I’ve been on summer break since last week and have not been shaving, so my beard has been growing in. And I’ve needed a haircut for about a month, so my curly hair’s been growing out. I’ve been looking like a homeless Ronald McDonald, and my face has been itching like crazy. So, I thought I’d treat myself to a shave and a haircut today.

Now the haircut was pretty typical so I won’t go into it, but I’ve never had a professional shave before so that was quite an experience for me. First the barber put somekind of gel on my face. Then he lathered my face with a brush doused in hot foam. I believe that was the first time I ever encountered hot shaving cream, and the first time I ever had it applied with a brush. It was like living some old black and white movie. But what was really weird was then he applied shaving cream to my forehead, too! Apparently in Japan an eyebrow trim comes standard with shave! The barber seemed perplexed by my surprise, but after my polite decline he just shrugged and wiped my forehead off. Then he brought out a hot towel and wrapped my whole face with it except my nose. The hot towel seemed to relax my whole body. Refreshing!

However, after unwrapping me and applying some more shaving cream, the barber suddenly whipped out a vicious-looking straight razor! I was suddenly getting a shave from Sweeney Todd! The guy probably has a side business selling meat pies made from fresh gaijin! Seriously, the thing is right out of a horror movie. You don’t want a blade like this dancing around your exposed throat. But it wasn’t bad. He was a professional. He zipped around my face for a bit, and shaved me clean except for a trendy little mini-beard. Then he wrapped me up with a hot towel again, gelled up my face and neck, and kicked me out the door, a new man.

That was fun. As far I can tell he only nicked my upper lip, but no shave goes 100% blood free, I guess. Though I enjoyed the experience, to be honest my face had razor burn and felt really irritated afterwards. I guess the best shave is still right after a hot shower by my own hand with a Gillette Mach 3.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention the best part, in Japan you never give the barber a tip! You never give tips anywhere! Not to your hair-stylist. Not to your waitress. Not to your bellboy. Not to your taxi driver… No one! Never! People in Japan actually get their full salary from their bosses in their paycheck! What a concept! People actually do a good job because it’s their job! No bribes needed, or wanted! Wow!

Japanese word of the day: HIGE – beard