On the Cutting Edge : When it comes to a close shave, Archie the Barber is a master of a dying art. But ‘you would not want this every day.’

Real men used to have other men shave them.

In the days before electric razors, double- edged disposables and aerosol foam, men would go to the barber shop for a close shave. They still can, although finding a barber who still does shaves is not easy.

“Bet you had to call a lot of places before you found me,” said Archie Lambrix, 57, inviting you into his big swivel chair. Actually, Archie the Barber, as his business card reads, was not hard to find--he is the only barber in the Yellow Pages in the San Fernando Valley to advertise shaves.

“Barbers still have to learn the technique in barber school,” he continued, sharpening his blade on a leather strop, “but if they don’t have a regular call for them, they lose the touch.”

Before you had too long a chance to wonder about Archie’s “touch,” he made you recline and applied a hot towel on your face.

You’ve seen the movies. This is when you hear the quick patter of feet as everyone but you quickly exits the shop. An emissary from Dutch Schultz or perhaps a waiter you once forgot to tip arrives. “Remember me?” he says in a gruff voice.

Archie whisked off the towel, returning you to reality. All seemed serene in this shop that is a throwback to a pre-blow-dryer era. There were no receptionists, no disco music, no assistants to wash your hair and sweep up.

There was just Archie, his lineup of tools on a counter in front of a long mirror, numerous wall posters of the space shuttle (several of Archie’s customers work at Rocketdyne), some visitors and a television set. As Archie worked, he glanced occasionally at the “Home” show. Dorothy Hamill was the guest, talking about how much fun it is to tour with the Ice Capades.

Archie applied soft lather with a brush and massaged it in. “That’s just to soften you up,” he said. Another hot towel was laid on briefly.

He then applied a Brushless Prep salve that lightly smelled of menthol. “Not everyone uses this, but I think it helps soften the beard,” he said. Another round of lather was brushed on, and Archie finally picked up his razor.

With reassuring confidence, he took hold of your face, put the blade almost flat against your skin and started to scrape away. There was absolutely no discomfort. You hardly felt it.

“In barber school, we had to practice on wine bottles,” Archie said. “That way you learn how to handle a curved surface. I keep my touch by shaving a couple of customers who come in regularly for it.”

He gave special attention to the tender area under the nose and the nape of the neck.

“You’ll never get a shave that close at home,” a visitor commented, watching Archie work. You would have liked to answer, but conversation would not be a good idea at this point.

Archie moved quickly across your face, then tossed on another hot towel. He took it off and shaved you again, lightly. “Just to make sure,” he said.

Then he massaged in cold cream to replace oils in the face. Towel No. 4 was applied.

The final steps began with the application of styptic powder to the few nicks on your face. He put on some after-shave that, thankfully, was not heavily perfumed and a bit of talc.

Your face felt amazingly smooth.

The entire process took almost 20 minutes, but only cost $11 for all that pampering.

“You would not want this every day,” Archie warned, getting ready for his next customer who was getting a haircut. “Your face couldn’t take that close of a shave all the time. It would get irritated.”

But for special occasions, such as going to the Ice Capades, it seemed entirely appropriate.