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Why?
To go along with the age question. With all the modern convenient shaving implements we have these days, did each of you come to shave with a straight razor?
For me it's because I saw a Hen and Rooster during one of my many visits to the Smokey Mountain Knife Works(I live like an hour and a half away) and something just felt right. I knew that was how I wanted to get ready for the day. I don't know if it was an old soul in a young body or what but I just had to have one. That was when I was 19. I'm 23 now(will be 24 in October). I shaved with it a few times. No blood or anything. But it started pulling like crazy. I didn't know anything about stropping or honing. Plus when I started using it I was stationed in Korea and couldn't have got anything anyway. It was just a few months ago that I regained interest in the art and then it turned into a full blown obsession. I'll never go back to a cartridge or God forbid an electric ever again. I also wanted to say thanks to all the members on here who have helped me develop in this art.
You've heard my story, now let's hear yours.
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Straights were the razor of last resort.
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I use one because I think it's more comfortable, and fun, than a DE.
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Because I HATED the canned goo and the mountain of plastic I was throwing away plus the quality of shaves were bad and I was always getting razor burn. So about three years ago I switched to wet shaving with DE and SE and about one year ago went to straight shaving and haven't looked back.
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I enjoy the finer things in life....and shaving with a straight razor definetely falls in that category. Nothing beats using a blade you've selected and sharpend yourself, following a regime that you've personalized and developed over time, and cutting the hair of your face using a piece of art work....can't be beat. I look forward to it every day.
CKN
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Even when I was a little kid I was fascinated with pocket knives. When I was about 10 my father was shaving with a DE and made the offhand remark that he would prefer to be shaving with a straight razor. I never forgot it. So be careful what you say in front of your kids when they are young and impressionable. :)
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I too, like Jimmy have always been fascinated by blades, period, I have many Katana's, Sai, All kinds of knives, etc...For the longest time, I shaved with a brush and mug. Straight Razor's just popped into my head one day. Now, I have full blown RAD/HAD
I love this hobby, it's great. It's very satisfing to shave with a blade you honed yourself.
Something I used to dread, Shaving, I now look forward to...
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I think shaving with a straight is one of those items you should put on a list of things to do before you die. I think all men think of giving it a go.
I had time on my hands and wandered into sites like SRP and B&B, so I read up and ordered a razor etc. Once I got started, I wanted to do it well, so I did more reading, ordered a few more items, and so on.
There is an addictive quality to straight shaving, it rewards you for putting in the effort to learn it well. Rather like a computer game. You're always trying to get a bit closer to that top score, and the closer you get to perfection, the more you want to squeeze a little bit more performance out.
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I started shaving with a straight when I was 16 and went back and forth over the years to disposable/electic. Last 10 years has been straight only,don't regret it and don't have to share my razor/mug with anyone else.Like others have said it is very enjoyable shaving with a razor you have honed and made your own personal blade. Thanks to all of the people that have made this site possible and to everyone keeping the art alive !
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I was hooked at the age of 19 when I got my first barber shave. It felt so good every time the barber finished me up with his blade. No matter how many passes I did at home with my twin blade , I could never feel what I felt at the barber chair. Then barbers here stopped giving straight shaves and I could not muster the courage to do it on my own. For many years I had the empty feeling missing the straight. Finally decided to jump on the internet and read up on this art so i could dive into whole heartily. Found this place and read a lot. The rest is history as they say. I will never go back and i do believe that sometimes ,,,the old ways are better then the modern ones.