The_Tupelo_Flash said about 3 years ago or at 9:45AM on Tuesday, July 8 2008 in chat
hey fella's
who does the best barbershop shave in melbourne? y'know the traditional straight razor shave that takes a while but feels so good!
there used to be enzo on smith street in collingwood but he's retired now and closed shop. his shave was legendary and luxurious. he did it the old fashioned way and took his time. i used to love going there.
i really feel the need for a good barbershop shave! any suggestions where to go?
My only suggestion it don't watch Sweeney Todd before you go.
ugh - 'is' not 'it'
i do this regularly.
i like the dude on albert street next to la paloma cafe near sydney rd.
he's not the best, but it's most authentic vibe i've found.
if anyone else has tips on the best/closest shave dude, i'm all ears too.
is this still legal?
i remember having to learn this when doing my hairdressing apprenticeship way back last century. they were talking about phasing it out then due to the passing of infections etc.
Rocket on collins st. Fabian is the guy who does it.
near the corner of king st.
Fuckin ace place, ace guys.
He's 3rd or 4th generation barber too, so he's real keen on the whole thing.
Go and see my friend George Nichas at the Melbourne Barber shop
Fully authentic- complete with LCD TVs showing bike and car racing, a proper espresso machine (George will throw in a coffee while you wait), and a haircut and shave under $30.
Sweet.
kickarse tips! ta.
still legal sveltes!
available at all good barbershops.
hell a barbershop ain't a real barbershop without a straight razor shave.
it really is the best facial shave you can have.
that sounds awesome thomasr!
i can't believe i didn't know about this place!
a straight razor shave and espresso coffee.... dude that sounds like heaven to me ...ha
totes agree, Tupelo.
anyone got tips for sydney?
The barber up the North end of Errol St in North Melbs will do it along with a haircut.
he'll probably charge you $30 for the priveledge, though.
He's on his honeymoon until the 14th July however...!
Tell him I sent you, that way I look ace.
svelteslacks:
proper old skool barbers make sure the razor is sterile for each shave. the blade is always steaming hot with plenty of boiling water to keep it clean and hot.
and i totally endorse the melbourne barber shop too. it's a $30 shave but hell is worth it.
No coffee at Rocket, but you get a free Mountain Goat on thurs/fri arvos.
Large LCD with sport, and lots of cool rockabilly music usually playing.
Do they pull teeth, too?
I third this.
There's a crazy-looking joint on Williamstown Rd I'm looking forward to checking out. It's chock full of knicknacks, floor to ceiling.
Some places in Sydney Rd still do them and this fella I know ended up with this godawful rash all over his face. He had the jacks. On his face. Blllluuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrghhhhhhh.
he had the police on his face?
unless it has a picture of the '82 Azzurri (Campeoni Del Mondo!) above the mirrors, and a shitload of Proraso product, it's not a real barber shop.
Unless he has a jar of leeches and a bonesaw, it's not a real barbershop
Unless he has a blood-soaked apron, it's not a real barbershop.
''Murder! Bloody murder!'' yelled the man from Ironbark.
Hmm.... I can see a lot of recommendations in this thread for the The Melbourne Barber Shop but I recently had a straight razor shave there a week ago and was really disappointed.
I've had plenty of barbershop shaves in Melbourne for around $15. This shave was $33 but I was kind of persuaded by that thinking... ''wow, a 30 buck shave - it must be a REALLY fucking good!'' ... I was looking forward to it and splurged. It's an experience not just a shave right? - my one concession to any sort of male pampering!
So everything started off well, all the prep stuff with hot flannels and shave creams whilst I lied back in the big ole' barber chair reclined. Then the guy started shaving and I was thinking ''this doesn't feel right''... I opened my eyes and he was using a fucking normal razor! A Mach-3 to be precise! He must have seen me looked perturbed because then he started hurriedly explaining how ''the Mach-3 is an even closer shave than the straight razor!''... Bullshit!
He was just being a lazy bastard. A straight razor shave takes precision, skill and time, and for whatever reason he just couldn't be fucked doing it. I really think he thought I wasn't gonna open my eyes, and likely a straight razor newbie and wouldn't even notice.
I have a fucking Mach-3 at home! I could have shaved myself that morning! So I'm lying there fuming, I really should have said something - and he gives me a quick once over with the shave and I'm done way too quickly. Then when I went to pay I did say I was disappointed it wasn't a straight razor shave because I thought that's what I was paying $33 for but he insisted I'd had a better shave and wouldn't offer a discount. So like a douche I paid $33...
...but I won't be going back there again.
RANT OVER
can someone update the recommendations pls?
Hi 'Lozenge'
I read your comments and felt I should respond, I usually use a cut throat razor on people's necks after a hair cut and faces for shaves depending on weather I think the skin will take a open blade safely, especially with awkward growth patterns on the neck or the type of skin that might irritate, if I feel that its safer and better to use a conventional razor to get the closest finish, I do. I make this clear with all my clients.
My objective is to get the closest shave possible WITHOUT irritation. I steam, apply and massage pre and after Proraso cream then lather with the shaving soap till the skin and bristles are softened. I then shave over the skin once and repeat the softening process and finish up with another hot towel. The two processes take around 30 minutes and that's why you paid $33. I spent the time to get you close as possible while being careful not to irritate your skin. A shave's quality finish depends on the preparation and the manipulation of the skin not necessarily what style of blade you use.
Anyhow get in touch and we'll work out what's best for you- I am happy to consider a cut throat razor for your skin- but let's ensure that's right for you. BTW- it's free for you, I'm disappointed you feel it didn't go to plan and I want all my customers to go away happy. So feel free to call me.
Anyone know of any joints which ''singe'' remaining facial hair after a straight razor shave?
Apparently it's a part of a traditional Turkish shave. I'd be up for that.
Which barber shop did gaslight radio film part of their ''change the ending'' film clip in?
Maybe it's still open for business.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJus32tA85o
Also, modern shaving ''technology'' is fucked. I refuse to pay several hundred dollars for some fucking electric razor that requires regular maintenance and can't handle growth without irritating like a motherfucker.
Gillette is even worse. There's no way I would pay something like 4000% mark up on a ''fusion'' razor blade.
I am happy using olive oil as a ''pre-shave oil'', a Gillette safety razor manufactured in the 40's to shave with (blades cost $15-20 per 100), shaving brush, shaving soap and an alum block as after shave.
Yep you got it Luke, its all in the preparation!
Nice one George. Despite Lozenge's experience I know for a fact George prides himself on his work. He was genuinely horrified at the above post. I continue to go there and so too does my two year old.
Horrified George may have been... but, ...er, I paid $33 for someone to shave me with a disposable razor.
Not quite the barbershop wet shave I was expecting.
Watch out for this guy.
anyways, wtf is my barber doin' reading messandnoise?!
gettin' caught complaining 'bout his dodgy wet shave skills on 'ere was certainly a surreal experience!
dude must have been googling himself. i won't be mentioning names in future.
Gentleman, my man does cut throat razor shaves and mini-facials as well as stylish bespoke cutting right Here I'm not sure how much he charges, but he does a bang up job - he's shaved faces of all ages too!
And he's never heard of a Mach-3 either!
This is opening in Sydney soon!!!
Is that topless haircuts? I read that they had to close it down because of the OH&S standards in NSW..
yep, topless. it hasn't opened yet though
What's so unsafe about topless haircuts?
Luke, two words buddy: boobs + scissors
Hey everyone, here is your new barber/surgeon
Just came back from Italy. Got addicted to the traditional barbershop shave, so I started searching in Melbourne for one. $33 dollars for a shave???? That is absolutely obscene and disgracefull. I was paying 10 Euro. So much for Europe being expensive, Australia has well and truly gone past it. If the price was more reasonable - say $15-20, I'd be there every week. Also this rubbish above about the barber using a Mach3 instead of a straight blade? Never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Just lazy and a rip-off. I would have refused to pay. If you don't have the skill set to do the job properly with a cut-throat, then don't do it - full stop! To then try and say it gave as good or a better shave than a straight blade is a straight out lie.
Christ I love clowns like Bowwow ''Oh I went overseas on a Contiki tour and it was cheaper, Jeez Australia sucks..''
Did you read the barber's response? It takes 30 minutes- so $33 is spot on. Try getting 30 minutes in a women's salon for $33 and see how far you get.
And your knowledge of shaving is next to zero- if someone has a face like a badly made pizza, then using a straight razor is only going to result in a horror film result. So take your bullshit attitude and fuck off back to Europe.
Angry thomasr is angry!
Said the worst journalist in Australia (*actual voting rigged by Edelsten, G)
I think I see the confusion here. The barber thinks he's just selling a close, comfortable shave, and customers think he's also selling the old school experience of a cut-throat. Both have some legit claim here. Perhaps this situation could have been avoided if the barber had explained the reasons for not using a cut-throat in more detail and before beginning the entire process. Miscommunication.
Does the doc like a cut-throat shave? A real journalist would have made it his life mission to find out.
I am at Ossie Barber on Flinders Lane. Good old skool shit. The Picture magazine.. not very good.
poor smoo's
When he use the blade to shave the backof my neck, I thought of Eastern Promise.
You have hair on the back of your neck? What are you, a horse?
Any good barbers in Brunswick? I don't want a close shave, just a bear clean up and a haircut, on the cheap.
BEAR CLEAN UP!
There is a barber near the india supermarket and Betta Health.
yep, i need my bear cleaned up.