At the Barber Shop this morning

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Chromedhearts

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Been using the same barber for about twenty years.
Went and got cleaned up this morning, #2 on the sides and a #4 on top. While the barber was shaving my neck he told me that wouldn't be possible in the foreseeable future. He told me that the state of Alabama will no longer license barbers, all new workers are cosmetologist regulated by the cosmetology board and they were no longer allowed to use razors, even safety razors, on face or neck. He said current licensed barbers are to be grandfathered in. 'Said there just wasn't a demand for that profession and not enough new students in the few places that had offered the training. Seems the true Barber is a dying breed. At least it will be a few decades before the last of 'em is gone.
 
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That is a sad state of affairs. Texas has two distinct licenses, and only the barber can utilize a blade. The cosmetologist can use a safety razor, but no straight razor.

This nation is going to he11 in a hand basket when we are forced to patronize a 'Super Cuts'...ugg.

On a more positive note, my local barber shop still uses a straight razor, hot towels, and has sufficiently masculine magazines in the waiting area.
 
Visited the barber Monday. I had let my hair grow out for 6 months out of curiosity but the shaggy bum look wasn't working. The year-old beard is still mildly amusing, though, so I kept that.

I stopped at my usual joint for a sandwich afterwards. The counter gal, who I've patronized for years, noticed my new do and said, "BUFF! You got a haircut!"

I said, "No, I got them all cut."

She walked off with a puzzled look, obviously not getting my feeble joke. When she brought me my drink, she looked at my head again and the burst into laughter.

I hope it was her getting the joke and not just laughing at my homely face...
 
Muss Muggins said:
Has been that way in Missouri for several years. Barbers can use razors (Mine uses a straight razor), and cosmetologists can't use a razor on skin at all . . .
Click to expand...

It's that way in AZ as well. My wife is a cosmetologist. The curious thing is, her license required twice the training as a Barber's license. She is required to be trained in and know twice as much as barbers about skin and hair, but can't use a straight razor.
 
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Yrs.ago my barber was laughing as he made a statement.Told me new rule allows him to shave a customer with a razor that you insert the blade(looks like a st.razor) but he can't use a regular st.razor!I asked why,he said...doesn't make sense but I was told the st.razor is a "weapon"!! I asked if he was kidding! He said,nope,I couldn't believe it either!
Jim
 
I go to a real, honest to goodness licensed barber. He's been in the same shop for 40 years, and the nicotine stains show it.

In any case, the state actually won't permit him to shave faces. He will use a straight razor to shave a neck, but that he's not allowed to use any kind of razor on the face.

It's a shame too, as he still has(and uses) the hot shaving cream machine and the hot towels...just on the back of someone's neck.

His chairs have a mounting post for a strop on them, and the chair he uses has one hanging off of it.

I use a safety razor for myself, but it would be great to get a real, honest to goodness shave from a barber.

Unfortunately, real barbers are indeed a dying breed. I have to continually remind myself of how fortunate I am about the fact that the same guy has been cutting my hair ~1 time a month for years. Most of the time I just sit down in the chair and continue whatever BS we were discussing beforehand-the only thing I might say is "make it a little shorter than usual" or "make it a little longer."

It amazes me how many folks my age have never experienced a real barber shop.

BTW, we have a lady here in town who is a licensed barber and primarily cuts men's hair. I've heard that she's quite good, so if my current barber retires I might give her a try.
 
And the quality of a haircut goes down... alone with the quality of the experience of getting a haircut. Where'd "they" get the idea a straight razor is a weapon, the movies? Idiot politicians...
 
Give me the small town barbershop any day where you and the barber have things in common. There are no fancy cuts here, only a choice between regular, buzz, or flat top. A shave might be accomplished with a straight razor or a hunting knife, depending on which is sharper at the time.

 
My Barber who has cut my hair since i was about 17 died last year
so i had to find a new one. Now instead of a straight razor around the
ears and neck for a nice clean shave they use the little electric
clippers that looks like the ones they use on nose hairs.
"Change and progress" ain't always for the better my friends.


Chuck
 
I haven't saw a barber use a straight razor in years. They use a tool kinda like a straight razor but it has a razor blade in it. Instead of having to sharpen the razor they just change the blade. It's getting harder to find barbers that shave around the neck and ears. Larry
 
To me, nothing qualifies as a real barbershop unless you can read Field and Stream or Playboy while you wait. The last REAL barber I went to was when I was in the sheriff's academy nearly 30 years ago. One chair shop, barber was a tough as nails old Marine. He'd insist that you grab a beer out of the fridge in the backroom to drink while you wait (on the house). But it was very important to get in before 2:00 p.m. Any later and you risked a butchering -- barber started drinking at 8:00 a.m.
 
Due to Dept. of Health

Chromedhearts said:
While the barber was shaving my neck he told me that wouldn't be possible in the foreseeable future. He told me that the state of Alabama will no longer license barbers, all new workers are cosmetologist regulated by the cosmetology board
Click to expand...

Same as a health pro. using the same needle for you as on the last patient, any nick from a razor that isn't sterile could possibly transmit blood borne diseases.
 
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