Thread: Help required with lecture on straight razors!

Primary reasons why Straight shaving appeals and endears itself to me:

There are many skills everyone used to have, that today are lost arts. I enjoy learning, and being able to do something not everyone can; how many of your friends can drive a 5 speed, tie their own tie, use a 'real' camera... etc.

There's a sense of accomplishment after completing a shave. I'm not the fastest shaver out there, mine often take 20 minutes or more; but after touching up those last few spots and splashing on the aftershave there's a feeling of pride and self-confidence that stays with me all day.

I was very prone to ingrown hairs with multi-blade razors, and since I switched to straight shaving, I haven't had a single (not even one) ingrown hair on my face. On top of this, the exfoliation performed while shaving has improved my skin's look and feel.

To close, I also must express my hatred for the heaping helpings of marketing bull we're force fed every day, and getting a good chuckle every time I see another mach7 commercial on TV pushing their latest toy is priceless. I especially like the new fusion ones with tiger woods; "Hey, remember that mach3 we said was the best? well now you gotta throw that out, c'mon already! This one is way better!"

I have a deep appriciation for hand made tools.

Disposable razor marketing hype annoys me.

I like the thought of using an item that is close to 100yrs old on a daily basis, and that it will quite possibly go on to serve another 100yrs.

It has turned a daily chore into an enjoyable, relaxing, and rewarding experience.

Shaving with a face axe is macho.

Any chance you could share either the notes or put the lecture out on youtube?
It sounds interesting

The reason I use a straight is mainly that it is the only way of shaving that is comfortable enough that I can use it every day.
Secondly it is macho, it makes me feel manly.
It is something about traditions, my grandfather made a living making knifes and he used a straight. I still remember sitting in his shop where it smelled leather and a bunch of other good things. It seems like a way to honor him.
The feeling of achievement, every day I will try to get a BBS shave and it is such a good feeling when I master another aspect of the technique and get better shaves.
It is relaxing just to take the time needed and to do it properly instead of hurrying up ti get it over with.
They look good! How many of you guys have had a friend pick up a disposable to admire it?

Originally Posted by aroliver59

For me,it's the nostalgia thing.For some reason,when I got older(maybe mid-30s)I became interested in the way people did things before the age of machines and convenience.I started collecting sad irons,oil lamps,antique tools,etc.Became fascinated with straight razors and naturally collected some.One of these came "shave ready"so I gave it a whirl,and got hooked.Been straight shaving about nine months now and still get a small thrill out of it every time.

Same here. I've always been interested in the old ways.I think my hobbies indicate this: for example, I enjoy photography with film camera's, using fountain pens, and amateur radio, I even enjoy vintage clothing to a point.

I'd been contemplating going "old school" with my shaving, but just didn't know where to begin. What finally pushed me over the edge was the realization of just how much Muck3 blades cost (4 for 15.00 at the time) and not being able to locate de blades (I did find them after I started shaving with a straight). I decided to do a search on the net to see if I could find information on straight shaving and found SRP, been here ever since.

Good for you. For such excellent service you've earned ...

... A GOLD STAR!



My story?
The reason I started straight razor shaving was to save mone- ... well at least to stop funding Gillette to fill the landfill with disposable garbage cartridges. I'd stopped using canned shaving foam years earlier realising that it was no better than water alone, so that's what I was using. It was inconvenient to have to keep wetting my face during the shave, but I was saving money on the shaving foam and not pitching those cans into the garbage.

Since starting up with the straight razor, the main reason I stay with it so diligently is the quality of the shave. I get a close comfortable shave with no more ingrown hairs. I also get to take my time and focus on the job at hand as well as savour the pride of a job well done with a razor I honed myself.

You might also want to read this:

In The Deep End » Blog Archive » This Dying Art

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Originally Posted by flyboy

Any chance you could share either the notes or put the lecture out on youtube?
It sounds interesting

Yep - I will share them in the most conveneient way possible when it is completed. I am still just compiling notes from you guys. I need to take some more photos and gather some images from elsewhere before I get to pull it together. I also have a similar question going on in fountainpennetwork.com and there are about 13 answers or so there so far. It is interesting for sure.

I imagine that I will post the lecture somehow once I have delivered it - I know I won't have much time to spare before that... So start of February - promise.

cheers
Stephen

Using a straight razor is like wearing a dinner jacket (that's a Tuxedo to you Americans. )
It's one of the things a man just has to try at some point in his life. All men get the urge, but sadly most people resist it.

Consider this quote from preface

Two centuries ago many people understood how to use and care for a straight razor, but most of the written information is lost now. Since the end of the eighteenth century, declining knowledge brought bad performance and the subsequent fall of the straight razor, a process still going on. Wrongly, because the efficacy of a well treated straight razor is unmatched by any comparable instrument.
...
To put everything in perspective, I included abstracts of two historical books which treated the pogonotomy in detail, and predicted why one of the most perfect tools in history would almost vanish more than two hundred years after publication

I've highlighted the key phrase. "One of the most perfect tools in history." Which has been ousted by inferior products, and we have been brainwashed into thinking disposable items are better - just to maintain a revenue stream for some big companies. You can't blame the companies really, if we act like sheep we deserve to get fleeced.

I really can't improve on what's been said (although I agree with almost all of it), but I would like to add one thing that I enjoy getting out of straight razor shaving (and honing). The tactile feedback, the melding of the shaver with his tool, is a refreshing way to tune the senses. I also like the fact that as my honing gets better I can apply the understanding of sharpness, metallurgy, and general metal care to other tools (chisels, knives).

Ah, glad I stumbled on this one.

Well i may write more later, but off the top of my head i think it's the challenge of doing something in a different way with presumably much better results.

you can use any of my photos, email me for the originals if you need them