Thread: Why Do You Use a Straight Razor?

Why do you ask?

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.

I love knives and was on the Internet looking at sharpening techniques. One of the sites recommended a strop for your knife, so I started researching strops and came across straight razors. I thought it would be nostalgic to shave with a straight razor and I was right! I sold myself on the saving money aspect but that didn't really work out when the RAD kicked in. I love my job but it is the type of job where every minute of every day is accounted for and there is always more that needs to be done than time allows. So every minute, driving etc is used for work. When I used to shave I would be planning out my day in my head. I don't do that when I use a straight. I am just shaving and only thinking about getting the best possible shave and not cutting myself. I can't tell you how relaxing it is to turn work off and just concentrate on shaving!

I have always wanted one. I also can't shave more than once every 4 days with a multi-blade cartridge. my favourite quote about straight razor shaving was from my electric guitar player who upon seeing my blade said " Seaton likes everything analog over digital" also even on your worst shave with a SR its hard not to feel manly!

When I was growing up, my father was a collector/appraiser/dealer of anything with a sharp edge, so straights and DE were always around, along with tons and tons of pocket knives. Neither of us shaved with them, but he did leave all of them to me when he died. Sadly, I didn't start using them until years after he passed so we never got to share it.

I told SWMBO that it was going to be a cost cutting measure. Can't hide the fact that it wet shaving totally failed in that respect.. three cabinets full of shave kit are hard to hide.

DE's were my start and after years of buying, selling and using many different ones I found the Weber line and my shaves went on full automatic. As good as the shaves were, it got boring again.

Enter the straights. As it turns out, stropping, cleaning and maintaining were the things I said I wanted to avoid while I was using DE's and now, I love the entire process. My shaves don't yet come close to what a Weber DE can give me, but I'm patient.

A shorter story... I love old things made new, and new things made to look old....

I bought a straight razor so I could ween myself off disposable blade and save money. Because I thought $22 dollars was to much for 5 cartridges. I did it to save money and stick it to the man.......save money......? I have over twenty razors, 6 strops, mugs and scuttles, 4 brushes more soaps then I can count and a list of hones that I can't even remember that I have. So much for the saving money

For no good reason, the decision does not actually stand up to any logical scrutiny. However, I have learnt in life that as long as it's legal, I should do as I please.

The multi-blade cartridge razors don't stand a chance against my beard. I also have sensitive skin, so it was a natural progression to DE then to straight razors.

-Dan

I think the question here should be 'why doesn't everyone else?'

It's awesome!

I like the whole zen of shaving thing. For that 20 minutes I'm prepping, shaving then cleaning up my mind is at rest. I don't use my straight every day because it's not something I want to rush. I use a DE when I'm in a hurry, but even then I still pull out the brush and scuttle.