Anyone still enjoy the barber experience?

**The Ambassador** · 09-21-2011, 08:06 AM

I've been shaving with a str8 razor for a while now, but I do enjoy the camaraderie of the shop conversation/discussions. In New York City (Harlem) a hot towel shave is upwards of $20, including tip.

Is the shop still worth it to you?

**gearchow** · 09-21-2011, 08:38 AM

I haven't paid for a haircut in 15 years at least, much less set foot into a barbershop to get a shave. Busy, big city shops must be a different experience from the one's that I've gone to in the far past.

-jim

**Obiwan** · 09-21-2011, 08:44 AM

I had an old school barber that I loved. He just retired. I love the barbershop experience though (asuming you can find a good one). As far as the shave, most "trendy" AOS-type places offer terrible shaves (we see the stories here).

**BDKrause** · 09-21-2011, 09:42 AM

Since moving back to the area, I have been going to the barber my dad took me to when I was a kid. It is so much better than the "shops" I went to in Austin.

**joe.attaboy** · 09-21-2011, 09:54 AM

I've had a back-and-forth thing going with haircuts for years. I had a friend who cut my hair for years...he ran the shop with his wife and they did ladies' and men's hair, but he got sick and closed the place. I preferred to use real barbers, but finding a good one near my northeast Florida home was difficult, and I often found myself using one of the local chain haircut locations, and not really liking it much.

Up in northern Virginia, where I work, I've found a real barber shop that I patronize regularly. I use the same barber (Gerard) when i go, and he always does a great job. I don't get shaves there (I prefer to do my own), but the haircuts are the traditional kind a man would expect to get in a good, old-fashioned shop. The shop is a few miles from my place up here, but it's worth the drive and having to fit the haircut into my schedule.

I was home in Florida last week and noticed a "barber shop" opening in a shopping center not far from my house. I didn't get a shot to check it out yet, but the use of "barber shop" vice "hair salon" is encouraging.

**Dr. Francois** · 09-21-2011, 09:56 AM

Does anyone have tips on finding a nice barber shop?

**The Ambassador** · 09-21-2011, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Dr. Francois

Does anyone have tips on finding a nice barber shop?

I used to live on the north side of Houston, TX. There was a neighborhood guy that had his own shop and I walked in just to give it a shot. Aside from all the meaningless conversation that was going on, I mentioned that I needed a shave. I wear a goatee and told him I planned to keep it. I tell this story often in these forums, but here it goes again; there was absolutely nothing about this guy that alerted me to his skill with a str8 razor, let alone, his whole routine prior to the shave... Before I get long winded, see if you can just pop in, take a look at what the barbers are doing, the skill and length of time it takes for them to do their job. If you're impressed, try them out, if not, you know the rest....

And the search may continue...

**SALBONE** · 09-21-2011, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Dr. Francois

Does anyone have tips on finding a nice barber shop?

Here's a list currently available: http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Barber_Shop_Directory
There are many other barber shops not listed yet. This frontier has yet to be fully discovered and additions are greatly appreciated.
If one on this list is not close to you, look up barber shops in your area. If they are on Yelp, read the reviews. A barber shop shave should run you about $20-$25. Try one out and review it here!

**nteeman** · 09-21-2011, 10:29 AM

There is a great Barber Shop in my neighborhood that my son and I go to regularly. Occasionally I will go for a shave but usually just a haircut. Thier shaves are very good and it is a very enjoyable experience but I find my own shave to be a bit better. None the less it is still a great pleasure to receive a shave from a worthy barber. ($14) The barbers there pride themselves on their work and love to talk about shaving, blades and such. And even when I come in just for a haircut they will often offer me a hot towel before I leave. My son too, has gotten into the habit of asking for a hot towel after his haircut even though he is only 11 years old.

BTW: I would add this to the Barbershop directory but could not figure out how to add a state to the directory?
Daniel's Barber Shop
553 Port Washington Blvd.
Port Washington, NY 11050
516-767-6456
[email protected]

**StubbleShaver** · 09-21-2011, 11:21 AM

Been meaning to get one from my local barber, But watching Sweeney Todd seems to have put me off a bit :S

**coyotewhisper** · 09-21-2011, 12:05 PM

Here in Fort Smith, I get my haircut from a traditional Barber Shop.

**Dennard** · 09-21-2011, 01:27 PM

I go to a local barbershop. But I just go for the haircut most of the time. A shave is a once or twice a year luxury.

**Angry__Panda** · 09-21-2011, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by The Ambassador

I've been shaving with a str8 razor for a while now, but I do enjoy the camaraderie of the shop conversation/discussions. In New York City (Harlem) a hot towel shave is upwards of $20, including tip.

Is the shop still worth it to you?

That's it!?! With tip I used to pay my barber 60 dollars. Unfortunately a moved and found this place. He gave a great haircut is the unfortunate part, and the other unfortunate part is that it probably wasn't worth 60 bucks, he was using a cheapo shavette ;) . If I could find a barbershop here that I could trust to give me a good straight shave with a real straight (or at least a feather shavette ;) ) I would probably drop in and check it out. So far no good though. But I do miss the barbershop just cause of the nice atmosphere and getting pampered by someone other than myself for a change heh.

**Rancho Unicorno** · 09-21-2011, 01:59 PM

The only place I've had a great haircut and shave recently was at a place called Kirby's Memorial Barbershop in Houston, when I was there for a wedding.

I live in the DC area, and used to go to a little old Chinese man in downtown, but the owner didn't renew his lease. I don't know what has become of him. Where I am, in Frederick, MD, I have yet to find a great barber. There are a bunch of options - ranging from ye olde to nouveau - but I'm still looking.

**Greyfox** · 09-21-2011, 02:02 PM

No. I haven't had a decent barber shop shave in 30 years. Haircuts aren't what they used to be either. In fact barber shops in general aren't all that prevalent anymore.

**klm099** · 09-21-2011, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by gearchow

I haven't paid for a haircut in 15 years at least, much less set foot into a barbershop to get a shave. Busy, big city shops must be a different experience from the one's that I've gone to in the far past.

-jim

+1
ken

**oc_in_fw** · 09-21-2011, 03:34 PM

I haven't had a barber shave since 92- when I moved from Cleveland. There is a place close that does it, but then I would want a hair cut, too. I have been going to the same barber since I moved here, and going to another one would seem strange. He is trying to talk the boss into allowing shaving, so there is hope for the future. Until then, I will just shave myself.

**RazoRock** · 09-21-2011, 04:04 PM

I often go 'hang-out' at my buddies barbershop; it's always a good time.

**Darko** · 09-22-2011, 12:27 AM

Am still at the stage were I can't wait for stubble

**nosedog** · 09-22-2011, 12:47 AM

A colleague told me about a place in Enmore (Sydney) where a Turkish barber gives her brother a weekly shave for $20. I've tried to find it to no avail and keep forgetting to ask her exactly where it is.

It was a barbershop shave, or two, that got me into wet shaving, and I'm definitely keen for a repeat experience.