Thread: What's your favourite aspect of shaving?

I thought I'd reopen this thread to hear newer members thoughts and wether those who've already posted opinions have changed.

Looking through the posts it's apparent that it is not simply about the shaving. The connection that is mentioned a few times is something I can identify with, the pull of being inextricably linked to the past, a centuries old tradition that has been past on from father to son, father to son. Indeed Rhensley touchenly posted that the simple aspect of his father teaching him how to shave with a straight razor and still using the same razor and brush his father used evokes powerful memories and again a connection with someone dear to him.

My opinion hasn't changed much in the last few years I still have the jubilation and frustration with honing, the meditative back and forth of stropping, creating the perfect lather and the squeegee shave with a piece of 150 year old Sheffield history or Japanese steel made by a master swordsmith with centuries old tradition. Finally the post shave scent, a very personal thing, my perfume of choice was created by William Penhaligon in 1872 for the Shah of Persia.

This simple task consumes us all in different ways, so in this many faceted hobby of ours what's your beloved aspect of shaving?...

Its an interesting thread. Varied things pull at varied folks. Reminds me of a thread from my DE days asking where do you spend your money — the brushes, the hardware or the soap, etc. It was the soaps for me.

My favorite aspect of SR shaving is playing with steel. I love the challenge of bring a 100 year old razor back to life, esp. the blade. And then being able to get a good shave with it!

Imagine being able to sharpen steel so fine you can slice hair with it — I can do that. Now, this sounds hokey to say on this site, because you are all tough masculine bastards. But I’d argue that there aren’t that many people in the world that can do it.

I am much less experienced than most of the veterans on SRP, but find it incredibly satisfying to bring a flea market rusty piece of metal back to the point at which I can get a really good shave with it.

It is wonderfully self-indulgent to spend 30-45 minutes just on myself prepping and shaving and then enjoying the facial feel after a close straight razor shave. After that, the rest of the day is quite easy to deal with.

Favorite aspect?

From a rational point of view, it should be the shave itself

but for me the favorite aspect after many years has been the collecting of razors for cheap and restoring them, I like my razors with character so restoring is mostly limiting to getting them functional rather than beautiful; pretty much like myself, although cleanly shaven I'm almost decent looking

Originally Posted by DZEC

I find it incredibly satisfying to bring a flea market rusty piece of metal back to the point at which I can get a really good shave with it.

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

For me the favorite aspect after many years has been the collecting of razors for cheap and restoring them, I like my razors with character so restoring is mostly limiting to getting them functional rather than beautiful; pretty much like myself, although cleanly shaven I'm almost decent looking

Originally Posted by MrHouston

My favorite aspect of SR shaving is playing with steel. I love the challenge of bring a 100 year old razor back to life, esp. the blade. And then being able to get a good shave with it!

Imagine being able to sharpen steel so fine you can slice hair with it — I can do that. Now, this sounds hokey to say on this site, because you are all tough masculine bastards. But I’d argue that there aren’t that many people in the world that can do it.

Thank you.
Yes, "taking a rusty piece of junk" and giving it a new lease of life or honing a razor thats been sitting in a draw for over 100 years is a very rewarding experience. In this high tech, fast pace world we live in the simplistic act of honing a piece of metal to the point of shaving hair with it is not something many can nor want to do.