One of the things I love about teaching is seeing how far people will travel for a craft that still happens entirely by hand.
Angela came from Chicago. Duncan came from Malta. Two different places, two different stories, brought together in Ghent by a shared desire to understand traditional barbering more deeply.
They joined me at ROMAIN for two intensive days of Scapicchio Academy Level 2.
And we had work to do.
Ten complete shaves each. Twenty opportunities to connect knowledge with practice. Alongside that: skin anatomy, shaving protocols, razor geometry and hours of attention to the relationship between the stone, the steel and the hands holding it.
When someone travels to learn with me, I feel a responsibility to make that journey worthwhile. They have made time, crossed borders and placed their trust in what we teach.
I want them to leave with knowledge they can use when they return to their own chair.
Understanding What Happens at the Chair
Our theoretical work drew on my book, PROTOCOLS — A Barber Manual: the anatomy of the skin, the reasoning behind our shaving protocols and the geometry of the razors we use.
These subjects belong in the everyday work of a barber. They help us understand the person in the chair, the tool in our hands and the decisions we make throughout a service.
For me, this is where teaching becomes interesting.
A movement can become familiar through repetition. Understanding its purpose gives us something further: the ability to recognise when we need to adjust it.
During Level 2, I encourage questions. Why this preparation? Why this approach? What are we trying to achieve with the blade, and how do we judge the result?
Angela and Duncan brought the curiosity that makes those conversations worthwhile. We had two days to explore the details and, through practical work, give those details meaning.
Stone, Steel, Water and Patience
Then came the honing.
We worked freehand, without tape, taking our discussion of razor geometry to the stones. Angle, pressure and control became things to consider with every movement.
There is something I appreciate enormously about this part of the craft. It asks you to pay attention. To slow down enough to understand what your hands are doing, and to keep working with care.
Stone. Steel. Water. Patience.
We also honed full-wedge razors and shaved with them. That connection matters to me: preparing an edge, then experiencing it during the work it was prepared for.
The honing and the shaving belong to the same conversation.
At the stone, we work towards an edge we intend to use. At the chair, we bring that preparation together with our handling of the razor and our attention to the person receiving the shave.
Following that process gives the theory a practical purpose.
Twenty Shaves, Twenty Opportunities to Learn
Over the two days, Angela and Duncan completed ten full shaves each.
That gave us repeated opportunities to return to the fundamentals, question decisions and make adjustments. The lessons from one shave could be carried into the next.
This is what I value about intensive practical training: time to work, reflect and work again.
A complete shave asks for attention from beginning to end. Preparation, handling, observation, finishing and the comfort of the person in the chair all deserve care.
And that person matters.
Behind every opportunity to practise is someone who has trusted us with their skin, their comfort and their time. I am always grateful to the models who make these training days possible. They play an essential part in passing this craft on.
Angela and Duncan approached the work with dedication and a willingness to keep learning. Twenty shaves gave them plenty to consider, and they kept asking questions.
As a teacher, that is a pleasure to be part of.
What We Carry Forward
By the end of our time together, there were two well-earned diplomas.
I was proud to hand them over. Each represented the work Angela and Duncan had put into those two days: the concentration, the practice and the curiosity they brought to the course.
I hope the learning continues whenever they prepare a razor, welcome someone into the chair or find themselves asking another question about their work.
That is how I understand tradition.
We study it carefully. We practise it. We examine the reasons behind it. And we take responsibility for passing it on with understanding.
Seeing a barber from Chicago and a barber from Malta come together in Ghent reminds me why I care so much about this Academy. The craft gives us a reason to meet. The work gives us something to share.
Angela and Duncan, congratulations, and thank you for your trust, dedication and curiosity. It was a pleasure to spend these two days working with you.
Keep questioning. Keep practising. Keep exploring.
That’s the Protocol.
SCAPICCHIO ACADEMY
One Protocol.
One Tradition.
One Family.
Keep learning. Put it into practice.
Interested in traditional straight razor shaving and freehand honing?
Discover Scapicchio Academy or contact me directly on WhatsApp to discuss training in Ghent.
Want to join the Scapicchio Academy at ROMAIN in Ghent, belgium?
Get in touch to plan your 1-on-1 training with Master barber Stijn De Sutter and take your straight razor, honing and shaving services to the next level. Send us a Email
Ready for the real thing?
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—no noise, no shortcuts.
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Academy info, courses or questions
Email: info@romainghent.be and we’ll take it from there.
Website ROMAIN: http://www.romainghent.be
Website Scapicchio Academy: http://www.scapicchioacademy.com
