I do love a strait-razor shave and I try to have one every year on my birthday. It makes me feel pampered and clean and is something worth savoring and enjoying. I have a couple of my own razors (one VERY nice Sweeney Todd-ish feather of silver and steel), a strop, conditioner, etc…, but doing it yourself is just not the same: There is no hot towel, no inappropriate politically-incorrect barber shoppe banter, no scalp massage, and a complete lack of aftershave. Nope, every grown man should treat himself to a strait-razor shave now and then.
I went to a shop in downtown Seattle for the first time this year. I had to book the appointment 4 weeks in advance and it was somewhat pricey, but Yelp had good reviews for the shop. My birthday haircut was fine, great even, but my 39th year of life aniversery strait razor shave was terrible! I SAW the barber put a fresh blade in, but I would have bet the farm that he was using a tin can on my face. It pulled and cut until I almost couldn’t stand it. I have had hundreds of shaves in my life – really – and that was the most painful one ever. Next year I am going to stick with my normal shop, the normal old guys, and same old aftershave…