As he has been doing it for more than 20 years, master barber Noe Hernandez has no problem sliding a straight razor blade across a customer’s neck. The customer might sweat a bit, but hey . . . moisture is good for the shave.
“A straight razor provides a better shave–it will last two or three days,” Hernandez said. “But it’s also the tradition. You feel like an old cowboy.”
The 39-year-old Napervillian offers straight-razor shaves by appointment at State Street Barbers, illogically located at 1547 N. Wells St. (312-787-7722). Customers enter the retro snip shop furry as peaches and leave with pusses smooth as plums.
So how does the average guy replicate the closeness of a straight-razor shave in his bathroom? We asked the master:
– Moisture and warmth are essential tools throughout the shave. They make your skin more malleable, your stubble more pliable, and they relax your face muscles.
– Use a pre-shave oil, which coats the face and helps the blade glide. Then apply the shaving lather or gel.
– Keep the skin as taut as possible, and lay the blade close to your face–a 10-degree angle at most.
– Use long, continuous strokes, but never cut against the grain. For a thick beard, on the second shave, you can cut across the grain.
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– Finish with an aftershave to cool your face and close your pores.
– And remember, don’t rush. It may take 45 minutes, but at least you’ll walk out with all your blood.
Ready to put a blade to your throat? Visit the www.classicshaving.com for all things straight razor.