Thread: 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.

Straights were the razor of last resort.

I use one because I think it's more comfortable, and fun, than a DE.

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.

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

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.

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...

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.

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 !

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.