Thread: 'Tis The Season

cool article, thanks for the link!

Obie - you nailed it!

"For many of us, the straight razor also carries a distinct element of sweet and sentimental romance. Remember the old-time barbershop on a Saturday morning, where a haircut and straight razor shave came with all the day’s news and commentary by the locals?"

Put me down as a romantic.

Originally Posted by Obie

I understand Playboy has published a piece in which our own SRP member Bluepriciple (Steve Dempster of the Invisible Edge) is quoted.

Which issue?

Hello, Wolfger,

My understanding is the current issue, January's, or perhaps February's, I am not sure.

The gentlemen who have read it might know. I would love to read it.

Regards,

Obie

@ wolfger -- there was a thread about the Playboy issue here:
Playboy January-Febuary 2010 Issue - Straight Razor Place Forums

@ Obie -- great article. Congrats!

@ everyone else -- I'm sure the site tracks hits but post a comment as well in support of Obie and straight razor shaving. Comment links are at the bottom of the article.

thanks for writing that. if i would have read it before I discovered straights, It would have sent me looking for them. I do have a question about this:

For those plagued with in-grown hairs, razor bumps and razor burns, straight razors arguably help reduce, if not fully alleviate, the problem by cutting stubble above the skin rather than below, as multi-blade cartridge razors are believed to do.


well, do multi blade cartridges really cut below the skin or not? and, if they really do, how exactly does something cut below the skin?

Hello, Mr. dear Toplin,

Thanks for the kind words. The article was a lot of fun to write, because the subject was dear to my heart.

From what I understand — although I am without scientific proof — in a multiple blade razor, the first blade lifts the hair and the other blades slice it off by dipping below the skin. Now, this hair has to grow out again.

Sometimes it will grow the wrong way, or curl and twist around itself — and suddenly you have an ingrown hair and a razor bump. Whereas a sharp straight razor will cut the hair flat above the skin, without creating any obstructions for its replacement.

Of course, there are all kinds of arguments for and against this.

In the locker room at the gym, this character was boasting that he had found the greatest razor on earth.

Oh?

I guess it is something new with five blades. For heaven's sake, can you imagine five blades mowing down anything standing on the face? We're not talking five feathers. Five blades.

"You should try it," he offered.
"Well, I'm cheap," I said. "I think I'll stick with one blade."

The question is this: how does your face feel after your shave, provided you've used all the proper preparation and straight razor shaving technique? How does your face feel the next day? With a straight razor you can easily determine how well your skin feels.

Also, don't forget the spiritual value, the romance of shaving with a straight razor. Shaving with a straight is an an art, a craft, whereas mowing your skin down with a row of blades . . . Well, what can I say?

Regards,

Obie

Obie,

That is a wonderful article. It was a pleasure to read such an outstanding work.

Lu

Nice article, Obie. Treading the line between information and propaganda (and I naturally mean that in a good way) very finely indeed.

Great read as always Obie. Look forward to more.