Chapter 4 – Remove Facial and Nape Hair
4.2 The Straight Razor Shave Service
The wet shave has been a practical, everyday ritual for people with facial hair dating back thousands of years. Today, the straight razor shave is seen as a relaxing, almost spa-like experience, complete with warm towels and curated skin care products. Nothing compares to the straight razor in its ability to create a smooth, close shave.
The wet shave procedures covered in this chapter include:
- Pre-shave preparation of the client and skin
- The facial shave
- The neck/nape shave
- After-care of the skin
Tools and Equipment
- Hair/barber chair with headrest and cover
- Barber paper towels
- Neck strips
- Cutting cape
- Comb
- Brush
- Tissues or cotton/gauze pads
- Moisturizer
- Receptacle or container with a cover to store soiled towels
- Garbage can with a cover
- Straight razor handle and blades
- Sharps container for razors that have been used
- Shaving lather (cream or gel)
- Lather dispenser (electric)
- Sink
- Towels (terry cloth)
- Hot-towel warmer
- Antiseptic or witch hazel
Pre-Shave Preparation of the Client
- Seat your client in the barber chair and ensure that they are comfortable.
- Perform a thorough consultation to assess any skin issues, look for irregular growth patterns, and inquire about medications and allergies.
- Place a towel from the back of the neck over each shoulder to the front. If the client is wearing a button-up collared shirt, be sure to ask them to unfasten the top two buttons and roll the collar under for them so it is inside the shirt before placing the towels.
- From the front of the client, loosely drape the cape over the client’s shoulders
- Apply a fresh headrest cover and adjust the headrest to a comfortable height so as to ensure that the client’s head is supported.
- Establish a comfortable working angle by reclining the chair into an appropriate position. Ensure that the client can lay comfortably with a slight upward tilt of the head for ease of access to the chin and neck.
- Establish a comfortable height for the chair and lock it.
- Wash your hands thoroughly and be sure they are completely dry.
- Lay a freshly laundered, unfolded towel across the client’s chest diagonally.
- Use a finger to securely tuck one end of the towel into the inside of the client’s neck band on one side.
- Take the other end of the towel and cross it over to the other side of the client, again using a finger to securely tuck the end of the towel into the inside of the other side of the client’s neck band.
- Tuck a towel/barbering paper towel under the collar of the cutting cape, draping around the neck and over the shoulders so it can be used for wiping the razor of excess lather or hair shavings.
Pre-Shave Preparation of the Client’s Skin
- Remove a pre-heated towel from the hot-towel warmer.
- Use your wrist to determine if the towel is a comfortable temperature to be applied to the client’s face. If too hot, carefully sway the towel backwards and