Thread: Alcoholics and SR shaving

So a little more about myself, I work in addiction recovery (both personally and professionally) and I'm starting to notice an interesting phenomenon that I wanted to get everyones take on. Maybe I'm in the dark on this one, so if anyone has an explanation for this feel free to enlighten me.

I've started to notice that straight razor shaving seems to be very popular the amongst AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) crowd. I've noticed several posts on SRP that subtly refer to AA, as well as several posts on AA forums that refer to straight razor shaving. More specifically, I work in sexual addiction recovery and I've noticed the same trend. Several members of our group meetings are wet shavers. (Collecting, restoring, honing, turning brushes etc.) A lot of our primary texts, in sexual addiction recovery, come from the AA program so naturally there is a lot of overlap in cultures and traditions.

So I'm trying to figure out where or how this started. Is this a thing? Was there a famous speech given on the subject? Was Bill W. a wet shaving junky?

Ya know, it actually makes a lot of sense though when i think about it. Example: You get a craving to drink/act out, so you make yourself busy with something that is enjoyable, healthy, and calming. Wet shaving! Think about it. You go through all the prep, hot towel, pre-shave oil, stropping, lathering, multiple passes, cold towel, after-shave, stropping, clean up. It's a very zen like experience and would totally be an extremely helpful recovery tool for Alcoholics and Sexaholics alike.

Or maybe we just have addictive personalities and moved on to SRAD[emoji1]

I wouldn't be too quick to make any connections.

You have to look at the real world and all the problems folks have. The numbers are way larger than folks realize. I think we just reflect that.

All I can say as far as straight razor shaving for anyone who comes to SRP .........

Rarely have we seen a person fail, who thoroughly follows our path .....

Here is a thought. Recovering people are always looking for healthy or non-destructive ways to spend their time and be creative. This is a venue where that can happen, and fairly easily, as well there is a large and varied online community, that gives us on more outlet for healthy interaction free of substance interaction. It is not easy for people in recovery to have social outlets, in my case in very remote and limited settings. Maybe the city guys have it the same. Just a thought.

I'll drink to what RazDog said.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Here is a thought. Recovering people are always looking for healthy or non-destructive ways to spend their time and be creative. This is a venue where that can happen, and fairly easily, as well there is a large and varied online community, that gives us on more outlet for healthy interaction free of substance interaction. It is not easy for people in recovery to have social outlets, in my case in very remote and limited settings. Maybe the city guys have it the same. Just a thought.

Agreed. I also work in addiction recovery, and one of the things that I have found most impressive about this community is the generous and accepting nature of the majority of its members. Add this to the soothing ritual nature of the daily shave and the multiple creative outlets such as restoration and crafting, and you could see wet shaving as being an excellent recovery tool.

Luckily I am ADD as well so my focus changes and I find new vices. Next week I may try out sexual addiction, then the next week back to razors.

In all honesty though a lot of us definitely have addictive personalities. I know I do, but they, luckily, aren't self destructive.

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Possibly it is that whilst the addiction has a strong hold, a lot of addicts tend to neglect themselves in favour of putting emphasis on feeding their habit.
Now if you were a recovering addict I think a step in recovery would be to reflect on ones self and look to pamper rather than abuse.
Wet shaving definately gives you the tools to pamper yourself and treat yourself with some respect.
Since most wet shaving components can't or should not be rushed making a busy mind slow down and reflect, like stopping and honing is methodical and can be meditative

Also I have seen many addicts move from an abusive addiction to another path of non abusive addiction with just as much emphasis or effort put into the new path whether it be religion, a sport, collecting, and possibly wet shaving
There is definately worse things out there
JMHO

These are all awesome insights. Thanks guys!