Thread: minimalism

I didn't know what to call this thread, so the title probably isn't very good.

I've been shaving with a straight razor for about 40 years - my grandfather taught me when I was in my teens, and, though I had some periods of lapsing back to disposables, mostly I've kept up the tradition because I like having to pay attention. Also, I found that I tend to cut myself a lot less using a straight razor than with a disposable - I have no explanation for that.

Anyway, I've been reading with interest the instructions on razor maintenance and upkeep, and I was very surprised to learn that I've been doing it wrong for 40 years...

I've described my sharpening regime in another thread a couple of months ago - I use a "razor stone", but I don't always have the edge lead - I do it the same way I sharpen my chisels, knives and plane irons - I alternated the direction of the strokes. I follow that honing process with a powered strop charged with "Yellowstone" and then a buffing wheel - the same routine I use with my carving tools. I do this when the razors need it, which is about every 3-6 months. (I have a partial beard nowadays - I'd probably have to sharpen more frequently if I were totally clean shaven.)

My daily blade preparation is stropping on an "Imperial Russia" hanging strop that I've been using for at least 30 years. I charge that with Yellowstone once every few months. I don't strop 50 times in each direction, that's for sure - maybe 10-20 times.

I keep the strop taught, and I put most of the pressure on the spine of the razor. I start lifting the edge before the end of the stropping stroke (to avoid dubbing the edge), and flip it on it's spine, never letting the spine lose contact with the strop. I DO use my wrist (along with my fingers) to flip the razor, but I've never experienced any kind of pain. I rarely if ever use the canvas.

I'm traveling on business right now, and when I travel, I use a disposable razor - I hate to check baggage, and the TSA would probably have a field day with me if I tried to carry on a straight razor. :-) The reason I mention this is that I started reading some of the threads where a much more rigorous daily maintenance regime is described, and I wondered "Have I been doing this wrong for 40 years? Am I getting a terrible shave, and just not noticing it?"

But I just shaved with the disposable, and I can fairly say that the shave I got with it was no better than what I get with my low-maintenance straights every day. Smooth is smooth.

Has anyone looked at how little you can get away with in terms of stropping, etc, without losing quality? Remember - our grandfathers used these things every day, and they were busy men. They didn't devote 30 minutes to shaving - it was more like the 3-5 minutes it takes me.

I think the key is learning how to use the equipment. I remember using the styptic almost every day when I was first learning, and creating gashes that not even tissue paper could handle. My latest styptic is about 15 years old, at least.

Just a thought.

Originally Posted by dinosilone

I think the key is learning how to use the equipment.

Or having learned how to use it. In learning how, a lot of guys are not minimalist for the sake of getting comfortable with the equipment and practicing.

I haven't been using a straight razor for 40 years, but I think my process is fairly minimal, requiring 5-7 minutes of my morning for a shave. And I don't have a partial beard. Lathering, stropping, and shaving efficiency comes through continued practice, right?

That's true. I guess I don't even remember what it was like to be learning. One thing that's true is that a lot of the techniques that are presented as "the only right way to do it", really aren't. In the end, a razor is just another edge tool. I like my woodworking and carving tools very sharp, and I learned to get them that way and keep them that way with the minimum effort. The same is true of the razor.

But your point is well taken. Whatever works for learning is right.

If that was true. this website would just be a page on wikipedia. There would be nothing to discuss.

Originally Posted by dinosilone

One thing that's true is that a lot of the techniques that are presented as "the only right way to do it", really aren't. .

Originally Posted by dinosilone

That's true. I guess I don't even remember what it was like to be learning. One thing that's true is that a lot of the techniques that are presented as "the only right way to do it", really aren't. In the end, a razor is just another edge tool. I like my woodworking and carving tools very sharp, and I learned to get them that way and keep them that way with the minimum effort. The same is true of the razor.

But your point is well taken. Whatever works for learning is right.

One thing that should be assumed with most of the posts and threads on here is that, "We are Nutz" yes we know this..

I started with a straight in 1981 and used one stone and one strop to keep 2 razors sharp and shaving from 1981 to about 1999 or 2000 when I dropped the second razor and cracked it... When I came back to straight shaving in 2006 I did the same for about 6 months before finding this website and going NUTZ !!!

Yes you can shave just fine with the minimalist approach and many do, but for me this is more of a hobby now, rather than just shaving my face in the morning, and honestly aren't you worth the extra????

I wouldn't call my current equipment or preparation minimalist, but it works for me. I usually decide on a few razors (if I only had one that part would be easy), then pick up my brush (I have two, but pretty much use one exclusively), load it with whatever soap or cream sample I pick (again I probably have a dozen full size ones and as much samples, but that's not necessary), lather my face, strop my razor until it's sharp, relather quickly and then shave. I usually do 2-3 passes, but going once is pretty good too, depending on the razor and the day it may come out perfect the very first time. Then I rinse the razor(s), wipe it with the towel and leave it open to airdry.
I haven't had to rehone any of my razors yet, but I haven't shaved for 40 years and have enough that they haven't gotten dull yet. Actually one of my first razors went back to Dovo for refitting of the scales and when it came back I touched it up. I used something like 10-20 edge leading as light as I could manage strokes on a small 4"x1" vintage thuringian hone, hand held. Worked like a charm.

So, if I didn't have so many razors, strops, hones and soaps I guess I could call the shaving relatively simple. Of course not as minimalistic as slapping some shaving foam from an aerosol can and then going over with a disposable/cartridge razor, but the difference in it is worth to me the extra effort.

I'm pretty sure that shaving with the edge forward and at an angle shallower than 90 degrees is the only correct (or possible) way to do it, same goes for stropping with the spine leading.

If your method works and you're getting good shaves, great. As previously touched on already, members here (me) are obsessed with this craft and all that comes with. Hence people will have countless strops, hones, razors, creams, brushes and so forth. Add in various ways and techniques, and we are always teaching and learning from one another. That's much of the banter you notice. At least for me. Not to say this new strop is an end-all and the old one sucked--hardly. Just a new toy. Quite an effective one.

So, no, I wouldn't say you've been doing a thing wrong. There are just 9000 ways to do what you've been doing. Will a different way give you a smoother and sharper edge, or even a closer shave? Quite possibly! That's the joys of this place. Trying new toys, techniques and ideas. Keep in mind, you are herein forewarned as to the addictive properties contained herein.

I'm totally a minimalist. I NEVER use more than one razor a day. Usually.

Like I've said many times, if the average straight shaver from say 1900 saw this site he would think we all belonged in a mental institution and were all a bunch of rich guys. Guys used straights and maintained them their own way and it worked right or wrong. Of course I'm sure there were those who collected razors then too.

So does that make us all a bunch of shaving prima donnas eh?

I think what you do is effective. I also think that a lot of the guys on here do this as a hobby, which is something quite different

Personally I reckon it takes me about 5-10 mins to shave these days, and I have never really been bitten buy any desire to keep stock piling razors etc.