Saw a 20 year old kid with straight razors that cost more than my first car

Was at the barber supply shop Tuesday picking up some new shears and this apprentice walks in with a set of vintage Dovo razors his grandpa gave him. He said he's been learning to hone them on a stone his old man had since the 70s. Made me think about how I learned on disposable blades and clipper guards because that's what was cheap and fast. Now I kinda wonder if I missed out on that whole tradition side of things by not learning the old way. Any of you old timers still use a straight razor for full shaves or is it mostly just a display piece now?

2 comments

2 Comments

ericb662d ago

That apprentice is probably spending more time keeping his gear sharp than actually cutting hair. You didn't miss much - the old ways just take longer and cost more without giving a better haircut.

tarajenkins2d ago

Spare me the romanticized slow-razor nonsense. I once watched a "traditional" barber spend 20 minutes honing his straight razor on a leather strap, then nick my buddy's ear so bad he needed a bandaid. Meanwhile I can get a perfectly fine fade from a kid with clippers in 15 minutes flat and walk out looking like a million bucks. Your guy might be a master craftsman with a whetstone, but I'm not paying extra for the privilege of watching him sharpen his tools.