Straight razor filler by @larrywaynetattoo

70 Traditional Straight Razor Tattoos For Barbers

Categories Traditional TattoosPosted on
Large razor tattooed on the right calf by @tattoos by jnorm
Large razor tattooed on the right calf by @tattoos by jnorm
Fun gap filler by @beezlebub.ink
Fun gap filler by @beezlebub.ink
By @truepaintat
By @truepaintat
Lovely black razor tattooed by @tamilia dahye
Lovely black razor tattooed by @tamilia dahye
Razor with a girls face reflection tattooed by @vans.tatts
Razor with a girls face reflection tattooed by @vans.tatts
Autumn vibes by @kevinoconnelltattoos
Autumn vibes by @kevinoconnelltattoos
By @itsmarcelice
By @itsmarcelice
Shave me by @iporkedittattoo
Shave me by @iporkedittattoo
Small piece on the left hand by @j.l.imaginarium
Small piece on the left hand by @j.l.imaginarium
Straight razor behind the left ear by @raymond reaper
Straight razor behind the left ear by @raymond reaper
Spooky by @joota.tt
Spooky by @joota.tt
Elbow ditch piece by @dilaraerkann
Elbow ditch piece by @dilaraerkann
Classy by @kyleriestattoo
Classy by @kyleriestattoo
Gorgeous traditional razor tattoo on the neck by @friedrichuebler
Gorgeous traditional razor tattoo on the neck by @friedrichuebler
Barber ink by @gusty.tattoos
Barber ink by @gusty.tattoos
Wrist piece by @maleficarvm
Wrist piece by @maleficarvm
Barber alliance by @goodluck tattoo seoul
Barber alliance by @goodluck tattoo seoul
Razor together with some sacred geometry by @kylectomlin
Razor together with some sacred geometry by @kylectomlin
Ditch piece by @irish james
Ditch piece by @irish james
By @ethanatempire
By @ethanatempire
Small razor from The Gumball by @roddytattoos
Small razor from The Gumball by @roddytattoos
By @inked oddities
By @inked oddities
Black and grey piece by @piratesloot
Black and grey piece by @piratesloot
Bloody by @nick oneill tat2
Bloody by @nick oneill tat2
Cut by @musu fuimaono
Cut by @musu fuimaono
Ear piece by @paigelouisetattoo
Ear piece by @paigelouisetattoo
Flowers and razor by @kodytattoos
Flowers and razor by @kodytattoos
Knee web and straight razor by @alec tattoos
Knee web and straight razor by @alec tattoos
Minimalist piece by @sophiesvart.tattoo
Minimalist piece by @sophiesvart.tattoo
Sharp razor tattoo by @golden.reflection
Sharp razor tattoo by @golden.reflection
Forearm piece by @ciroht
Forearm piece by @ciroht
Head piece by @rocket gloves
Head piece by @rocket gloves
Live fast shave slow by @13badnews
Live fast shave slow by @13badnews
Razor with a branch and red thread by @renato s tattoo
Razor with a branch and red thread by @renato s tattoo
Sraight razor for a barber by @jalapeno.ink
Sraight razor for a barber by @jalapeno.ink
Sublime piece by @cooper.tattoo
Sublime piece by @cooper.tattoo
Blackwork by @valentin.c.tattoos
Blackwork by @valentin.c.tattoos
Classy razor by @saitamme
Classy razor by @saitamme
Cool filler by @seoneul tatto
Cool filler by @seoneul tatto
Dead men dont catcall by @needle.mistress
Dead men dont catcall by @needle.mistress
Magic razor by @tattoosbymissiblue
Magic razor by @tattoosbymissiblue
Razor and wise eye tattoo by @mikenofcuk
Razor and wise eye tattoo by @mikenofcuk
Small neck piece by @mollymayceytattoo.lasc
Small neck piece by @mollymayceytattoo.lasc
Tiny piece by @norristattoo
Tiny piece by @norristattoo
Woodcut straight razor tattoo by @deborahpowtattoos
Woodcut straight razor tattoo by @deborahpowtattoos
Beautiful blackwork piece by @grubakrecha
Beautiful blackwork piece by @grubakrecha
By @marco 99estudio
By @marco 99estudio
By @tattoosbyhaz
By @tattoosbyhaz
Bloody razor inked by talented @siemor ntc
Bloody razor inked by talented @siemor ntc
Cute and small piece by @popeyedan
Cute and small piece by @popeyedan
Elbow filler by @flo7tattoo
Elbow filler by @flo7tattoo
Old-school straight razor inked by @tdon86
Old-school straight razor inked by @tdon86
Razor with a spider web inked by @pinkmachinetattoo
With a spider web inked by @pinkmachinetattoo
By @stevenrobinsontattoo
By @stevenrobinsontattoo
Shaving essentials tattooed by @mr.kobalto2
Shaving essentials tattooed by @mr.kobalto2
Small straight razor tattooed on the left hand by @guyonfrancois
Small straight razor tattooed on the left hand by @guyonfrancois
Snake and straight razor inked by @looming moon
Inked by @looming moon
Stone age razor by @sidoy666
Stone age razor by @sidoy666
Straight razor filler by @larrywaynetattoo
Filler by @larrywaynetattoo
American traditional style straight razor inked by @salvadortatuador
American traditional style straight razor inked by @salvadortatuador
By @aaronrobinsontattoo
By @aaronrobinsontattoo
By @curlsjrtattoos
By @curlsjrtattoos
By @palettetattoo
By @palettetattoo
Black and white straight razor tattooed by @sunhan.tattoo
Black and white straight razor tattooed by @sunhan.tattoo
Black piece by @number40tattoo
Black piece by @number40tattoo
Classic piece by @mikelussiertattoo
Classic piece by @mikelussiertattoo
Crisp black and white razor inked by @staceytattoos
Crisp black and white piece by @staceytattoos
Cute straight razor gap filler inked by @chad g78
Cute razor gap filler inked by @chad g78

Straight Razor Tattoo Meaning

A straight razor tattoo is a perfect choice for barbers. It represents not only what you do but what you are as well. Sculpting beards and fading hair is your life? This tattoo could be a creative way to tell the world about your profession. It could express your passion for barbering.

Sharp blades could also represent courage and strength. It’s not only about the physical strength but the inner as well. Maybe you’ve overcome a traumatic event or something else in your life—a razor on your skin could mark this event.

It could also be a part of your style. Razor tattoo will look perfect together with a beard and a classic suit. Traditional designs are the most dominant, but there are many other choices. You can get a small razor on your inner wrist or forearm.

When Did Shaving begin?

Even if the idea of shaving appeared with the first man, it wasn’t easy to achieve. Imagine waking up in the morning of prehistoric times when you didn’t have a razor. How did the men shave back then? Some speculate they burned their beards and hair until they reached the desired length. Frankly, it doesn’t sound very safe, so you’d better use your electric shaver or razor blade.

With the discovery of iron in the year 3000 BC, the first razors appeared. And until the 17th century, the concept didn’t change much. During the Medieval era, barbering was a widespread profession; but it didn’t consist of only trimming a fancy goatee for a hipster client. Back in those days, together with shaving beards, a barber was pulling teeth and performing bloodletting. Barbering was a very respected profession and a razor was a strong symbol of social status.

A Bit of History

Although shaving is an old habit, we’ll go back to Ancient Egypt to start talking about the razor as a tool. Egyptians were the first to use a razor for shaving, which had a very fine blade and was made of copper. It was quite different from the straight razors we use today.

Years later, Charlemagne introduced the razor that created the Egyptian culture in the Roman Empire. From here, the so-called “Tonsor” appeared, who were the barbers of the time. They shaved men with sharp knives called “novacula.” The shaving process was far from what we know today because they didn’t use any product to prepare the shave. Back then, the barbers only used water, which caused multiple cuts and problems. That’s why professional barbers were important figures that could perform a close shave avoiding cuts.

Greeks and Romans had a custom of carrying their sword and knife to battle with them. The soldiers had to shave clean to prevent the enemy from grabbing them by the beard and killing them.

The fashion of wearing a beard does not arrive until much later, specifically when the Christians come to power. The clerics wore large beards that were a symbol of wisdom. In the Byzantine Empire, men shaved to differentiate themselves from other ethnicities.

In 1740, Benjamin Hunstman (watchmaker and inventor) created a steel knife with a concave edge. This gadget quickly became trendy, and the English started manufacturing this type of knife.

The Decline of The Straight Razor

The year 1901 changed the way men shave dramatically. An American businessman King C. Gillette invented the disposable razor blade, which was a serious setback for barbershops and classic razors. Men started using disposable blades and no longer had to worry about sharpening their old razors. Although Gillette took all the fame until today, the first inventors of the razor blade were the Kampfe brothers in 1888.

Even more so, in 1931, Jacob Schick invented the electric razor. Although its success was not immediate, over the years and later, people started buying electric shavers, which reduced the classic razor’s popularity even more.

Gillette, which had revolutionized shaving, had a problem with its blades. Because they made the blades from carbon steel, they oxidized quickly, which was a tremendous inconvenience. But in 1965, the Wilkinson Sword brothers created stainless steel blades, which were a substantial advance since they did not rust and could be used until they became dull.

The Comeback

Hipsters and other enthusiasts have been recovering the old barbershop concept from oblivion in the past decade. You can now find many barbershops in almost every town, offering classic and close razor shaves.

It has become not only a part of style but a routine or a ritual for many men. Nevertheless, you can only achieve a clean shave with a classic razor. That’s why it will never go out of style.