Thread: Help required with lecture on straight razors!

I gave a talk title this year, on top of others I do for a university evening lecture series, called 'Out with the new, in with the old - straight razors and fountain pens'. It's always the same - thought it would be a fun one at the time and now the date is looming...

Although this will mainly concern me waxing lyrical about two hobbies, I also want to give a bit of a discourse on why people today want to go with old things and ways of working. I know my reasons - collecting, learning new skills, doing something a bit different etc. What are yours? Things such as neo victorians and young fogeys may be brought into play

If you can tell me why you think straights are important to you it would be very useful - it will help bring the talk into more of a researched way of working rather than just my own personal views. Also if you had any cool digital images that I could use in the talk (I am using my own photos otherwise but other images of gear or anything that you think may be interesting would be superb) you could maybe pm me and I could give you an email address to pass on? I will push SRP too, of course.

Happy New Year to one and all.

Oh - and if possible I will post the talk (PPT presentation format) with a link for folks to have a read after it is finalised.

cheers
Stephen

I have a few main reasons.

1) better skin and less ingrown hair problems. I was told this by a barber who had used a straight professionally and personally for about 60 years. It has definitely been the truth for me.

2) get a way from the disposable world we live in. The idea of cost is not a concern here as this may not be cheaper in the long run. But better quality of life could be a factor.

3) Learn to do something that is lost to most of the individuals who are of my age group in my area.

More benefits have come since

1) truely enjoy shaving- this was not the case when using cartridge razors, DE was better but this is really enjoyable.
2) truely enjoy honing and stroping- I am not really good at it yet, but hey I am getting them sharp enough to get a comfortable shave.
3) enjoy the new hobby of refurbishing and cleaning razors
4) really had no idea that shaving lather and soap could be so much more interesting than the squirt form a bombcan.
5) My wife really likes the fact that I don't always smell like the canned shaving cream.

Please post whatever you can on your lecture.

I could also say similar things aobut fountain pens. I had to affix my signature to alot of documents at one time in my current career and the fountain pen was so much easier and more comfortable to use. Hard to believe but it was true.

I'll be posting shortly! Great idea by the way!

i switched to srt8 shaving as a way to go back in time to when things were simpler and slower paced and also got tired of buying blades

Two reasons mostly:
1) I got sick of a disposable world where you throw things out in favour of something new (not necessarily better). I wanted something with permanance, something that I could rely on for more than a week.

2) I prefer excellence over convenience - using a straight and wet shaving is less convenient than using the mock 3 and canned goo, but it provides a far superior result. Mostly the same reason I usually prefer hand tools for woodworking over power tools (Although, where a power tool will do the better job, I'll take the power tool - I'm not a ludite, I simply prefer quality).

Good luck on your lecture - let us know how it goes! (are you videotaping it? that would be really neat!).

Mark

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?

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

X

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

I have many reasons for straight razor shaving. My initial introduction was in the early 1980s through living history re-enactment of the fur trade era. All of our gear for the rendezvous had to be original or replica pre 1834. I then learned to use a straight as I felt better without the whiskers.
Second is economy. I became increasingly aggravated over rising prices of multiple blade cartridges. I decided to renew my straight razor efforts with better equipment.
My third reason is I remembered having enjoyed a real barber shave in a foreign country. It was a terrific experience and I decided to duplicate that shave.
Lastly, I enjoy restoring very old razors. It is a satisfying moment to show a razor and explain to them that when that razor was made, Abraham Lincoln was president. There is a satisfaction in returning a 150+ year-old razor to service.

I look forward to your lecture posting.