The Shave

Posted by Howard Simpson at 7/19/2008 8:48 AM
Categories: uncategorized
When I was a kid my parents used to take me to this little barber shop next to K-Mart for my hair cuts.  I don't remember it that well, but I'm pretty sure this was a pretty classic barber shop.  Then it closed and we started going exclusively to Supercuts...which is anything but classic.  After enduring about 8 years of Supercuts haircuts I finally got my license and was able to go anywhere I wanted.  I was referred to Pete's Barber Shop in Thousand Oaks...now this was a real barber shop; I'm talking red and blue striped pole outside, three old men behind the chairs, Playboys under the register, posters of women in beer ads on the walls, and a haircut for just $8.  The barbers would sit there and talk about sports all day long and make comments about every single woman that walked by the window, regardless of what she looked like  (Interestingly enough, none of the three men behind the chairs were ever Pete...but that's a story for another blog entry).  Alas, after college Thousand Oaks became too far for me to drive.  Now I go to a salon...I have a girl, named T, that does my hair every time.  I have another lady that shampoos my hair first.  And when I'm done, my tip alone is as much as my whole haircut at Pete's used to be...can you say, "sellout"...

A few weeks ago though, I had an opportunity to experience an old school barber shop again.  A friend was going to "The Shave" in Beverly Hills to be shaved by a professional before his wedding.  This is something I've always wanted to do, so I immediately invited myself to join
in.  Now of course, this wasn't pure old school...as it was Beverly Hills...meaning it was very expensive and really done up with flat screen TVs and stuff, but it still had the feel of a classic barber.  Upon walking in we were immediately offered a drink while we waited for our shave.  The person who sat us offered us Knob Creek and I was sold.  Any place that offers you free bourbon at 11 in the morning while you wait for a man to shave you has to be good.


When it came to my turn, a woman sat me in the chair and started with the hot towel on my face.  This may sound sexist, but I have to be honest...I was not so happy about this.  I really felt to have the experience be authentic the shave could only be done by a man.  Maybe if the woman was amazing looking I could make an exception...but she wasn't...  Anyway, I bit my tongue as she wrapped my face in the soothing hot towel followed by some type of lotion.  I was presently surprised a few minutes later when a guy with a blade in hand came up and replaced her.  I guess the girl was just the prep lady.

Within a minute he had finished half my face and I still hadn't taken a breath...I was too afraid.  Here I was with a stranger dancing a long blade around my neck.  He started talking to me, but I was too afraid to move my mouth to answer.  He told me I should relax and that he almost never knicks anyone.  Right then the guy at the chair next to me starts complaining that he's bleeding and can't get it to stop!  He jokes that he needs to call 911.  This was funny, but not what I needed at the moment.  What I really needed was another glass of Knob Creek.

I did eventually relax though and had a nice conversation with the guy while he shaved me.  The shave included two rounds.  The first with a thick foam shaving cream and the straight edge, the second was with a more gelly type of shaving cream and a Gillette razor.  He said that it was their policy to only use the straight edge the first time around, unless the customer requests (and pays) for the straight edge twice.  I felt a bit cheated by this, but moved on.  In the end, no cuts!!  My cheeks were real nicely shaving and close.  I was a little disappointed at the closeness in the upper lip area.  I didn't think it was any closer than what I would have done on my own.  In fact, I think I could have got closer myself...

It was definitely a good experience and happy I did it.  After years of salon cuts it was nice to get back to a classic barber again.  Which reminds me, I need to make an appointment with T to get my haircut...
 

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