This is starting to become addicting!

About a month ago while at my local barber shop, after my normal cut, my barber finished off my neck with a straight razor. I had been going to this shop for the last 8 years, but he was new to my shop and I left with the best hair cut I had in years. This 5 second cleanup started my interest in learning about straight razors, and my month long journey of purchasing and using a straight. It has been a up and down journey, kind of a one step foward two step back learning process, but in a strange way very rewarding. Ive had nick free shaves, and Ive had a shave yesterday that lit me up like a christmas tree ornament with the razor burn on my neck. Its been a great experience. I went back to the same barbor today and, while he was cutting my hair, I mentioned I was using a straight. He immediatley started showing me how a proper stropping was done and after my cut he pulled out a stone and showed me how to hone a straight. He told me he hits up flea markets and always asks the vendor if they have old barber tools. He said he doesnt pay much for his straights and works on them himself. He then proceeded to give me the old craftsmen sharpening stone he was showing me how to hone with. All in all a great day. Just thought I would share.

Ahhhhh, what a wonderful feeling. I'd put money on that stone creating a bit of an addiction in itself. The bottom line is that shaving with a straight is just cool. It really is.

That's a great story. You are quite lucky to have met someone who knows about this stuff. I suspect that most of us had to fumble around in the dark a while. Best wishes, welcome to SRP, and happy shaving!

What a nice story. I wish we had more of the old flavor barber shops instead of these coed hair salons. I miss the conversation, the smells and the experiences. Congrats, and thanks for sharing your story!!

Best Regards,
Howard

That is outstanding! It would certainly be nice to have a local mentor like that to help show you the ropes.

moerlien, thank you for sharing this. Your barber sure loves his work. People who do their jobs with passion and devotion are the ones that impress, they often cause others to change and improve.

I have a 'similar' story. Years before I started shaving with a straight I visited Morocco for a vacation. One day I went to a local barber shop for a shave. The barber did such an outstanding job that the outcome was one I had never experienced before. He had made his work an art. Most important, he really took his time for all actions involved, the preparation with hot towels, the lathering, the shaving, etc.

The shave stayed in my mind for years and finally I started using straights too. I still regret the years lost, but that's my own stupidity.