Do Barber Shops Still Give a Straight Razor Shave?

[anotherbob]

I think so but I haven't been to the barber in years. Like since I was 12. But the best bet would be to give them a call and just say hey where can I get a straight razor shave. I find even if the place you call doesn't most of the time they'll tell you someone who does.

 

[macaroni]

Sounds like me. I remember at first the barber put a board across the arms of the chair because when my father first started taking me to the barber I was too short.

I forgot about the old fashioned "booster seat" in that big barber chair--you've prodded some REALLY old memories back--thnx a bunch!!
smiling in Texas
mike

 

[anotherbob]

Sounds like me. I remember at first the barber put a board across the arms of the chair because when my father first started taking me to the barber I was too short.

It's been so long I just thought that's what they do for everyone.

 

[Infantry23]

I have been restoring, honing, collecting and shaving exclusively with a straight razor for 10 years.

I also have a collection of hones and strops.

The straight razor shave you will get in most shops in the USA are actually shavette shaves that use a disposable DE blade. Very different from a true straight razor shave IMO.

I used a shavette for years before starting with a straight razor. Cheers.

I loved using my antique straight razor! However, it has gotten dull and tugs painfully. I only have a strop. What do you recommend I do to get a fine edge again? I've never tried honing myself but would be willing to learn.

 

[Servant King]

I've been a monthly member at The Shave Cave - https://www.theshavecave.com for six years, and go twice a month.

SIGNATURE SHAVE
Face wash, hot towel, pre-shave oil applied, facial massage, hot towel, lather applied with shave brush and straight razor shave with the grain, hot towel, lather reapplied and shave cross or against the grain, after shave spritz, ice cold towel, rose water tonic and after shave moisturizer applied.

If I did that, I'd have to squeeze a piss break in there somewhere. Sounds lovely, though!

 

[Papamique]

I loved using my antique straight razor! However, it has gotten dull and tugs painfully. I only have a strop. What do you recommend I do to get a fine edge again? I've never tried honing myself but would be willing to learn.

Honing a straight razor is an endeavor. I would recommend checking out sites like sharprazorplace.com for information. I would be more than happy to help you out too including honing the razor for you free of charge. Just PM me.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

About five years ago, I was told by an older barber that they could no longer give straight razor shaves "like in the old days" by the health department. He ranted for the entirety of the haircut about big gov and stuff impeding on his business. I just wanted the back of my neck shaved, as I will never let anyone mess with my beard.

Then my daughter went through cosmetology school. When I started talking about how they can no longer give straight razor shaves, she said that was total bullshit. Now, when I go to her salon, I get a baby smooth neck. I've also asked a few other beauticians and they told me the same. The guy that told me that was probably just scared to give them. Don't believe every goofball that cuts hair when they say Big Brother won't let them do something.

 

[Rigidman]

I still get them. Just 5 years ago you could still get one for $10. Now they're all boutiques and it costs $20+ for a shave. A lot of the old barber shops have closed up around here. I've started using the original type razors. They make one that holds 2 blades. It was in the testing stage when I saw it. Have no idea if its been successful or if its still available.

I also bought some straight razors. Got the shaving cream and soap. Been researching strops too. I got a couple straight razors because I wanted to practice sharpening and honing. Until I'm more confident I'll just pay to have it sharpened. It only needs it occasionally. If you have a couple you can still shave while one's being sharpened.

The price for the quadruple special German steal with titanium coating just got too ridiculous for me. I don't shave often. I had to when I was in the Army and I always got a rash from it. Still do once in a while.

Once I went back to the old single blade razor I stopped getting rashes as much. The barber said it was razor burn. He also said before the 20 bladed razors that cost a million bucks a year, everyone did just fine with a single blade.

He also told me to get this oil. Can't think of the name but its a preshave lube. Works great.

I haven't tried it yet but a friend of mine uses Harry's. He's happy with it. Just wished his wife wouldn't use it without telling him.

I think just for the single razor I spent $50-$60 for everything. I bought the brush on eBay. I got a nice badger brush for a lot less than the online shops. I have a couple of brushes as well. You need a stand so it dries after using it.

You can't set it up on the handle. It has to hang to dry correctly or it'll be ruined.

I have a couple different straight razors. Some I bought ready to use from eBay. There's also one that has disposable blades. No sharpening. Many of the boutiques use this now.

I haven't been shaved with one. Except for the back of my neck during a haircut. I've been told its very similar. As far as the back of my neck goes, I couldn't tell the difference. Thanks

 

[Rigidman]

Honing a straight razor is an endeavor. I would recommend checking out sites like sharprazorplace.com for information. I would be more than happy to help you out too including honing the razor for you free of charge. Just PM me.

Yeah it's a job to sharpen and hone a razor. That's why I have a couple so I can send them out. Plus a couple to practice sharpening and honing. I use the stainless ones to practice sharpening and honing. The others are tool steel, carbon steel, and Damascus. Some places won't bother sharpening the stainless ones. I got the Damascus one before they started charging $50+ for them. Once in a while you can find an inexpensive one. Just be careful where its made. It might look like Damascus but it won't hold an edge.

 

[mingc]

About five years ago, I was told by an older barber that they could no longer give straight razor shaves "like in the old days" by the health department. He ranted for the entirety of the haircut about big gov and stuff impeding on his business. I just wanted the back of my neck shaved, as I will never let anyone mess with my beard.

Then my daughter went through cosmetology school. When I started talking about how they can no longer give straight razor shaves, she said that was total bullshit. Now, when I go to her salon, I get a baby smooth neck. I've also asked a few other beauticians and they told me the same. The guy that told me that was probably just scared to give them. Don't believe every goofball that cuts hair when they say Big Brother won't let them do something.

You may just have escaped Sweeney Todd while he was struggling to control his impulses!

 

[Papamique]

I started my hobby by learning to hone a straight razor so I have been honing them for 10 years. I usually only hone my own and at times some friends but never charge. I have dozens of stones and a few complete sets (shapton glass/ naniwa/Arkansas/jnat w nagura set/thuringians etc.)
I used to hone a razor a day and did that for years so I put my time in learning. It is a rabbit hole in and of itself.

As for the OP, there is a place around 120 miles from here that will do a shavette shave. $20+ dollars depending on what you want.

 

[anotherbob]

I loved using my antique straight razor! However, it has gotten dull and tugs painfully. I only have a strop. What do you recommend I do to get a fine edge again? I've never tried honing myself but would be willing to learn.

send it to someone who does it professionally. It needs sharpened. I think some knife smiths or something like that either offer that service or could send you to the right place. Don't we have someone like that here?

 

[anotherbob]

About five years ago, I was told by an older barber that they could no longer give straight razor shaves "like in the old days" by the health department. He ranted for the entirety of the haircut about big gov and stuff impeding on his business. I just wanted the back of my neck shaved, as I will never let anyone mess with my beard.

Then my daughter went through cosmetology school. When I started talking about how they can no longer give straight razor shaves, she said that was total bullshit. Now, when I go to her salon, I get a baby smooth neck. I've also asked a few other beauticians and they told me the same. The guy that told me that was probably just scared to give them. Don't believe every goofball that cuts hair when they say Big Brother won't let them do something.

they probably won't let him give shaves after cutting someones head off.

 

[Papamique]

send it to someone who does it professionally. It needs sharpened. I think some knife smiths or something like that either offer that service or could send you to the right place. Don't we have someone like that here?

I would never send it to someone who sharpens knives personally. The stones used are very different along with the techniques. Not that knowing how to sharpen a knife isn’t valuable and transferable when learning how to hone a razor but most knife sharpening places don’t have a clue.

If you want a “professional”, there are people out there that specialize in honing razors that will charge a fee.

 

[anotherbob]

I would never send it to someone who sharpens knives personally. The stones used are very different along with the techniques. Not that knowing how to sharpen a knife isn’t valuable and transferable when learning how to hone a razor but most knife sharpening places don’t have a clue.

If you want a “professional”, there are people out there that specialize in honing razors that will charge a fee.

Shot I thought that might be a good place to start. One could hope most places would be professional enough to know their limitations and respect their own reputation enough to not try something they don't know they're qualified to do. I was thinking more along the lines of they'd probably know what he should be looking for. Often that's how I have found the right service is by asking the wrong one and having them say our customers have had good luck with.... Thanks for throwing that heads up.

 

[Chasing Embers]

You may just have escaped Sweeney Todd while he was struggling to control his impulses!

He may not have been kidding. Cosmetologists have to have a license to operate and are licensed for straight razor use. A barber can cut hair without a license, but cannot commercially use a straight razor without state licensing.

 

[Infantry23]

send it to someone who does it professionally. It needs sharpened. I think some knife smiths or something like that either offer that service or could send you to the right place. Don't we have someone like that here?

I sharpen my knives well, but that straight razor going up my throat is a different animal altogether. The 12k grits and the burr needed make it difficult for me to do a straight. I've attempted the ?swaddy? (Spelling??) stones and it was an endeavor.

 

[Infantry23]

Shot I thought that might be a good place to start. One could hope most places would be professional enough to know their limitations and respect their own reputation enough to not try something they don't know they're qualified to do. I was thinking more along the lines of they'd probably know what he should be looking for. Often that's how I have found the right service is by asking the wrong one and having them say our customers have had good luck with.... Thanks for throwing that heads up.

Yeah, I do the same usually! Ask the right question to the wrong person until I find the right source!

 

[mingc]

A barber can cut hair without a license, but cannot commercially use a straight razor without state licensing.

I'm not sure that's true for Oregon (where the same license seems to required to cut hair and shave), but it may well be true for Alabama or where ever the shop that @cosmic patronized was located.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm not sure that's true for Oregon (where the same license seems to required to cut hair and shave), but it may well be true for Alabama or where ever the shop that @cosmic patronized was located.

I'm licensed for all of it, but only went to school to have barbering as a hobby. I've saved a lot of money on family hair care that way and having a well groomed appearance in 2020 surprised a lot of people.?