Thread: Why Bother ????

It took a while for me to give in and give it a try. For years I thought you all were flat out nuts. During those years I only shaved about twice a week because that is about all my face could handle. Cartridge razors were giving me horrible razor burn in the hollows of my neck. If I tried to shave everyday it would get so bad that it would hurt to touch. Initially I tried SRs to avoid the razor burn.

But now I like it for a lot of the same reasons I like fly fishing. First there is a learning curve. You don't just go do it and be successful. There are all kinds of gadgets and accouterments that go along with it. I have this compulsion to make things. I build my own fly rods and I am itching to get tooled up to make my own razors. When you have a good day fishing it just don't get any better than that. Catching fish with rods and flies you made is the ultimate sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I am sure getting a good shave with a razor you made must be the same.

Ray

Originally Posted by Theseus

But cougars can teach you many things.

Theseus 2, Maxi 0.

First reason was to get free of dependancy on Gillette products. Which I happen to think are pretty adequate, but not worth the price of it's technology.
Second reason was eco-friendly ideals.
Third reason was the excitement of learning a new old skill. I could go on and on about how dumb society is getting because technology has allowed us the opportunity to learn absolutely nothing, and still live to be a hundred.
Fourth reason was the looks I got when I told people I put a straight razor to my neck every morning.(insert Sweeney Todd clip here)
Fifth reason was my love for restoration.

And on any random day, if I happen to get involved in a conversation about straight razor shaving or restoration, I'd probably come up with another ten or more reasons why this is the best thing since the invention of indoor plumbing...I just love it!
Sixth reason, or maybe the second...It gave me justification to buy more tools.

Because I have to wear a respirator at work. I am in a scent free workplace and after work the deer could smell me from a mile away so that end of things isn't high on my list.

That being said I cant think of a better way to do it. The simple elegance and beauty of a straight. No gadgets bells and whistles. Very basic to do one thing and do it well. The honing stropping etc. to me is very relaxing. Sanding, shape, metallurgy, I could go on for hours about those things.

The tool, how to make and take care of it is why to me.

Tim

Just because straight shaving is like the rest of the forgotten things I like to do.
I raise chickens for eggs,I garden and can,pickle,de-hydrate,make juice and anything else you can do within reason with my crops,I corn beef,I run my smoke house 24/7,make bacon,jerky,smoked cheeze,ducks fish, phesants,all sorts of stuff,I cut my own smoke woods and play with differant blends.
I like to blow things up,have made my own black powder and took out part of my garage
I just like to do stuff nobody else doe's anymore.
Going to take a class next week on how to break (butcher)beef,pigs and goats,just because I can

A better shave. A manly tradition. Turning a task that I hated performing into something I look forward to. The personal advancement and discipline you earn from doing something the hard (and possibly the right) way.

Enjoying life is all about making the best out of the small things.

I have a certain way of approaching life. Like many of you I'm not normal. I rarely shaved from middle school through most of my adult life. I was taught to dry shave with electric, it was the only option in my father's opinion. I eventuall got to a point in life where I was shaving about once a month with a trimmer and no comb. My brother tried switching me to the current multi-bladed monstrosity listing claims that PnG programmed him to repeat. I'll admit that it was better than dry with an electric, but it was still rough and my dutch heritage took over as I continued to expect usable results long past the point of no return. I went back and forth from the trimmer to the "razor" with undesirable results.
I eventually decided that the life of hard, but skilled labor was not conducive to a man with my physical anomalies, so I began a search for a professional existence. While looking myself over physically I decided that the bushy red beard must go and I needed to look professional. To convince myself to do something I hate I must commit myself to a hobby level. I looked into DE shaving and during my search I discovered SRP. I didn't waste much time when I saw a past member here offering to give a razor to a beginner. To shorten an already exhaustive story; I received the package and to my surprise it contained two straights, a shavette, blades and a puck of EJ sea buckthorn soap. The generosity of this member overwhelmed me and while I hadn't even shaved yet, I knew that SRP would be a regular part of my life from here on. Of course I went throught the struggles that many have, but I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world; my skin is healthier, I look better and even my confidence has increased with the absorption of this life engulfing habit.

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

I have a certain way of approaching life. Like many of you I'm not normal. I rarely shaved from middle school through most of my adult life. I was taught to dry shave with electric, it was the only option in my father's opinion. I eventuall got to a point in life where I was shaving about once a month with a trimmer and no comb. My brother tried switching me to the current multi-bladed monstrosity listing claims that PnG programmed him to repeat. I'll admit that it was better than dry with an electric, but it was still rough and my dutch heritage took over as I continued to expect usable results long past the point of no return. I went back and forth from the trimmer to the "razor" with undesirable results.
I eventually decided that the life of hard, but skilled labor was not conducive to a man with my physical anomalies, so I began a search for a professional existence. While looking myself over physically I decided that the bushy red beard must go and I needed to look professional. To convince myself to do something I hate I must commit myself to a hobby level. I looked into DE shaving and during my search I discovered SRP. I didn't waste much time when I saw a past member here offering to give a razor to a beginner. To shorten an already exhaustive story; I received the package and to my surprise it contained two straights, a shavette, blades and a puck of EJ sea buckthorn soap. The generosity of this member overwhelmed me and while I hadn't even shaved yet, I knew that SRP would be a regular part of my life from here on. Of course I went throught the struggles that many have, but I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world; my skin is healthier, I look better and even my confidence has increased with the absorption of this life engulfing habit.

Well put Gerritt!

because i like being diffrent and i never would have ment all these wonderful gentlemen with out the straight blade Whooo raaa

I don't 'bother' with shaving anymore, I look forward to it. I used to be bothered by shaving when I used mach3's and trimmers and all the other cartridge shavers but, its fun, based on comm, on sense and it works, not just up to respectable standards, but beyond to shaves that surpass cartridge shavers on every level; cost, comfort, enjoyability, choice, self achievement, whatever you like about it really.

regards Alex