Thread: Adopting a Straight

So I know we have several posts running around about the age of straight razor shavers here on SRP, but I had a similar idea.

I was wondering, when did you guys start using a straight? I'm curious if we are mostly made up of those that learned to shave with one, or those who made the pilgrimage such as myself.

Thanks
Drew

Started using a straight in about 1964-1965, maybe a bit before, until I went into the Army in 1968, or so, whereupon I went for the less jostle sensitive DE until I mustered out, whereupon I started a beard that lasted until sometime 2005-6ish, wherupon I took up the straight again (my original one, even).

Being that I'm chronologically challenged, these dates are recollections of approximations, so they are give-or-take accurate.

The first time I used a straight razor was 1990, when I was in my 20s. I bought a Dorko, a strop, and some kind of two-sided hone. There was no SRP, and no one around to learn from, so I muddled on my own. The razor was obviously not shave ready, it pulled like crazy every time I used it, I think I tried the hone a few times, which likely only made the edge worse. I finally gave up thinking, "who would want to shave like this?" When my girlfriend used it to cut some cheese, it went in to a tool box and got used occasionally as a super sharp exacto knife.

I came back to straight razors in June 2008, and it's been a very different experience because of this place and B&B. I use one almost exclusively for my daily shave. And more keep finding their way into my closet...

s.

Started twenty years ago when I was in my twenties during my Peace Corps gig. Shaved for a couple years with a dull razor and then gave it up. Picked the razor back up about 4 months ago, found SRP, and this time around shaving is a lot smoother.

I have to be honest, I'm pretty surprised that no one here started off with a straight razor. I would have thought we would have at least a few for sure.

started 2 months ago.
I would have started earlier but I was not aware that there was a society of Sr shavers. Once i came here and learned a thing or two about basics I jumped right in.

1973 with a Cutlery World 5/8 (Probably a Dovo) and I was 21 then. Still got it. Before that at Gillette adjustable in 1966. Pilgrimage for sure....... Still a Pilgrim.

Lynn

I was terrified of straights for the longest time, too many mobster movies....

I'm honestly shocked at the number of you guys that started so late in life. I'm sure it has something to do with a lack of reliable information on it prior to SRP and the like taking off, but it is pretty much impossible for me (20) to imagine such an internetless world.

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

... I'm sure it has something to do with a lack of reliable information on it prior to SRP and the like taking off, but it is pretty much impossible for me (20) to imagine such an internetless world.

Well, I won't even try to tell you what it was like before writing, then.

But you're right, I think; back in the early 80s (I guess it was) when I first got interested in SR shaving, it was already something very few did--so in-person mentoring was pretty much out of the question--and there was next to no written information, not at least that I managed to find.

~Rich