From Chicago to Ghent: Two Days of Steel, Stone & Straight Razors
Every now and then someone gets on a plane not for beaches, not for selfies, but for craft.
That’s what Jason Boaldin from Chicago did. He crossed the Atlantic to spend two days in Ghent at ROMAIN, for a Scapicchio Academy training under Master Barber Stijn De Sutter.
After a short conversation on social media, the plan was clear:
two days of learning how to hone and shave the way it’s supposed to be done
with a natural stone from the Belgian Ardennes and a real straight razor.
No gadgets, no shortcuts. Just steel, stone, lather and focus.
Day one started the way it should in this part of the world: a croissant, still warm, gone in a few bites. Then straight into the deep end.
Theory and practice, side by side.
We built the foundation first, then stacked the details on top: hollow razors, full wedges, and finally the Japanese kamisori.
Jason’s no rookie. He’s been a private barber for over 20 years.
But he didn’t come here for a certificate on the wall.
He came to sharpen his craft, not just his blades.
Day two is always the big one.
That’s when what you did on the stone has to make sense on real skin.
With his own freshly honed straight razor, Jason stepped behind the chair and shaved real clients in our oldest barbershop of Belgium.
By the third client, his hands were quieter.
More control. More calm.
The razor wasn’t fighting him anymore – it was working *with* him.
He flew back to Chicago with a full head, a lighter mind,
and a bag full of new ideas and a different way of looking at the trade.
For us, it was an honour:
someone travelling all the way from Chicago just to stand in our little corner of Ghent and chase a better shave.
You’re always welcome here, Jason.
The chair will be waiting.
If you want more than just a good story and you’re ready to sharpen your craft or your own look, you know where to find us.
From straight razor training and honing on natural stone to classic shaves and serious beard work in the chair, ROMAIN Barbershop & Academy in Ghent is where it actually happens – not just where people talk about it.
Want to book a service?
https://booking.optios.net/6064/select-location
Want to follow the journey?
ROMAIN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/romain_ghent
Stijn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/desutter_stijn
Stijn on YouTube (more adventures, more razors, more stories): https://www.youtube.com/@desutter_stijn
For Academy info, courses or questions, send an email to info@romaighent.be – and we’ll take it from there.
