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Foil shaver after shaving with a straight razor?

Luecke3262

Luecke3262

“I am the Grail Razor Hunter”
Hobbyist
I have started visiting a new barber, who is only about 3 months out of barber collage. He is insistent on giving me a straight razor shave. He describes his process as 1. Hot towel, 2. Oil application, 3. Hot towel, 4. Face lather, 5. Straight shave, 6. FOIL SHAVER, 7. Cold towel, 8. Aftershave, 9. Aftershave Balm, 10. Talc.

I have no problem with any part of the shave, other than he’s very green at using a straight razor(has a beard by the way) and the FOIL SHAVER. WHAT???? I’ve never heard of a person needing a foil shaver after a straight razor shave. He says, in barber college, they teach to use the foil shaver to soften the tips of the hair and to reduce irritation and ingrown hairs. @BarberDave I know you are a newer barber if my memory serves me right, were you taught this is barber school?
I can’t imagine a foil shaver can make a straight shave even better, maybe I’m wrong...

Thoughts??
 
Luecke3262 said:
has a beard by the way
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First off...NEVER TRUST A BEARDED BARBER TO SHAVE YOU!!! It's kind of like taking food recommendations from a skinny vegan chef.

Luecke3262 said:
they teach to use the foil shaver to soften the tips of the hair and to reduce irritation and ingrown hairs
Click to expand...

If it is supposed to soften the tips...why is he using it after the straight shave? Yeah...this makes no sense and honestly sounds like one of these gimmicky steps that allows him to say that it's a 37 step shave...or whatnot.

I saw you let him start shaving his own face before you let him shave yours.
 
well that sounds like a load of bovine excrement to me. and if he could use a straight properly i don't thing a foil shaver would even be able to interact with the hair in any way at all. I can tell you as a client of @BarberDave that he has not used a foil shaver on me. I think 1 time i had several days growth and he knocked it down a bit with his clippers FIRST but that's it.
 
HMan said:
That is totally bizarre to me. Curious to see what the pro has to say as well.
Click to expand...
Exactly what I thought.... if you’re going to shave my face with a straight razor, there shouldn’t be any stubble to hit with a foil shaver...
 
Pardon me. To be clear by foil shaver do you mean one of those electric jobbies?
 
dangerousdon said:
First off...NEVER TRUST A BEARDED BARBER TO SHAVE YOU!!! It's kind of like taking food recommendations from a skinny vegan chef.



If it is supposed to soften the tips...why is he using it after the straight shave? Yeah...this makes no sense and honestly sounds like one of these gimmicky steps that allows him to say that it's a 37 step shave...or whatnot.

I saw you let him start shaving his own face before you let him shave yours.
Click to expand...
Yep, he shaves his neck and I’ve seen him handle a straight, with a super steep angle... I do not trust him with my face at all. He says he shaves several peoples faces a week, but I just don’t see it. I couldn’t agree more...
 
uacowboy said:
well that sounds like a load of bovine excrement to me. and if he could use a straight properly i don't thing a foil shaver would even be able to interact with the hair in any way at all. I can tell you as a client of @BarberDave that he has not used a foil shaver on me. I think 1 time i had several days growth and he knocked it down a bit with his clippers FIRST but that's it.
Click to expand...
I’m not blessed to live close enough to Dave, to have him as a barber... let me say this, I’m jealous! I can’t imagine Dave using an electric razor on a client, seeing as how he is a traditionalist by all accounts. I’d be interested if he had ever heard such bull.
 
Well if he thinks that's a good idea, I think you should clarify that he's applying oil to your face and not himself during step #2
 
Luecke3262 said:
I’m not blessed to live close enough to Dave, to have him as a barber... let me say this, I’m jealous! I can’t imagine Dave using an electric razor on a client, seeing as how he is a traditionalist by all accounts. I’d be interested if he had ever heard such bull.
Click to expand...
I think that would be hilarious next time Kyle is in. Gets him all set in the chair and whips out an electric razor. "I'm booked back-to-back. No time for the fancy stuff!"
 
If a barber is using a foil shaver... find a new Barber period. It means one of a couple of things
1. he is not comfortable with a straight whether that be a real one ( AZ allowed ) or a shavette ( most states require )
2. he is not comfortable with multiple passes or ATG, or stretching technique
3. he has not completed a Master Barber Certifcation ( if applicable in his state )
4. confidence
5. a bad instruction in school

The Proper "Barber" Shave should be as follows

1 ( optional ) knock down excess whiskers with trimmers ( very sharp, and the ones used for line ups ) This is only a time saver for a multiple pass shave,as if the straight is hsarp enough it is not necessary as a good straight will take down a Full ZZ top Beard.

2. Wash the face... with a good nuetral PH soap to cleanse the pores and prepare the whiskers ( Hot Towel )
3. Pre shave oil or lather massaged into skin to soften and stand up the whiskers ( hot towel )
3. Application of Hot Lather ( lather king ) or shave soap ( depends on service level and shave choice )
4. 1st pass ( Hot Towel )
5. 2nd pass ( Hot Towel )
6. 3rd Pass ( Hot Towel )
7. Clean up pass, water only if necessary ( Hot Towel )

Since we took a ton of moisture out we need to put it back in in post shave recovery

1. Facial Massage with Natural based face cream ( there is a stepped method ) (Hot Towel )
2. application of Aftershave Balm or serum
3. Application of astringent or aftershave ( Fan and Very COLD Towel to seal the shave )( leave on of 5 mins min )
4. Application of Talc
5. EdT or fragrance ( again dependent on level of service

At the very minimum service level a Barber Shave should be at least two passes, all hot towels, plus all the prep, and cleanup with astringent and cold towels and no foil shaver at all that is just lazy and unprofessional. Not to mention a foil shaver is among the dirtiest and most infected tools in the Shop, as the can be hard to clean and get all the hair & skin from the foil without soaking, the only time a foil should be used is in a bald fade style haircut to prevent head and neck irritation that a razor could cause, however some folks like a "razor fade" with does require the use of a straight.

There are, of course, variables in the way barbers are trained and adopt habits for shaving. I was lucky my instructor was old school from 1947 and was eventually ranked #2 in the world as a Master Barber and required... No demanded the traditional ways in all aspects of barbering. Sadly in today's schools its get the client our in 15 mins and the art of shaving is not taught well anymore, because most state exams make it a very small part of testing. Not to mention may states do not even have a Master Barber Certification which requires a much more in-depth testing and certification in which more attention is paid on the finer aspects.

Just my opinion of course hope that clarifies, at least my position in a "Barber Shave"

AND YES!!! IF YOUR BARBER HAS A BEARD HE SHOULD NOT BE GIVING YOU A SHAVE
 
Luecke3262 said:
I’m not blessed to live close enough to Dave, to have him as a barber... let me say this, I’m jealous! I can’t imagine Dave using an electric razor on a client, seeing as how he is a traditionalist by all accounts. I’d be interested if he had ever heard such bull.
Click to expand...
Yeah, i count myself lucky. especially since my last barber( oddly also named dave) left the state so he could get better treatment for a back issue. spent the better part of a year looking for a new barber when i found out @BarberDave was going through barber school and started going to him while he was there.
 
BarberDave said:
If a barber is using a foil shaver... find a new Barber period. It means one of a couple of things
1. he is not comfortable with a straight whether that be a real one ( AZ allowed ) or a shavette ( most states require )
2. he is not comfortable with multiple passes or ATG, or stretching technique
3. he has not completed a Master Barber Certifcation ( if applicable in his state )
4. confidence
5. a bad instruction in school

The Proper "Barber" Shave should be as follows

1 ( optional ) knock down excess whiskers with trimmers ( very sharp, and the ones used for line ups ) This is only a time saver for a multiple pass shave,as if the straight is hsarp enough it is not necessary as a good straight will take down a Full ZZ top Beard.

2. Wash the face... with a good nuetral PH soap to cleanse the pores and prepare the whiskers ( Hot Towel )
3. Pre shave oil or lather massaged into skin to soften and stand up the whiskers ( hot towel )
3. Application of Hot Lather ( lather king ) or shave soap ( depends on service level and shave choice )
4. 1st pass ( Hot Towel )
5. 2nd pass ( Hot Towel )
6. 3rd Pass ( Hot Towel )
7. Clean up pass, water only if necessary ( Hot Towel )

Since we took a ton of moisture out we need to put it back in in post shave recovery

1. Facial Massage with Natural based face cream ( there is a stepped method ) (Hot Towel )
2. application of Aftershave Balm or serum
3. Application of astringent or aftershave ( Fan and Very COLD Towel to seal the shave )( leave on of 5 mins min )
4. Application of Talc
5. EdT or fragrance ( again dependent on level of service

At the very minimum service level a Barber Shave should be at least two passes, all hot towels, plus all the prep, and cleanup with astringent and cold towels and no foil shaver at all that is just lazy and unprofessional. Not to mention a foil shaver is among the dirtiest and most infected tools in the Shop, as the can be hard to clean and get all the hair & skin from the foil without soaking, the only time a foil should be used is in a bald fade style haircut to prevent head and neck irritation that a razor could cause, however some folks like a "razor fade" with does require the use of a straight.

There are, of course, variables in the way barbers are trained and adopt habits for shaving. I was lucky my instructor was old school from 1947 and was eventually ranked #2 in the world as a Master Barber and required... No demanded the traditional ways in all aspects of barbering. Sadly in today's schools its get the client our in 15 mins and the art of shaving is not taught well anymore, because most state exams make it a very small part of testing. Not to mention may states do not even have a Master Barber Certification which requires a much more in-depth testing and certification in which more attention is paid on the finer aspects.

Just my opinion of course hope that clarifies, at least my position in a "Barber Shave"

AND YES!!! IF YOUR BARBER HAS A BEARD HE SHOULD NOT BE GIVING YOU A SHAVE
Click to expand...
Dave,
This is as I expected.... The poor guy is just starting out, I’ve been trying to help him out because of his interest in straights and wet shaving. I don’t think I’ll make an attempt to correct him, but I do think I’ll get my barbering elsewhere.
I believe his board exam was rescheduled due to COVID. He does have his diploma on the wall and has given me satisfactory haircuts.

I also, couldn’t figure how he could clean the foil shaver effectively between shaves.

Thanks for the step by step explanation on your process. Very intriguing to hear what an actual barber does compared to us knuckle dragging home shavers. Lol
 
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