Story on Straight Razor Shaving

[Daisy]

Hello Straight Razor afficianados!

I am a reporter writing a story on the straight shaving trend and was hoping to get some information from you all!

I have noticed that there are a lot of straight shaving scenes in tough guy movies (for lack of a better term) like the untouchables, Rambo, Clint Eastwood westerns--but I was wondering if you all could think of scenes in movies that show sophisticated gentlemen shaving. Are their any shave scenes in movies that take place in England for example? I can just see a hoity toity English gentleman wanting to get the best straight shave--any thoughts?

Also, other than Art of Shaving and UK-based Trueffett and Hill--can you all think of other popular chain barbor shops that give close straight shaves?

Can anyone talk to me about the costs/benefits of the double edge vs. the straight?

Does anyone have any fun or interesting historical facts about straight shaving or shaving in general?

If anyone has an interesting/touching story about how they got started straight shaving--I would love to hear it!!

If any of you are interested in talking about this--please send me a pm!!!

Thanks

[Leighton]

I can tell you the reason I started straight shaving was because it was a whole lot cheaper than those mach 3 cartridges! 2 years of cartridges paid for my straight. And my strop was a leather belt for $10.

Of course, my shaving has turned from a cheap shave into a form of art. I've expanded from one razor to dozens.

The straight will theoretically save you money in the long run if you get a used straight and a barber's hone. The learning curve for the straight is higher though.

Not sure what info I can provide you, but feel free to pm me. I suggest emailing Lynn, he did a story with another reporter and he's a great guy.

[ChrisL]

Welcome. I believe you'll find a lot of interesting information related to what you're looking for in the Wiki area of this website. I recommend you browse that area.

I liken straight razor shaving to driving a vehicle with a manual transmission vs. automatic. Since you have complete control of the blade and can manipulate the straight razor's blade so precisely, in practiced hands it can give the best, closest most comfortable shave bar none. Just as a manual transmission auto gives much greater control available to the operator and thereby can make for a more enjoyable driving experience.

Chris L

[VeeDubb65]

Well, you've certainly come to the right place. I've fairly new here, and fairly new to straight razor shaving as well, so I'm sure there are others who could provide you with better information than I can.

As far as cost, that's a very interesting one. Straight razor shaving is undoubtedly cheaper in the long run IF a person buys only what they actually need to get the job done, and hone their own razors.

Assuming that a man is already wet shaving with his DE (soap or creme with a brush as opposed to canned shave goop) then you can ignore those costs.

A brand new DE of quality is probably $50, and a professionally honed straight + strop can be had for as little as $100. Add $75 for a norton 4k/8k hone and $25 for an old barber hone for touching up the edge, the initial outlay for straight shaving is only $150 more than a DE.

How long DE blades last depends on the man, but a good straight will last 4 several lifetimes if properly cared for, making it a one time investment.

From there, it's pretty straight forward to figure out at what point straight shaving get's to be cheaper then a DE.

The other way to figure would be to never buy hones, but figure an average of $40/year having a professional re-hone your straight razor. (I'm assuming that a person has only 1 razor; and has it honed twice a year)

The reason I said money savings was an interesting topic is that most of us spend WAY more on straights than we ever would on DE blades. The reason is that collecting them becomes quite the hobby for a lot of people. Likewise, there are folks around here who have many hundreds of dolors invested in various hones.


Another angle you may consider, is the environmental angle.

Every DE blade means steel that is mined, used, and thrown away, usually without recycling. Cartridges for "modern" safety razors, or disposable safety razors are worse. The blades don't last long, and you're throwing away steel AND consuming plastics. They seem like such small things, but the cumulative volume is enormous.

[StraightRazorDave]

Every DE blade means steel that is mined, used, and thrown away, usually without recycling. Cartridges for "modern" safety razors, or disposable safety razors are worse. The blades don't last long, and you're throwing away steel AND consuming plastics. They seem like such small things, but the cumulative volume is enormous.

That summarizes why I initally got into shaving with a straight razor, it's simply less wastefull than other shaving methods. But there's a real sense of accomplishment in honing, stropping, maintaining, and shaving with your own razors. You truly do have control over all of the variables, and you are responsible for your shave. It also became a hobby, so it's not so cost-effective to me!

[jakoblah]

Also, other than Art of Shaving and UK-based Trueffett and Hill--can you all think of other popular chain barbor shops that give close straight shaves?

There's a chain called Floyd's Barbershop originally out of Denver that does the whole hot towel straight razor shave thing, but I think they use replaceable blade razors.

Can anyone talk to me about the costs/benefits of the double edge vs. the straight?

While I definitely got into because I hate spending the money on cartridges, I'm not sure how economical it is. At least for someone like me who has gotten obsessed with collecting and restoring razors... RAD is a terrible/wonderful thing.

Other benefits are definite, though. Shaving is actually something I anticipate rather than dread now that I have this excellent ritual. And the closeness of the shave can be rather remarkable.
And you get to act like you're a bad@ss in your bathroom.

[jockeys]

but I was wondering if you all could think of scenes in movies that show sophisticated gentlemen shaving.

Also, other than Art of Shaving and UK-based Trueffett and Hill--can you all think of other popular chain barbor shops that give close straight shaves?

Can anyone talk to me about the costs/benefits of the double edge vs. the straight?

Thanks

1. http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...azor-film.html the short answer is that lots of random movies show straight shaving. everything from "the meaning of life" to "pan's labyrinth" to "buffy the vampire slayer"
2. never heard of a chain that did it. here in the states very few haircutters are barbers... they are mere beauticians, and aren't allowed to shave people. there are a few shops that do it where i live, but they are all small. state law also dictate that they use disposable blade straights.
3. on paper, straight shaving is far cheaper. in reality, this never happens, as everyone who gets into it starts buying lots of different soaps, creams, razors, hones, etc. that said, you can get into straight shaving for about the cost of one year's worth of disposables blades and gels.

[Rajagra]

I was moved by the part in the film Schindler's List where the camera alternated between Schindler and Goeth (the concentration camp commander) each shaving with straights in their own homes. It was a calm, reflective scene, raising hope that there might be a camaraderie between them, leading to a joint effort to do something good. But ultimately it only served to show that Goeth was a murdering psychopath despite being a man like any other.

That calm, reflective moment is something all straight shavers would have picked up on. The mood was probably less meaningful for others.


I'd like to stress that straight shaving is:

• Traditional, rather than old-fashioned. The difference being that newer methods have not improved on the old ways, merely enabled the unskilled to rush a shave in moderate safety.
• Manly, rather than macho.
• Safe, when done sensibly.
• Satisfying. Very, very satisfying.

It was quite a revelation to find that using a straight razor is not as daunting as I expected. There are so many misconceptions about straights, and it's good to see so many people taking the time to relearn the art, and share their new-found skill.

I doubt that straight shaving has any chance of becoming mainstream. So I count myself lucky to have stumbled across the resurgence and overcome my prejudices to try it out.

There is a learning curve to straight shaving, and perhaps it's foolish to make a virtue out of that vice. But choosing to do something well rather than taking the easy, half-assed option is something to be proud of, and it does feel ... satisfying. There's that word again.

[honedright]

There are a few chain/ franchise "old time" concept barbershops here in the States.

Here's one I found. Looks like only shops in Florida so far: Barber Franchise | Barbershop Franchise | Barbershop Franchises | Barbershop - Kennedy's All-American Barber Clubâ„¢

Not sure about this one, but they do offer a straight shave: : Floyd's 99 Barbershop ::

I know I've run across others.

[erictski]

I decided to get into straights and DE because cartriges gave me horrible razor burn and ingrowns.

Now that I am straight shaving I have gotten my wife into using a DE(Safety razor on her legs)

I now cant wait to have a son and then teach him the proper way to make lather from a puck of soap, strop and hone a razor and use correct shaving technique.

Something I never had with my dad.