Close shave at El Cortez

I am on a Southwest flight from Las Vegas to Ohio with some time to kill. I always spend the $6 bucks (now $8) for the WiFi to make the four-hour flight somewhat bearable. I’ll use the free time and my crappy writing skills to post a review.

Each trip to Las Vegas I try something different. This time I had a straight razor shave at the El Cortez. Here’s how it went down.

I showed up Saturday morning (no appointment) and waited about ten minutes for Ernesto to finish a haircut. Then it was my turn in the chair. Ernesto starts off with clippers doing some trim work around my face, cleaned up my ears, and straightened my side burns.

Next, the chair is reclined almost flat. A hot towel is wrapped around my face. After a minute or so, the towel is removed and warm lather is applied. Another hot towel is wrapped on top of the lather. Another minute then the towel is removed. Warm lather is reapplied and Ernesto starts the shave. He moves the blade around your face very slowly, taking his time, allowing one to fully enjoy the shave.

When he finished, I figured it was done. Nope. Another round of warm lather, and hot towel wrap. Then more lather, and a second shave. After the second and final shave, it’s another hot towel wrap. The towel is removed and Ernesto performs a final inspection. After-shave is applied to top it all off.

The entire process took a full twenty minutes and it was very relaxing. I lay back the entire time with my eyes closed. Ernesto would position my head as needed. I wasn’t required to do anything. Just relax. He quietly went about his job. From start to finish, not a single word was spoken. Afterwards, with nobody else waiting, I stuck around and talked to Ernesto for a few minutes before leaving.

This was my first straight razor shave. While it wasn’t the closest shave I ever had, it was pretty good- no nicks, no razor burn, just smooth skin. I haven’t shaved since; now 3+ days later. I should have went back before departing this afternoon.

The Barber Shop is located on the 2nd floor directly above the casino. Take the stairs by the craps tables. If you ever stayed in one of the Vintage rooms you’ll know where to find it. Otherwise, just follow the signs.

How much? Only $15 bucks, plus a $5 tip. Can’t beat it with a stick.

No doubt this will become a permanent part of my Las Vegas routine. I highly recommend it.

This is something I treat myself to every so often. It is very relaxing and I look freshly shaven for several days. I highly recommend it.

Enjoyable read, MakingBook, although I have to admit that I initially figured it was a story of scampering out the door a step and a half in front of 'old Mo' or one of the other EC pit boys. lol

Quote: kewlj

Enjoyable read, MakingBook, although I have to admit that I initially figured it was a story of scampering out the door a step and a half in front of 'old Mo' or one of the other EC pit boys. lol

I was talking with Young this morning and she said 'old Mo' retired in March.

Quote: MakingBook

I was talking with Young this morning and she said 'old Mo' retired in March.

No way! :( I am on east coast for a few weeks and didn't realize I hadn't seen him before I left. "Old Mo' was great. Was my favorite. He backed me off in the mens room earlier this year. lol He backed me off on 2 consecutive days last fall and then when I walked in and sat down on the third day, he just gave a frustrated 'shrug' and walked away. lol I scolded him about bad manners after the bathroom backoff and he actually seemed kind of embarrassed. I feel bad that was my last encounter with him. Happy retirement Mo. :)

A straight razor shave costs $40 plus tip at the Borgata. The Cortez shave sounds like a great deal. Just hope they use one time use blades because its very hard to sterilize traditional straight razor blades from hepatitis


Makingbook, did he use a cold towel at the end? That's my favorite part. Super refreshing

This is how many city businessmen got shaved every day
100 years ago. What was once common is now a luxury.
There were a lot more barber shops then because they
did just as many shaves as haircuts.

I had a shave and a haircut and it cost $1.25....It was in Laos. With tip $2.00

Quote: Hunterhill

I had a shave and a haircut and it cost $1.25....It was in Laos. With tip $2.00

Shave and a Haircut- 2 Bits. That was the price, a quarter,
from after the Civil War to about 1900, when inflation started
to kick in.

Quote: EvenBob

Shave and a Haircut- 2 Bits. That was the price, a quarter,
from after the Civil War to about 1900, when inflation started
to kick in.

So what exactly was a bit.I`ve always heard 2 bits,was it a specific coin or what?

Quote: Hunterhill

So what exactly was a bit.I`ve always heard 2 bits,was it a specific coin or what?

A bit is 1/8th of a dollar. Or 12.5 cents. Hence a quarter is 2 bits.

From wikipedia:

"In the U.S., the "bit" as a designation for money dates from the colonial period, when the most common unit of currency used was the Spanish dollar, also known as "piece of eight", which was worth 8 Spanish silver reales. One eighth of a dollar or one silver real was one "bit""

Quote: Hunterhill

So what exactly was a bit.I`ve always heard 2 bits,was it a specific coin or what?

My understanding is they used to cut dollar coins
into quarter 'bits' long long ago and it comes from
that. 4 bits is 50 cents.

Quote: EvenBob

My understanding is they used to cut dollar coins
into quarter 'bits' long long ago and it comes from
that. 2 bits is 50 cents, 4 bits is a dollar.

wrong.

Quote: sodawater

wrong.

Close though. "It goes back to the days when coins were minted with grooves so that they could have bits removed and spent individually. These were the "pieces of eight" that you hear of in pirate stories. One eighth of a dollar is 12.5 cents, thus two bits is 25 cents or a quarter."

Ernesto is the bomb diggity!

Added to my list of things to do in Vegas on my next trip...

Quote: thecesspit

Added to my list of things to do in Vegas on my next trip...

Considering it myself! I have also never played the single deck there. Debating learning the handful of BS exceptions from DD just so I can get backed off.