... dangerous ...... and at heart it does make me a bit more than nervous.

As far as getting my hands on a straight razor IF I build up the courage to have a try I am OK with buying one and provided it's not my last shave and I can still breath I can always post to the B/S/T and at least not lose too much cash.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[Luc]

And unless you get it from someone who knows that theyre doing (like Ferrell) youll have some bozo who saw sweeny todd, who does maybe 3 shaves a year. Thanks but no thanks - I'll do it myself, or get a pro to do it.

That's why I want to shave with a straight...

 

[J Howard]

If it's cause you want to experience shaving the way they did in the OLD days, then you gotta do it yourself.

This is wholly incorrect as most men in the OLD days couldn't afford the necessary equipment for shaving and would visit the barber weekly.

....stropping on that fine latigo strop...

Also not like the old days as Latigo is a fairly new strop material. If you wanted true vintage you would be best suited with horsehide.

Put it this way, if you can find a barber near you that performs such shaves (and once you start looking you'll find there are more than you think ) go for it and you will have the closest, most relaxed shave of your life. Then start shaving on your own because you can't afford to keep paying that barber.

 

[Southside]

Yep, look for an older, experience Barber, maybe one near a military base, even. Ask if they perform straight shaves and how many they do per week. Get to know the guy by getting your hair cut a few times first, and see if he can give a good cut first, if so, give the straight shave a shot.

It took me a while to find a Barber locally that:

1. I like and could converse with
2. That was old school enough to cut a pompadour
3. (Most importantly) Had SKILLS

I now know that unless he moves a significant distance (1+ hour) away, I have a Barber for the next 20 years or so.

 

[mkevenson]

This is wholly incorrect as most men in the OLD days couldn't afford the necessary equipment for shaving and would visit the barber weekly.
:

I can only speak from personal experience and my family. My grandfather came from England and worked in the coal mines. He had his wife and later his daughter cut his hair and he always used a str8 in the kitchen. He like many of the working class did not have the money for a barber. But thats not the point of my post nor the fact that latigo is new and horse hide strops old. It is the total shaving experience done in your own home on a daily basis that gives the most satifaction IMHO. Of course I'm pushing 60 and tend to be a bit old fashioned in some regards.

 

[Samouraï]

Before I started straight shaving (I'm still only about 5 shaves in) I went to an old-style barber here in Nashville. They used pre-shave oil, a hot towel, it was nice. They lathered me up with warm shaving cream, but they didn't use a brush. The guy that shaved me used a disposable straight.

I was asking questions the whole time, about straight shaving and stropping, etc. The barber apparently had been straight shaving customers for years. He told me no one uses real straights anymore, no stropping. I was a little let down.

So he shaves me and does a few passes, it begins to really hurt, but I take it. He then finishes up with a Mach3 (because that's what the best English barbers use nowadays) going against the grain. He finishes up with another hot towel and an ice cold alum block. It burned everywhere on my face. He put on some aftershave, and I get up and look in the mirror: the worst razor burn I have ever had. I even had a few nicks. My face was red and splotchy. It felt unbelievably smooth, though, disgustingly so.

For a few days, the razor burn got worse. It looked like a bad case of acne (which I have been pretty clear of for the past 5 or so years). It took about a month to get over this razor burn, and for my skin to clear up. It was the worst shave I have ever had.

Anyway, one of the guys at the shop told me that he knew a guy that started straight razor shaving after years of straight shaving customers. After his first shave, he looked like he shaved with a cheese grater. In hindsight, this was probably bull****.

I can remember in the middle of the shave, one of the other barbers in the shop got a glimpse of me midshave. He asked my barber if I was alright. I didn't know what he meant at the time, but it was undoubtably concerning the painful hackjob I was getting.

It was a $30 luxury shave.