I recently visited a classic barbershop in St. Paul for an $80 professional wet shave. In this video, I give my final verdict on the entire 35-minute experience, breaking down the cost and the final results. Is this luxury service worth the price? Watch my full review to find out.
A Detailed Breakdown of My $80 Wet Shave
My Final Verdict on a St. Paul Wet Shave
In this video, I give my in-depth review of a 35-minute wet shave I received at Heimie’s Haberdashery in St. Paul. I analyze every aspect of the service with my barber, Michael, from the unique, “hodge-podgey” interior and the specific techniques he used, to how smooth my skin felt at the end. This is my complete review of what you can expect from this premium, old-school shave.
Want to see the full, relaxing cut-throat shave from start to finish?
Why This Review Will Help You
If you’ve ever wondered whether paying $80 for a professional shave is a worthwhile indulgence, my review provides a detailed, honest answer. My breakdown helps you understand the difference between a professional service and an at-home shave, so you can decide if it’s the right experience for you, whether for a special occasion or as a regular treat.
Highlights from this Video
"I would rate the time aspect of it like a 9 out of 10."
The $65 base price (around $80 with tip) for a 35-minute service is a key part of the value. I give my initial ratings on the time and cost right at the start.
"I think it was very special and unique; it wasn't cookie cutter. The furniture is old, there are lots of cool items and accessories, and there's always something to explore."
The location at Heimie’s was certainly unique. Jump to this timestamp to hear my full breakdown of the atmosphere and what I think about the experience.
"So, we had that pre-part with the shave cream first… That was unusual."
The barber used an unusual, multi-step process involving machine lather, oils, and a steamer—all applied by hand, not a brush, which was new to me.
"The second thing that would have made this experience better is if I could have chosen from the scents."
A simple choice between two scents for the oils or aftershave would have elevated the experience from a set service to a personal one for me.
"I could definitely feel it; there were times when Michael shaved that the hair was pulling, which made it a bit uncomfortable."
The shave wasn’t perfectly smooth. Was it a dull blade? I discuss the most uncomfortable part of my experience and what I think caused it.
Interested in the Heimie’s Haberdashery experience?
What We Were Wearing
For my visit to Heimie’s Haberdashery, I opted for a summer-weight sport coat in a light green linen. I paired this with a bold blue-and-white striped shirt and off-white trousers.
For my accessories, I wore a Violet & Black Christmas Rose Boutonnière for a rich pop of color, and a White Linen Pocket Square with a Navy Blue Crochet Edge that complemented the stripes in my shirt.
I finished the ensemble with a spray of Roberto Ugolini’s Loafer.
“Overall, it felt very luxurious and not like a chore, but something that was really self-pampering.”
Sven Raphael Schneider, CEO & Founder of Gentleman's Gazette
Ask the Expert
What’s the typical time and cost for this professional wet shave?
The service I reviewed costs $65 and takes about 30-35 minutes. Factoring in a 20% tip, the all-in cost is about $80. With travel, my total time investment was just over an hour.
What makes a professional shave different from an at-home shave?
The process is much more involved, and it’s about relaxation. My barber, Michael, used a multi-step process with pre-lather, oils, hot towels, and a steamer. What I found most unusual was that the lather came from a machine and was applied by hand, not a brush.
What would have improved the experience?
I identified three things: 1) Hand-whipped lather, as the machine lather felt a bit “insubstantial” and airy. 2) An option to choose the scents for the products. 3) A sharper blade, as I could feel an uncomfortable “pulling” sensation at times.
Is a professional shave closer than a DE razor at home?
In my experience, no. While the main areas of my face were “baby butt” smooth, I could still feel stubble in trickier areas, like under my jawline. I find I can get a closer, more consistent shave myself with my DE razor.
Who is this $80 shave experience good for?
It’s perfect for special occasions like a wedding (for the groom or groomsmen) or a big interview. It also makes sense to combine with a regular haircut. It’s a luxury, pampering experience, but likely not a daily replacement for your at-home shave.
Experience this shave as ASMR
What to Watch Next
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The Aftershave Guide
What does aftershave actually do? I explore the different types, from balms to splashes, and help you find the perfect one for your skin.
I’ve had wet (or hot-towel) shaves in several barber shops, including the beautiful Barberia Giacalone in Genova, Italy, and most of the times the process was a little different from what has been described here:
1) a pre-shave cream has always been applied first, followed by a hot towel to open pores and let the cream in
2) the lather has always been made and applied with a brush
3) the shave itself has almost always been performed with a ‘shavette’ (a razor that uses half DE blades), which I find a bit too aggressive for my skin, except in Barberia Giacalone where a beautiful straight razor made by my friend Emidio D’Astolfo was used
4) in most cases, the after shave was the traditional Floid aftershave, a couple of times Proraso was used
I agree that a good DE shave is closer, when I use a straight razor at home I always refine certain areas with a DE.
Interesting to hear of the different process you’ve experienced in Italy, thank you for sharing your experience, Stefano.
This video has freed me of any temptation that I may ever have felt to try undergoing a professional straight-razor shave. If such shaves are always done in a single pass against the grain, then I give can a big “NO, thank you!” to them right now. No wonder that Raphael was left with spots of blood all over his neck (4:00 in the video). The idea of starting a shave by going against the grain seems like utter madness to me.
Hi Miles, I do suggest watching the video through as Raphael goes on to explain the few areas of blot spotting he experienced as well as how he was impressed by the one-pass shave.
It’s not something that I do regularly, but I have had straight-razor shaves. In my experience, it’s the same as finding a barber whose haircuts you enjoy–everyone has his own style and way of doing things, and you may have to try a few different barbers to find one that suits you. It’s rarely a bad experience, at worst you might get a nick (which happens occasionally when I shave myself, too, so that’s not really something to be afraid of) and when it’s good, it’s great!