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Old timer at a barber supply store got me thinking | Barbers - The Design Community Hub

Old timer at a barber supply store got me thinking

I was grabbing some fresh Wahl blades at the barber supply over on Main Street last Tuesday, and I got to talking with this older guy, been cutting hair for like 40 years. He was saying how he still uses a straight razor on every neck line, no clippers for that part, because his mentor told him it builds trust with the customer. I always just used my trimmers for the neck, thought it was faster and cleaner. But he said something like "the sound of the razor tells them you care" and it kinda hit me weird. I been thinking about it all week, how much of our trade is about the little rituals we skip for speed. Has anyone else ever switched up a basic move just because an older barber made a good point about it?

3 comments

3 Comments

emmar753mo ago

That old timer's wisdom goes way beyond barbering honestly. There's a whole pattern of small thoughtful things getting cut out of everyday life because we're all in such a hurry. Saw a lady at the post office last week who took time to use a stamp and actually make sure it was straight on the envelope, just taking that extra 5 seconds for something that matters to her. My neighbor still hand-washes his truck in the driveway even though there's a car wash two blocks away, says it lets him notice the little scratches and dings before they get worse. It's like the internet and fast food made everyone forget that the slow way sometimes has hidden benefits you can't get from a shortcut.

kellymurphy3mo ago

That line about "the sound of the razor tells them you care" really stuck with me too. I switched to doing a hot towel and straight razor finish on the back of the neck about two years ago after an old school guy at a trade show told me it's the cheapest upgrade you can offer. Took me a week to get the hang of it without nicking people. Now half my regulars say they come back just for that part. It adds maybe 90 seconds to the cut but the tips got noticeably bigger.

finley_walker573mo ago

That straight razor on the neck thing is real but it's not actually about the sound. I asked my old mentor about this years ago and he told me the real trick is the heat from the lather and the cold from the blade together. That temperature change is what makes peoples eyes close and relaxes them. I tried skipping the hot towel once and just did the razor with cold lather and nobody even mentioned feeling different about the cut. The towel is doing most of the heavy lifting there.