Thread: Why Do You Use a Straight Razor?

Every time I saw it in old movies, I thought it was just cool....I mean Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin and Steve McQueen did it! On a more practical note, I just enjoy the entire process of shaving now, whereas I used to avoid it.

The classic easy and clean style are what clinched it in my book. The smoother skin and calming effects are pretty nice though. Oh, the smells of good soap and quality aftershave aren't half bad either.

After 22 years in the military having to shave every morning and hating it because of razor burn I discovered an enjoyable way to get that daunting task accomplished and have my face feel healthy afterwards.......oh yeah also because of ninjas.

Well, I shave with a Parker SR2 Shavette, so I don't know how much clout that I'd have in this conversation, but for me it was a cost issue at first. I used to shave with a Gillette Fusion 5 blade razor system. If anyone else here used to shave with them, you'll feel my pain. A pack of 8 normally runs about 20 bucks; a pack of Shark DE's run 10 bucks for 100. I got sick of throwing my money away on carts. That was the original turn-on.

As I've been going on, it's actually quite a relaxing and challenging process to master. All the different grips/angles are neat to learn and make me feel like a bad*** when I'm using it. The futher along that I get in my skills, I've found out that I can beat the snot out of the job that my old 5-blader used to. Take that, King Gillette!

Finally, it's very nostalgic for me to look at the blade against my face and think to myself, "This is the way my great-grandpa used to shave."

Nostalgia, Comfort, and a time to just think for a while (but enough of an activity to not think to much).

Quite honestly for all the reasons said above, but for me it is a nice way to slow down and do something not everyone else can do. It is definitely a skill which is another benefit for me. For me it turned the daily shave into something I look forward.

Because I have found the Bent ones don't work so well

I had been looking for a new stone to sharpen my hunting knives and found SRD. I bought a Dovo Best and a week or month later I shaved with it. That was the start of my wet shaving and I have not looked back (nor saved any money)

I use one because the whole process is “me” time. I know thats not in style right now, or maybe ever was, but in my life i need some time that is only mine. Stropping, lathering, shaving 2 or 3 passes, and then touching up, followed by the cold rinse and aftershave splash is just all mine.

I would love to have lived in the slower time when SRs were the way you did it...and i can when im shaving with one,

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I use one because the whole process is “me” time. I know thats not in style right now, or maybe ever was, but in my life i need some time that is only mine. Stropping, lathering, shaving 2 or 3 passes, and then touching up, followed by the cold rinse and aftershave splash is just all mine.

I would love to have lived in the slower time when SRs were the way you did it...and i can when im shaving with one,

Aloha!

I agree my good man. And I often pine for what it might have been like living in a slower time - like the gay 90s. The 1890s. Yet, I more than appreciate the antiseptics and antibiotics we have today, and the lack of Anthrax and Lockjaw and Sepsis and other diseases our forefathers could get from shaving. So I'm glad I live when I do, but I retreat to the shave den to "pretend" it's 1890.

-Zip