Issues with straight razors

[Drac]

Hi guys,

A new place near my house opened up recently, a barber shop. Not a hair salon or a boutique but a barber shop. Its part of a chain called Roosters, Men's Grooming Center. It was started by a veteran barber. It goes back to the concept of a bit of old school pampering for men. A hair cut, hot towels, shaves, etc. It also has some newer services such as grey coverage for older men and streaks for kids. They it is the classic American barbershop reconfigured and updated for the 21st Century man.

Go in there and it's decorated with large numbers of dead animals (nothing says "manly" more than that ) and in the style of western barbershops. Nice chairs, friendly and barbers that know how the cut hair. I didn't even have to go over the military requirements for my barber; she was a military brat with military kids, trained by a Marine drill sergeant. It even includes a complimentary shoe shine and beverage, unfortunately I'm a scotch man and not into beer or any carbonated beverage. It's a bit pricey but well worth it for my drill weekends.

The issue? They go to do the neck and ear shave, common among old style barbers; I was looking forward to this. The last time I had a shave from a straight razor was over in Israel and I didn't need to shave for four days after it. It didn't hurt or burn in the slightest. If she did a good job on the neck I was considering having her shave my face as I had a inspection the next morning and I knew the shave would more than last.

She pulls out a multi-blade disposable!! I asked her if she didn't know how to use a straight razor and she said she could but the laws were so difficult it made it near impossible to use a straight razor in a shop.

A barber not being able to use the very tools of their trade!! That's like a surgeon not being able to use a scalpel!!

Long story/rant.

What have you guys encountered in this?

Jim

[B.Finnigan]

Nothing really surprises me anymore in this screwed up culture we live in.

[Ice Tigre]

Doesn't suprise me a bit either, although a bit depressing...

Wish we had a place like that here... Sounds nice.
mute point though, I don't shave.

G.

[Messinger]

My Grandfather is a barber and still using a straight razor. Now granted he's 70+ and lives in the most conservative state in the Union.

-Ben M.

[TexasJack]

They may very well have an issue with sterilizing the razor! In order to do it properly, the whole thing - handle and all - would have to be autoclaved or soaked in something toxic.

Disposable razors don't have that problem.

Since AIDS appeared, and since numerous reports of infections from all the women's nail salons, this has become an issue with #######d establishments.

[Drac]

I can see that, though I've had blood drawn from a miss handled set of clippers too. They should be using a sterilizing solution between cuts, but I can see why they wouldn't want to possibility of blood contamination on the tools.

By the way I've been looking on the net at straight razors and for the life of me I can't figure out how they close without dulling the edge. I can't see a stop pin on any of them, including a clear handled one.

Also are all of them hollow grinds? Can the correct edge be made with flat or convex grinds?

Thanks,
Jim