Last Tuesday I had my first ever barber shop shave at Franks Chop Shop on the lower east side of NYC. Over all it was a pretty great experience, which I will share with you. I had received an e-mail offering 15% off that day so I called for an appointment and got the last one at 730pm. I went almost straight from work and arrived at about 725. I almost missed missed the place because a) I don't know that neighborhood at all and b) there is another barbershop two doors down (which didn't look as good). Ivan arrived promptly at 730 and introduced himself. He told me how he would be doing the shave (hot towel, shaving cream, pass WTG, repeat maybe with a pass XTG). He started by inspecting my beard a little (I had decided to give him a few good days of stubble and had decided to take of my goatee as well). He then put some sort of oil on my face and let me soak for about 5 minutes with the hot towel. He applied the shaving cream (Baxter, like this LINK) with his hands and shaved once WTG. He then applied another hot towel, not for as long and then applied some water with his hands to my face. I had really hoped for some more shaving cream, and the second pass was a little painful sans cream. He did combo wtg/xtg pass, checking with his fingers as he went. I was very impressed because after he had started cleaning up he decided one spot wasn't quite smooth enough and went over it again. After the second pass he applied a cold towel 3 times for a bout a minute each and finished off with an aftershave (also by baxter). He said the cream and AS were unscented but I thought I smelled a pleasant, mild mint scent. After the shave we discussed wet shaving for about ten minutes. He said he doesn't like Proraso (which is my second favorite after my AOS sandalwood) because it dries out the skin. He apparently shaves at several places in the city (where he said they charge more than 3 times the price, and for several companies (with their products) at expos. After the shave I was also given a goody bag consisting of the shop's special blend of coffee and a Frank 151 magazine/book. I can't recommend this place enough, incredible value. Their usual price is only 17.50 but this shave only cost me 13.90 (plus tip). As Ivan said, the best shave you can get is the one you give yourself but this one was quite good. Almost BBS over most of face and minimal razor burn (which I blame mostly on the lack of cream for the second pass and the fact that my goatee area hasn't been shaved clean in about a year). If you're in New York, be sure to stop by this place (make sure to make an appointment). Cool atmosphere and an overall great place.
I really need to pony up for a str8 shave here. They are $35, but a pretty girl does it for you. I guess that makes up for the price.
Sounds good. I live just outside the city. Although I dont particuarly like baxter products or the thought of not being lathered up before a second pass.
The barber's textbooks instructed a barber to use water for a 2nd pass though it gave no reason that I can remember reading. It's interesting that this barber did that. I wonder if barbers are still being taught to do this. It sounds like a great experience. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Glad it went well for you. I don't think I could get a straight shave around here anymore. My barber is fairly "old school" but even he uses a shavette for neck trimming and DISPOSABLE twin blade razor for shaves.
Nice to see a traditional shave. Most "high end" shops such as Grooming Lounge around D.C. use pretty girls with the latest multi-blade razors and still charge $50
That's interesting. I can't really think of a reason you would prefer a pass with water as opposed to cream...other than it saves the barber a few cents on the shaving cream... I'm pretty sue he also used a shavette, although I didn't really see the blade that well. I read somewhere that in addition to not be allowed to use a real straight for health reasons, it is actually illegal (in new york state at least) to use a brush for lather for the same reasons. It explains why the barber applied the cream with his hands.
gee, in Montreal, it's absolutely impossible to get a real straight razor shave, with a brush and shaving soap, or lather cream like that. The few barbers around here use straights with disposable blades, and hot foam. In Morocco where I'm from, most barbers still shave the real traditional way, and in Israel as well, but not here. Armand
I know its illegal to use str8s in NY and brushes due to health code reasons but they are allowed to use shavettes. The water pass could be the same thing as an oil pass so you can get nice and close and make sure you didnt miss anything. I still think though, for any money, I want a nicer cream than what I can find at target.
I have been wanting to get a barber shop shave for a while now....been trying to find one around my area...but alas...i live where it is probably impossible to get the old school stuff anymore!
I live in a place that is pretty new and up there in terms of nothing being old school. Low and behold, the local main street barber shop gives a shave for 15$.
I think most barber shops use the disposable blade and some sort of hot foam or lather in hand products due to the health code reasons. I used to live in Israel and I have to say, not only have I never seen an old school barber, I could not find any DE blades (ie IPs!). I'm curious where you saw any of these.
I shaved in my barber shop for years. We were restricted from using a straight blade so I went to a MC with a Persona injector. The truth is it is the experience not the shave. The hot towels and the hot lather is where it's at. The rest is your perception; reality is the shave is no better or no worst than the person wielding the implement. I defy any human to tell the difference between a straight blade and an injector type razor shave in the hands of a capable technician. ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AND TIP WELL. As we say in Vegas "He was a stiff or he was George". You can't be both. "FAHGETABOUTIT"
I was in Rishon le Tsiyon and I got a good straight razor shave there. My brother-in-law, who's away in Greece right now is a moderator in this group, and he can tell you about the barber in Haifa who used to shave him when he was younger. He used a brush, a straight, and MEM shaving cream. Armand
Barbershop experience in Japan I loves me a good barbershop shave story, here's mine! Living in Japan has it's perks, one of them is definitely the Barbershop experience. Now of course there are several places to get a trim and a shave but my buddy Roy turned me on to "Leon" and let me tell you it's the best, and it doesn't include any hanky panky at all. O.K. enough babbling - first up is a shampoo with a menthol cooling type vibe - wakes your scalp right up. After cutting your hair to the desired style they break out some hot lather, apply it with a brush and shave around the ears and neck and the earlobes themselves with a straight razor...not a time to sneeze. The lather smells typically barbershoppy, nothing to write home about. Then they shampoo you again whilst sitting upright with the same cooling shampoo though mixing it with spritzes of what sounds like seltzer water and they lather it up and massage your head and neck for a good 2-3 minutes...man that just puts you in the right frame of mind for what happens down the road...they rinse your hair off (lying down of course) and you are handed a cool (hot in the winter) face towel to cool off after all that hard work. Now comes the shave, you are reclined and they massage an orange mint smelling oil/ointment on your face, which doesn't lather up. This is followed up by a hot towel on your face left on for a few seconds followed by yet another hot towel. They then proceed to shave with a straight razor (perhaps a feather shavette) leaving no hair untouched, with samurai like precision... while all the barbers shave the one who is my favorite is the older lady whose only job is to shave and she does an amazing job - a true Super-Duper-Ultra-Smooth-Baby-Butt-Shave. Once that's done it's time for a soothing after-shave balm/oil (today it smelled like basil and mint) which is massaged for a good 2 minutes into your face, after that it's followed by something that feels like very thin cotton paper which absorbs any residue, followed by a cool face towel left on your face and the massage begins from your neck all the way to your fingertips. If you get one of the young ladies doing this, it feels quite nice and I'm usually snoring by that point dreaming of some guy playing a harp and a bevy of gals in togas feeding me seedless grapes, if you get one of the guys it's like getting the Vulcan neck pinch by Mike Ditka, and I'm usually wincing in pain under the towel praying that they'll get a phone call so I can get some feeling back in my arms. Once that's done they prop you back up blow drying, gelling, pomading, moussing or whatever hair care you need. After they brush you off, you get your choice of hot or iced tea or coffee. All and all not bad for about $26.00 and the best hour and twenty minutes after a long work day....the only thing that would make it better would be some of the great soaps from the U.S. or Europe... Cheers!
Bludman, does this shop carry any selection of shaving stuff? or is it pretty much a barber shop with a few items, but not enough to go out of my way for (assuming I don't want a shave)? Thanks Jordan
Jordan, my brother-in-law is mistaken. In Israel, I haven't seen a barber give a real straight razor shave in a long time. I know, because I'm Israeli. I come from Haifa, and there are sanitary precautions that barbers are obliged to take.
