Would you rather have a woman or a man shave you?

[Threeme2189]

This question was sparked by a post by leonidas in the following thread:
Shave at trumpers

....there should be like a Hooter's for shaving and haircuts........

My question is:
If you were to have a luxurious straight razor shave at a respectable barber shop, who would you prefer to be shaven by?
For sake of simplicity, they all know how to give a good straight razor shave.

1. An old fashioned male barber.
2. A very good looking lady.
3. Other (specify).
4. It doesn't make a difference.

[markewallace]

No question about it for me. Skills being equal, I vote #2.

- Mark

[Oblique Human]

An old fashioned male barber, preferably an older gentleman in his late 50's-early 60's.

[elsmooth]

No question about it for me. Skills being equal, I vote #2.

- Mark

+1.

[Shaving_CHENG]

On Jermyn Street I popped into a shop and had a lovely Redhead give me one of the greatest shaves of my life. Same shop a few months later, she gave me one that wasn't as great, but I would go back to her in a heartbeat!

Best shave of my life, a Pakistani barber in the Souq in Manama, Bahrain.

Shouldn't matter where or what gender, just skill.

[MaritimeFanatic]

I tend to prefer male barbers in general. It seems that barber shops - true barber shops - are an endangered species nowadays, and I appreciate the last spots where a man can, well, be a man and be at ease with being so. Women have their haunts, and we should have ours.

[CrotalusHH]

You didn't specify the competency level of either.

All other things being the same I would prefer the female. If she was a lovely redhead I would drop my shave standards some.

[coachschaller]

I would prefer a gentleman barber. I could focus on the shave instead of other things :) I am tempted by enough with razors and soaps, I don't need other temptations !

[Threeme2189]

Actually I did, when I wrote:

For sake of simplicity, they all know how to give a good straight razor shave.

But I agree that I wouldn't mind getting a so-so shave from a good looking redhead :D

[Illadelphia]

Have to go with #2...

While I certainly appreciate the skill of an older seasoned vet with a straight, having a beautiful woman rub shave oil into my face tops all...

[Pgg365247]

In NOVA there sort of is a Gentleman's Barbershop that has very nice looking (competent) ladies performing a number of grooming services for men. It is called the Grooming Lounge in Tyson's Corner. The ladies aren't running around in small shorts with their stomachs showing but they are attractive ladies that are younger and wearing form fitting black pants with a light blue button up shirt. Now that may not sound very "sexy" but trust me it gets your attention. When you come in for your appointment a very nice staff member greets you and takes your coat then shows you to the lounge area. The lounge area has a flat screen with some daily papers, current magazines, some breath mints and a few of their proprietary items they sell for you to sample. They also have a nice bar where they will serve you drinks free of charge while you are getting your services done (the services aren't cheap so you are paying in a way). I will say they stock some rather good spirits and your common juices/sodas/water. In the actual service area they have nice black leather and chrome barber chairs with a traditional black and white checkered floor. They use hot towels and a hot lather machine for the shaves. My only grip is that they use a cartridge razor (they may offer a straight shave...I just have never seen any other type used). Now this is probably as close as you are going to find to a "Hooter's" shaving/barbershop in my area at least. Maybe someone in South Beach will build one... who knows.

As for my vote... I will take the 65 year old master Italian barber living in a small coastal fishing village off the Amalfi coast over the pretty girl any day of the week. I know for the sake of this thread they supposedly have the same skill set, but common! The best shave I have ever had (from someone other than me) was when I was living in Gaeta, Italy by 'the brothers". To this day if I am in Italy I make a special trip to go see "the brothers". Two older brothers who have been shaving men their entire life. Pretty girls are everywhere. Good old fashioned master barbers are a dying breed... give me the old guy.

[PugslyCat]

All other things being the same I would prefer the female. If she was a lovely redhead I would drop my shave standards some.

+ 1. This was pretty much the story of my selecting a barber back in college. Actually it holds true to this day. If the buxom lass I had been going to for haircuts only used hot towels and a shavette for neck trims like my new barber I would still be going to her.

[TonyBrown]

i gotta go with the old school gentleman. i would be much more comfy with that.

disclosure - I've had the same barber since I was about 10yrs old, i'm 43 now. he doesn't do shaves, though Im sure he knows how, he's been doing hair since he got back from 'nam

[barrycv]

Sounds like it beat the heck out of the Fantastic Sam's (or whatever it was) I went to in CampusTown back in the day.

+ 1. This was pretty much the story of my selecting a barber back in college. Actually it holds true to this day. If the buxom lass I had been going to for haircuts only used hot towels and a shavette for neck trims like my new barber I would still be going to her.

[echotron]

I voted Old Fashion Barber for a straight razor shave. Experience over looks ... she may look good but I may end up hamburger meat!

True Story: While in college, a few guys I know directed me to a little known beauty salon to get my hair trimmed so it just flopped a few inches on my shoulders - late 1970s- ...

... after finally finding the place and walking into a room with mirrors, wall to wall shag carpet and 2 barber chairs, but no people; I begin to wonder what had I gotten myself into.

I called out and this scantily dressed woman came out and asked if she could help me. I stated I needed a trim - hearing this a weird look came over her face.

She said "Sit down" and proceeding to whack and snip and whack and snip for a couple of minutes; the whole time I was getting "rug burn" on my face from her bosoms!

She said $10 ... I paid and left with the Worst haircut I've ever got ...

Yep guys, on the way back to the dorm, I finally figured out it was a front for a cathouse!

[TonyBrown]

sure give a new meaning to the word trim.

[celestino]

No question about it for me. Skills being equal, I vote #2.

- Mark

+1 No question!!

Afterwards, i would go to the old guy!

[Le Buzz]

I don't think any barber, no matter how good and experienced, can do a better job than me at shaving my own face. Consequently, if I were to let someone else shave my face it would be for the experience alone, and not the result.

I'd rather be pampered by member of the female species... rather than an older gentleman. Even if the woman is not attractive to me, women just have a more pleasing demeanor, which I believe would make the experience more relaxing.

[gsurko]

Let's see: Possible PMS, mad at boyfriend or husband, holding sharp thing by my throat- Man.

[HoosierTrooper]

Should've had a fifth choice, None of the above. I realize I'm in the super minority here, but I have absolutely no desire to be shaved by anyone but me.