Thread: Is straight razor shaving for everyone?

I haven't been straight razor shaving for too long, but I love it, I find myself wanting to shave more than once a day. So I want to spread the word, but I don't know if its for everyone. So a few questions:

How many people in the world, percentagewise, would you say straight razor shave? And if its not proportional among the different countries, expand on which or where its more prevalent?

Ignoring the potential for spending a lot of money, the extra time it takes to pre/shave/maintenance, the initial fear of cutting yourself or wasting money or the unknown in general, basically everything except the shaving part. Is it for everyone? What I mean is, is there a face too sensitive for straight razor shaving and is it always a better shave than any other means of shaving, just based on the results?

Now as far as I'm concerned its not only the best way to shave for the results, but the cheapest way. A modest bare minimum set will allow you to shave for less money than any other form. Anything above that is the cost of a hobby and thats how I would advise people. Now considering everything else, potential of spending a lot of money, the extra time....... how many people in the world do you think would straight razor shave? By that I mean what percentage of the world has the right combination of patience, willingness to explore.......?

I think the percentage of current shavers is about .0001 % and I think that at least 30% would have the patience, given instruction. Some people I talk to cringe at the thought of a straight razor. I'd give them a pass. I've had guys tell me they want a shave but would never do it themselves.

By the way, that's all wild guess.

The number is probably smaller than that considering a lot of world's population either doesn't shave or doesn't need to shave. But I agree that straight shaving is addicting and very enjoyable. I have mentioned it to several of my friends and they say they won't do it because it's too dangerous. I tell them so is driving a car.

Oh, well, if we classify non-shavers as people . . .

Originally Posted by Knife

how many people in the world do you think would straight razor shave? By that I mean what percentage of the world has the right combination of patience, willingness to explore.......?

The number of cutthroat shavers is probably so small as to be statistically irrelevant. I suppose someone will have the figures for Wet v. Dry shaving, but even the number of shavers using DE razors is probably tiny compared to those using cartridge blades. It appears that almost everything these days needs to be 'user friendly' and easy to operate.

Its amazing how often shaving comes up in conversations between men. When I mention that I've started using a straight razor because it gives me a good shave without irritation, I get looks like I just came from Mars. Comments include, "isn't it dangerous?" "why are you being so old fashioned?" "I can get a closer shave with my electric/ cartridge/disposable" etc, etc.

As far as sensitivity goes, I have very sensitive skin and I could never get a fully irritation-free shave with anything (except a DE razor with brand new blades) for almost 40 years...till I went to a straight razor. Admittedly, I did not get a great, smooth shave for the first couple of weeks, till I learned decent technique and also learned to go XTG, but right from day one I had no skin irritation at all.

Is using a straight a hobby? Yeah, I guess I've come to view it as that too, and I do like the preparation and the deliberate slow pace to start my mornings, but primarily, it gives me a nice shave and I'm not afraid to touch my face for fear of making the irritation worse.

As far as being the cheapest way to shave, I'm afraid you're off the mark....just wait till you want to try new soaps, get a new brush, have more than one strop and heaven help you if you decide you get bit by the collectors syndrome

As I recall cartridge type razor shaving is king in the U.S but in Europe and Japan and the rest of the developed world the electric is king with around 80% of the market. I don't know about the undeveloped world and places like Central America or Mexico.

Originally Posted by joebehar

As far as being the cheapest way to shave, I'm afraid you're off the mark....just wait till you want to try new soaps, get a new brush, have more than one strop and heaven help you if you decide you get bit by the collectors syndrome

Your confusing shaving with a hobby. I know they could be the same thing, but I was talking about the cost of shaving alone, not the hobby aspect that can be associated with it. To straight razor shave you could buy one straight, one strop, one honing stone, and be able to shave for the rest of your life and trust me you'll be saving money. Nevermind adjusting the price to comparing the quality of each shave you have compared with the inferior disposables. Just compare cost of shaving and straight is way cheaper. The moment you start experimenting with different razors, strops, brushes....your a hobbiest. That's not a cost of shaving that's called fun.

And by the way soaps, creams, brushes and so forth are not limited to straight razor shaving. Anyone who shaves can use them.

Originally Posted by Knife

Your confusing shaving with a hobby. I know they could be the same thing, but I was talking about the cost of shaving alone, not the hobby aspect that can be associated with it. To straight razor shave you could buy one straight, one strop, one honing stone, and be able to shave for the rest of your life and trust me you'll be saving money. Nevermind adjusting the price to comparing the quality of each shave you have compared with the inferior disposables. Just compare cost of shaving and straight is way cheaper. The moment you start experimenting with different razors, strops, brushes....your a hobbiest. That's not a cost of shaving that's called fun.

And by the way soaps, creams, brushes and so forth are not limited to straight razor shaving. Anyone who shaves can use them.

You're absolutely right, except for that if I never went to a straight razor, I never would have been interested in the hobby aspect.

Either way, its one of the few things I can think of that has both a utility and a fun aspect.

As for the percentage of people who use a straight razor, I live in an area with a population of about 5 million people within a 40 mile radius and I think I've counted maybe 5-7 people that use a straight. its a miniscule percentage of people for sure, but like so many other comments here, I'm kinda happy about that.

there must be enough to keep stores like AOS in bidness..... cause they are usually in upscale malls and i know they don't give that space away for free....