My 1st Ever Shave From Barber Shop

[gene_stanley]

cost - $15.00

- hot towel(s), shaving oil, another towel treatment, lather via brush, she had a straight razor with a fresh (changeable blade)!

near the end of the spa treatment she looked to apologize for the bit of razor burn I had acquired, but I told her that she could carve redrum in my face . . . due to her staggering good-looks/beauty. my only piece of advice I tried to throw out there without sounding like a know it all was . . . SMALLER STROKES!

to top the experience off was a scent that I knew nothing of . . . Bay Rum. I'm in love with that scent now!

tip - $5.00
total $20.00

and I will be making it a once a month stop for sure,
Gene

 

[MrSteveVee]

Nice. I really must treat myself to one of these one day. Not many decent barbers around my location in the UK so I will need to search further afield, but to be pampered with a good shave with hot towels...sounds heaven

Steve V

 

[John Pseudonym]

Sweet! You can get shaves from a barber in New Hampshire? I'm jealous, it's illegal for barbers to give a shave here in Illinois. I wonder how many states you can still get a shave in.

 

[weizemanner]

Sweet! You can get shaves from a barber in New Hampshire? I'm jealous, it's illegal for barbers to give a shave here in Illinois. I wonder how many states you can still get a shave in.

Many barbers will tell you that it is illegal to give shaves or to use a certain kind of razor in whatever state they happen to live in as an excuse for not shaving you. It sounds better if they say "I could give you a shave but it's illegal" than "I don't feel like it" or "I don't know how."

There are a couple of states where it is illegal to use traditional straight razors (hone and strop), but changeable-blade razors are legal in all 50 states for use by barbers and in some states cosmetologists.


http://www.idfpr.com/profs/info/Barber.asp According to the laws set forth by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, barbers are allowed

"To shave or trim the beard or cut the hair; to style, arrange, dress, curl, wave, straighten, clean, singe, epilate, depilate, shampoo, marcel, chemically restructure, bleach, tint, color or similarly work upon the hair or cranial prosthesis of any person; to give relaxing facial or scalp massage or treatments with oils, creams or other preparations either by hand or by mechanical appliances.


And no further text is given on the subject of shaving or razors except that all tools must be disinfected before use on another client.

 

[John Pseudonym]

I can't believe Mitch lied to me! I've been going to him for almost two decades! Thanks, weizemanner!

 

[weizemanner]

Or he just heard the rumors that it's illegal and never checked into it... Then again, maybe there is a separate law book I'm not seeing that says it is illegal. You can call the IDFPR yourself and ask, it's what they are there for.

My barber college actually told me that Traditional straights were illegal to use in WA but when I showed them the law book and contacted the State Barber Board, it turned out it is perfectly legal they admitted that they didn't want to teach the stropping and honing so they just told everyone that only changeable blade razors are legal in this state and nobody questioned it for 5 years...

 

[Bird_Flu]

I just checked pa law and unless the law posted is outdated we can still use real straight razors here.

 

[Howie]

Hey, that's great. I'm sure it was very pleasurable and relaxing. The $100,000 question is: "was the shave as close as what you'd get from shaving yourself?

Reason why I ask is because I had a one many years ago. It too was pleasurable. However, I swear I could have done better, and gotten MUCH closer of a shave using the corner of a cardboard box. After my experience, I figured either the guy knew very little of the art, or maybe that's just what one would expect from a straight shave.

Have any of you shared a similar experience?

 

[77TransAm]

Hey, that's great. I'm sure it was very pleasurable and relaxing. The $100,000 question is: "was the shave as close as what you'd get from shaving yourself?

Reason why I ask is because I had a one many years ago. It too was pleasurable. However, I swear I could have done better, and gotten MUCH closer of a shave using the corner of a cardboard box. After my experience, I figured either the guy knew very little of the art, or maybe that's just what one would expect from a straight shave.

Have any of you shared a similar experience?

I don't go to a barber for a straight shave for this very reason. I'm not going to pay for something I can do myself and do a better job. Also, there are a few spots on my neck where I have to be careful shaving due to small raised freckles always wanted to get sliced off.

 

[Guest111]

I'm not going to pay for something I can do myself and do a better job.

I've always been able to do a better job than a barber, but it's never stopped me from getting a barber shave. Sometimes you just want to treat yourself to a luxury pampering type experience. Kinda like when people go get manicures and pedicures and facials, I guess.

I don't get barber shaves often any more, mainly because there's no place left in town to get one, except the AoS $60 thing. Ouch. Back when I was in college, there was a barbershop at the student union. The barber there had been cutting my hair since I was 2, as my dad would bring me there on Saturdays when he was in graduate school. So once I got to college, I'd treat myself to a barber shave a few times a semester, usually after a particularly brutal exam, or mid term week. I miss the hell out of that.

 

[gene_stanley]

Sadly no . . . but I think it was her lack of experience. It was close and she did use long swaths verses short rips. I know that the next time I will be feeding her some of my own personal habits that help me. All in all, I was very pleased and I know that it will only get better.

Gene

 

[The Ambassador]

I went to barber once in Ann Arbor Michigan. The guy went through the routine, but his shave was not close at all. Seeing how I also shave the head, I was really looking forward to the finished product of BBS (baby bottom smooth). Sadly, my head still had stubble and my face felt ragged around the chin. I tried the barber because I was taking my wife-to-be on our first date. I thought she would rub on my face and head and be amazed... Yeah, that didn't happen. Come to think about it, I tipped that old guy for a bad shave. I could have definitely done better myself.

 

[ShowMeState1977]

I just experienced my first barber shave last Friday. $40 for a shave and a haircut. Took 2 enjoyable hours. This young barber was thorough, however the shave wasn't BBS, as he wouldn't go against the grain. He used a disposable straight razor blade. All in all I was pleased. I found out today that he will be the new barber in the AoS store close to where I live!

 

[cb91710]

I don't go to a barber for a straight shave for this very reason. I'm not going to pay for something I can do myself and do a better job. Also, there are a few spots on my neck where I have to be careful shaving due to small raised freckles always wanted to get sliced off.

Bingo. When I get a straight shave, I want one from a guy that uses a straight on himself at least 4 days a week.

 

[StansDad24]

Prior to this month I've had a few, nothing close to BBS but the girls at the place were cute so I didn't complain.

Early this month though I was in London and stopped by the Refinery at Harrods. Sat for my first real BBS shave from a guy you could tell had been doing it a long, long time. Wasn't cheap (nothing at Harrods is) but the shave was wonderful. Better than I have been able to do at home for sure.

Given the price I probably won't get another for quite a while. But if the stars aligned again and I have a chance again, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[weizemanner]

Bingo. When I get a straight shave, I want one from a guy that uses a straight on himself at least 4 days a week.

If you ever find yourself much, much farther north...

 

[kaliandee]

That's not a bad price. My usual barber charges $30.

As much as I enjoy barber shaves as an experience, I think I do a better job at the actual shave- I know my face better, my equipment is just as good, and I make a better lather than my barber does.

That said, I haven't had a shave on Jermyn St yet.

-John

 

[ironfist]

I went for a shave here in Glasgow, turkish guy.

Was my first ever barber shave, was alright, face was a bit raw afterwards as he didn't know my beard growth.

Would i go for another shave? Yes. Elsewhere? Yes

I think it was £11.

 

[KodiakAttack]

Many barbers will tell you that it is illegal to give shaves or to use a certain kind of razor in whatever state they happen to live in as an excuse for not shaving you. It sounds better if they say "I could give you a shave but it's illegal" than "I don't feel like it" or "I don't know how."

There are a couple of states where it is illegal to use traditional straight razors (hone and strop), but changeable-blade razors are legal in all 50 states for use by barbers and in some states cosmetologists.


http://www.idfpr.com/profs/info/Barber.asp According to the laws set forth by the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, barbers are allowed

"To shave or trim the beard or cut the hair; to style, arrange, dress, curl, wave, straighten, clean, singe, epilate, depilate, shampoo, marcel, chemically restructure, bleach, tint, color or similarly work upon the hair or cranial prosthesis of any person; to give relaxing facial or scalp massage or treatments with oils, creams or other preparations either by hand or by mechanical appliances.


And no further text is given on the subject of shaving or razors except that all tools must be disinfected before use on another client.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I own a barbershop and its quite frustrating when folks don't realize that shaving is not only legal, but that people actually get them! We easily do 20+ shaves a week.
The laws in California are a bit confusing at times (Imagine that?!), to my knowledge the only thing "illegal" to use on a client is a shaving brush because it cannot be properly sanitized. This, however, does not stop many barbers from using them. Wikipedia: Barber's Itch

 

[cb91710]

the only thing "illegal" to use on a client is a shaving brush because it cannot be properly sanitized.

Would UV not be sufficient?