Close Shave

IMG_4139Story and photos by Gareth Kelly

In a bygone era men would patronize barbershops. They would spend hours putting the world to rights, getting a hair cut and would allow someone they barely knew to take an incredibly large, sharp razor blade to their neck for a shave. As teenagers became men their fathers would take them in for their first close shave, pat them on the back and tell them “you’re a man now my son”.
Unfortunately with increasing regulation and fear of contracting blood diseases from the occasional ‘nick’ of the blade, the hot shave slowly disappeared along with many traditional barbers.
Until now. Located at 1351 Monterey St, in San Luis Obispo, Clippers, a male focused hair cut establishment is bringing back this old trade. After the success of my recent facial story I was tasked, once again, with putting my neck on the line for the sake of journalism.
IMG_4136The first thing you notice after walking through the doors of Clippers is how masculine it all feels. Big screen TVs showing sports adorn the walls, the soundtrack is contemporary, large leather sofas entice in a lounge area and cold beer is available.
I was guided to my chair by Whitney Wimmer, the manager of Clippers and also one of the two stylists now qualified to give hot shaves.
“We talked about it with the owners and the other girls and figured it would be a cool service to offer,” said Wimmer. “I went back to school and had to do over 400 hours of training, shaving beard after beard after beard before getting signed off by the state.”
Once I sat in my chair with a cover around my neck, it was go time. First Wimmer had to take clippers to my existing beard. I like to rotate between the 5 O’clock shadow to the full on hipster with my beard but it all had to go. Next I was tilted back and a warm towel was placed all around my neck and face. It reminded me of the towels one gets on long haul flights and felt rather relaxing. After the towel came the lather, massaged into my skin. “The hot towel softens the remaining hairs and the lather starts to open up the skin,” Wimmer informed me. Another even hotter towel came next before more lather.
“Are you ready?” said Wimmer as she stood over me, cut throat razor in hand. “Lets do this,” I replied.”
Gently manipulating my skin with her thumb to stretch it Wimmer guided the blade across my face. I could hear the blade cutting through my beard as she went. I was asked to make a couple of funny faces for the tricky parts under my nose and just above my chin to help move my skin around before another hot towel was applied. IMG_4148Finishing off with some cooling lotion, a quick trim and clean up of my neckline and we were done.
In all the entire experience took approximately 40 minutes, and that’s what it is, an experience and a delightful one at that. More than simply a shave it felt like 40 minutes of pampering for my face, which was now as smooth as silk.
A hot shave at Clippers will set you back $40 and will take 40 to 60 minutes. Right now shaves are by appointment only but all their other haircuts and services are available as drop in’s. They are located at 1351 Monterey St in SLO or on the web at www.clippersbarber.com
Hopefully Gareth’s beard will return soon. What keeps your chin warm and fuzzy? Email Gareth at