Barbershop shaves, are they straight or shavette only?

[David in Boston]

The only straight or in my case shaved shavette have been done in barbershops. Now I understand do to health concerns straight razors cannot be used but only disposable shavette blades. I believe this is the case in my state.

Is it the same in other U.S. states and how about overseas?

 

[rockviper]

"Shavette types only" in the shops I have wandered into around the Toronto (Canada) area.

 

[nloding]

The straight razor shaves I've had in Michigan were all with true straight razors, not shavettes.

 

[HUF]

My barber can and will use a straight if I ask him to. I honestly prefer that he use a shavette. You just never know.

I do not think that shavettes are any safer than the straights infection-wise. Blood from a cut can get on a shavette too. Proper desinfection procedure is more important than the tool used.

 

[showcattle]

Mine uses a shavette as well.

 

[TheGRman]

I do not think that shavettes are any safer than the straights infection-wise. Blood from a cut can get on a shavette too. Proper desinfection procedure is more important than the tool used.

Well, Yes and No. Most barbershops do not have an autoclav to sterilize their tools anymore. It's true that blood from a cut or weeper is transferred to a shavette just the same as a true straight, but because the health codes for bloodspill procedures is very strict, it is proper/required to use a shavette... hence the no autoclavs anymore. The disposable blade goes into a bio-hazard sharps container, the shavette handle is sanitized in solution then under a UV light sterilizer, and it's good to go. A true straight can still be sanitized with the same procedure, but the blade cannot be placed into the sharps container for disposal. Our health codes in Iowa stipulate that a disposable blade straight razor be used, and proper procedures for its use, blade disposal, and sanitation must be strictly adhered to.


I find that it's healthier to use a shavette on our customers, because I can change the blade between passes, keeping the blade as sharp as possible. If I used a true straight, and needed to strop it before the second pass, that would be impossible since it has the client's skin cells and microscopic traces of his blood on it, and would cross-contaminate the strop.

 

[David in Boston]

Well, Yes and No. Most barbershops do not have an autoclav to sterilize their tools anymore. It's true that blood from a cut or weeper is transferred to a shavette just the same as a true straight, but because the health codes for bloodspill procedures is very strict, it is proper/required to use a shavette... hence the no autoclavs anymore. The disposable blade goes into a bio-hazard sharps container, the shavette handle is sanitized in solution then under a UV light sterilizer, and it's good to go. A true straight can still be sanitized with the same procedure, but the blade cannot be placed into the sharps container for disposal. Our health codes in Iowa stipulate that a disposable blade straight razor be used, and proper procedures for its use, blade disposal, and sanitation must be strictly adhered to.


I find that it's healthier to use a shavette on our customers, because I can change the blade between passes, keeping the blade as sharp as possible. If I used a true straight, and needed to strop it before the second pass, that would be impossible since it has the client's skin cells and microscopic traces of his blood on it, and would cross-contaminate the strop.

So I could be wrong in assuming that MA barbershops can't use straight razors due to they don't have all the proper equipment. I'm going to stop by mine today and find out if they can still use straight razors. They may in fact use shavettes just for convenience.

 

[Jcabbage]

David, do you know Big Dogs Barber Shop in Brighton? He uses a shavette when you get a back of the neck line up. Go there on a Friday and get a haircut, shavette line up and a beer for 15 bucks! I wore a traditional pompadour when he was cutting my hair and always did a great job and he is fast. Also I always came home smelling of Clubman

 

[David in Boston]

David, do you know Big Dogs Barber Shop in Brighton? He uses a shavette when you get a back of the neck line up. Go there on a Friday and get a haircut, shavette line up and a beer for 15 bucks! I wore a traditional pompadour when he was cutting my hair and always did a great job and he is fast. Also I always came home smelling of Clubman

Wow that's a great deal.

On the serious side my barber and others use a shavette to clean up the back of the neck etc after a haircut. I've noticed that they don't always change the blade.

 

[Giant Kiwi]

I've heard that the barber in Stephen's Green in Dublin uses a Mach 3.
Most barbershops here would use a shavette as do the guys in Morocco

 

[MrLara]

Last time i had a shave at the barbers, i'm pretty sure he used a shavette. Even though i had no idea what it was called back then (now that i know) i remember that he took out the blade when he was done.

 

[cfoster2003]

Here in Kenya, my barber (from India) uses a shavette

 

[dpmtherrien]

In Massachusetts, according to health dept. rules, its shavette only. Barbers have said that if caught using regular straights they face big fines.

 

[Marco]

Here in Italy true straights are not allowed anymore, Master Barbers can only use shavettes.

 

[Useless shaver]

Yes. Same here in Spain.

 

[Redstickjohn]

What if you brought in your own straight?

 

[JeffOlson]

In the old days, we could step on the top of a step-ladder if we wanted to. No seat belts either.

I understand the health concerns, but it's too bad we can't decide for ourselves. I'd love to get a real straight razor shave from a barber...

 

[mikeadams]

What if you brought in your own straight?

I'm not sure I'd trust a barber with my blade. He may not be familiar/comfortable with my style of blade.

As for the shop I frequent here in OKC, the barber there said he uses a shavette for sanitation reasons.

Steve

 

[David in Boston]

In the old days, we could step on the top of a step-ladder if we wanted to. No seat belts either.

I understand the health concerns, but it's too bad we can't decide for ourselves. I'd love to get a real straight razor shave from a barber...

Yeah I miss the good old days.

Love having the freedom of choice to fly thru a car windshield and getting hepatitis from a straight razor.

 

[HUF]

Yeah I miss the good old days.

Love having the freedom of choice to fly thru a car windshield and getting hepatitis from a straight razor.