Thread: How did you do it prior to straights?

Prior to shaving with a straight,I used a D.E Gillette black beauty that I got for my 16th birthday. I still have it and still use it when I need to shave quick. Although for some reason I allways seem to nick myself with it.

I was lucky enough to score a new old stock Black Beauty for my sons 16th. That was 10 years ago. He is in the army and is still amazed at the looks and questions he gets when he pulls out the brush,soap stick and D.E.

I started with a Gillete double edged razor, then used a Gillete twin blade with Rapid Shave foam for a few years, Joined the Army Reserve and found stick shaving soap then went back to the double edged Gillete, collected straights for some years and an antique strop, tried them out but could not ever get them to work. A mate sent me a instruction manual on how to use straights and a link to this forum, now only use straights and the Gillette double edge here at work as we have a clean shaven policy re gas masks. Being now a shift supervisor I have to set a proper example for the blokes and shave every day. I find a straight works best for me with 3 days growth so now use straights exclusively at home. {I work fly in fly out 2weeks on 2 weeks off.}

Cheers

I actually started with a straight razor, I got a Worcester 6/8 half hollow ground from a very nice man here and I got the Filly strop ( I will soon need to get a new one my starter is very nicked) I still have and use this stuff today.

I started with a clam shell

Originally Posted by nessmuck

I started with a clam shell

Is that shaving or plucking !! Reckon a bit of knapped obsidian would be a good thing??

Cheers

my very first shave to remove my peach fuzz was with a gillette two blade cartridge. The following day, mind you I was 13 at the time, I went and bought a shavette and used that for 7 years, i just recently got my first actual straight.
I just felt like shavings been around for thousands of years... if straights have been working for the past few centuries... why not just stick to that.

Originally Posted by heelerau

Is that shaving or plucking !! Reckon a bit of knapped obsidian would be a good thing??

Cheers

Shaving of course. but yes the clam shell needed to be Knapped to bring the edge back.HeHeHEHe

It's been so long ago that I can't remember if I first used a safety razor or an electric razor. I just remember that anything other than an electric gave me horrible razor burn. For long years, I settled for poor results and the uncomfortable tug of electric razors, mostly a triple-head Norelco. Then, about 10-15 years ago I discovered that most of the razor burn was not the safety razor but was the worthless shave cream in a can. Once I switched to C&E's almond oil shave soap and a brush I was able to shave with a safety without getting major razor burn. I first was using a double blade system (don't remember what manufacturer), then switched to Gillette Fusion when it came out.

I switched to str8's for multiple reasons, but at the top of the list is outrage over Gillette's absurd prices on blades. I guess you could say I switched to save money. However, I need to come up with another story - SWMBO "bought" the "save $" story at first. I don't even want to tally up how much I've spent on str8's so far (and I'm just getting started)

Being well, something on an ancient historian by virtue of being a professor of Old Testament, I have encountered references to razors in archaeological literature.

In keeping with the thread topic of "how it was done before" (granted, this is WAAAAAY Before) I offer you a plate depicting the evolution of the razor in the Bronze Age, which is about 3500-1000 BC, give or take a couple centuries depending on the continent. A couple pages of discussion from the book is included for your entertainment.

We are part of a tradition of millenia!

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

Being well, something on an ancient historian by virtue of being a professor of Old Testament, I have encountered references to razors in archaeological literature.

In keeping with the thread topic of "how it was done before" (granted, this is WAAAAAY Before) I offer you a plate depicting the evolution of the razor in the Bronze Age, which is about 3500-1000 BC, give or take a couple centuries depending on the continent. A couple pages of discussion from the book is included for your entertainment.

We are part of a tradition of millenia!

I like the the #1 sway back!! thanks for the history lesson