Straight Razor Shaving

Like most men, you probably hate shaving.  

But let's face it, everyone and we mean, EVERYONE loves our lovers skin smoothly shaven, above or below the belt!  You learned all about that in our manscaping article.  ;)

And for years, you've thought you hated it. It gives you a rash. And you don't like the smell of the cheap cans of drugstore shaving foam.

Let us tell you about a little shop downtown at the My Florist Center just down the street from where you work.



Salon D' Shayn has been renown for years in the Scottsdale valley for providing the best in haircuts, color, skincare (spa facials) and their famous Brazilian Wax.

Just one year ago this boutique salon voted #1 by Yelp!, 944 magazine, Haute Living and AZ Central for 3 years in a row, opened up it's second location in Downtown Phoenix.  What makes this place so special?


They have a full service men's barber.

Some of you might be familiar with the typical Phoenix barber scene where you can get a good clean shave and a fade, and even a free beer, but might leave with a few knicks or possibly some unnecessary roughness that can come from being "man" handled.



Here is what Brit's most faithful customer has to say: 

“Shaving has become a nice, sensory ritual,” Khademi says. “It smells good. It feels good. And my skin reacts well to it.” - Jayson Ali Khademi, Phoenix

He’s not alone.

For the past few decades, men have been sold the story that they need to use disposable and electric shavers because they’re easy. They’re safe. And they’re fast. Race-car fast. We’ve all seen the TV commercials: towel-clad handsome men drag disposable razors across their lather-covered faces, as if those pieces of coloured plastic hold the secret to true manliness. Sometimes there are race cars, too.

But lately, men are realizing a good shave is about more than cheap foam, plastic and fast cars. Sales of disposables are falling; according to The Economist, Schick, a prominent maker of disposable razors, is reporting a 10 per cent drop in sales this year, and Gillette’s figures are similar.

Instead, men are rediscovering the pleasures of the old-fashioned wet shave: safety razors, straight razors, fancy soaps and even fancier brushes.

The old-school gear is a throwback to a time when shaving wasn’t necessarily a chore. It was a manly sign of coming of age.

“Men have been told that shaving is a pain for so long,” says Knifewear owner Kevin Kent. “But I argue that, when done right, it’s meaningful ritual. It’s a moment of focus and self-indulgence in the morning. And it feels good.”

We can likely thank Hollywood for at least some of the resurgence. The suave Don Draper made it look pretty easy on the TV show Mad Men. (A little too easy, in fact. Who isn’t sort of surprised he still has his adam’s apple?)

Then there’s the sexy scene in Skyfall, where James Bond’s lover, straight razor in hand, takes care of his, uh, whiskers. “It’s all about trust,” reads one of the comments posted under the YouTube clip from the film.

Or money, depending what business you’re in. Kent says straight razor sales at his store skyrocketed 150 per cent after the film’s release.

On any given day, you’ll see men of all ages — pierced and tattooed twenty-somethings, hipster dads and grandpas — checking out the wooden cases and glass shelves laden with brushes, scuttles and soaps. (They even sell Ungarische Bartwichse, the Hungarian moustache wax used by the surrealist artist Salvador Dali.) There are sleek little gear stands, heavy leather strops and, of course, razors, both safety and straight.


Here is what you can expect from a straight razor shave . . . 

Brit McCulley, Barber and salon manager, takes you through her process.

It starts with a soothing beard oil that nourishes and softens the skin.  This is applied and massaged into the face to relax you and soften your coarse hair.

Once the oil has been absorbed into the hair and skin, a rich, hot lather is brushed gently using a soft bristle brush.

Next, Brit applies a steamy hot towel directly to the now softened, lathered, nice smelling hair to further relax you and open up the pores for an extreme close shave.

Another layer of Salon D' Shayn's nourishing hot lather is then brushed onto the hair and Brit begins the first of her famous two pass shave with her straight razor.

The first pass follows the direction of your hair which cuts as close as any quadruple bladed mach speed, electric or fancy shmancy razor you can find.

As if this shave wasn't close enough, she completes yet another pass against the grain leaving your skin smoother than you thought was possible.

Finally, since you're enjoying yourself so much, she gently applies a soothing aftershave and finally a cooling talc powder.

(She even throws in a free beer!)


Ready to give it a try?

Enter to win a complimentary straight razor shave on Salon D' Shayn's Facebook Fan Page
Look for the December Free Straight Razor Shave Contest

Rules:

You must "Like" Salon D' Shayn Phoenix Facebook fan page.

You must "Share" the post "Free Straight Razor Shave Contest" on your wall by December 23rd.

Winner will be announced on December 24th - just in time for Christmas.  You will receive a gift certificate entitling you or someone special to a Free straight razor shave redeemable at Salon D' Shayn downtown Phoenix location.  (Gift certificates may be left at reception for pick up.)

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