Thread: Why did you start shaving with a straight?

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

It also makes a statement in our disposable, instant gratification and everything comes easy society. Its like playing music from vinyl not C/Ds or driving a car with a stick or shooting with black powder.

I couldn't agree more; fortunately or not, you've described me to a tee . I drive a stick--both of our vehicles, still have a turntable (but most of the music in our house comes from my wife playing the piano and my daughter and me playing our violins), brew my own beer, rarely eat out (I can usually prepare a much better meal at a small fraction of the cost), do most of my own maintenance on my house, car and tools, and I write with a fountain pen. Some accuse me of being a Luddite, I think I prefer being able to do things for myself--and take pride in doing them well.
Ed

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

I shave with a straight razor for the same reason I smoke: to look cool.

Than you might give up straight shaving right now.

Originally Posted by joesixpack

I put down "Environmentally sound", but I'm not sure that's really the right reason. It's much more complicated than that.

1) I hate the idea of paying for something that's worthless. Disposable razors are all bound for the trash no matter how much you take care of them. Essentially, you're buying garbage. I don't call them disposable, I call them "trash razors" or "Garbage Razors". In fact, I'm trying to get into the habit of refering to str8s simply as "razors", because before Gillette came along, you never NEEDED to differentiate.

2) I hate being sold something to solve a non-existent problem. A disposable can't shave me any better or more safely than a straight, but constant advertising and marketing has convinced almost ALL the men on this planet that these high tech looking peices of plastic are better suited to the task than a real razor. Don't let "THE MAN" tell you how to shave!

3) A razor is something that was hand crafted by a skilled human, not extruded out by the ton by some machine. There was a craftsman who could take pride in his work.

4) When you get right down to it, most rational, thoughtful people don't mind paying for quality. Sure, you can get crap by the ton at Walmart for almost nothing, but 99% of it is stuff you really don't need, and it'll be in your next garage sale or in the Goodwill bin by next summer.


There's my reasons, at least, some of 'em. I'm sure I'll think of more.

here, here. The very same reasons I wear my Certina automatic, and play on my Fender Twin.

Originally Posted by mgraepel

I hear that, brother. It's the same reason I'm getting into dip pens and pocket watches.

I've been collecting pocketwatches for years. I always carry a Hamilton 950 with me. Any Railroad Grade Pocketwatch will make a Rolex look like you know what.

I almost double clicked for "Cheaper" as well as "Environmental", but found that hasn't really played itself out the way I though. Oh sure, if I'd just stuck with only that lucky Dubl Duck for $15 and a strop from Tony I'm sure it would have been, but I had to know how to hone and that required more blades . . . etc.

The thing that gets me is how the Environmental reason has fallen by the way side since straight shaving. I accomplished it with my first shave and now I stick with it for two NEW reasons:

1. It's the best damn shaving experience of my life! Close and comfortable, leaving me with a satifyingly clean sensation like nothing else.

2. It's a MUCH more pleasant ritual. Like, the thing I hated most about the disposable shave was incessantly banging the blade out on the sink to unclog it of hairs. My girlfriend even used to complain about that sound. Glad it's gone.

I put down because it is cool which is the closes choice to "I just love it". In truth I don't really know why I was attracted to str8's. The only thing I know is I wanted it before I tried it, the whole shmeer: honing, stropping and shaving.

Now that I have succeeded in getting my first str8 shave ready and got a really good shave, I know that my initial interest was right on the money. I love the stuff. For me it is like anything else that I enjoy doing. I just enjoy doing it and that is enough for me.

As far as being cheaper than disposables, well I already spent couple of years worth of disposables on str8 shaving and I am just getting warmed up. If I could afford it I would have one (or more) of those Maestro's works of art heading my way. So cheaper than disposables it ain't.

Lets be honest, any restraint on the str8 shaving budget we have, is imposed. All of us would spend a hell of a lot more on it if we could afford it.

The poll didn't give some of the reasons I started str8 shaving. Mine are:

1. You get a better shave. My str8 shaves much closer than my Mach III with
much less iritation. I don't have to shave daily when I use a str8.

2. I enjoy the shaving ritual of hot towels, lather, stropping, etc.

3. Not everyone can do it. It takes some skill and there are some risks.

4. It IS cool!

5. It is better for the environment. Where are all those cartridges going?

Anyway those are some of my reasons.

Smokey

I answered with "it's cool", because it is cool. But that is far from the only reason. As has already been mentioned, I like the routine. Nothing wrong with a little "me" time.

RT

I have to add to my reasons that there's an aesthetic angle, too. When you handle a razor, you're holding something that's built to last for ages. It's a solid tool, it has some weight to it, and it's, in some ways, a work of art.

And when I say "art", I mean Real Art with a capital "A", something that trancends time, not some faddish crap that will go out of style in a few years (or months). A real razor is a museum peice that you can use every day.

Oh, and I agree with all you guys who use fountain pens, too. I use them for all the same reasons I use a real razor.

Originally Posted by joesixpack

I have to add to my reasons that there's an aesthetic angle, too. When you handle a razor, you're holding something that's built to last for ages. It's a solid tool, it has some weight to it, and it's, in some ways, a work of art.

And when I say "art", I mean Real Art with a capital "A", something that trancends time, not some faddish crap that will go out of style in a few years (or months). A real razor is a museum peice that you can use every day.

Oh, and I agree with all you guys who use fountain pens, too. I use them for all the same reasons I use a real razor.

You said a mouthful.