Thread: What Has Changed About You???

I honestly look forward to shaving now... a huge change. Shaving with a disposable was always a chore. On my off days and vacations I wouldn't shave until the last minute before I had to return to work to let my skin recover... Now I shave daily and enjoy the peace and quiet of the experience. That and my skin is much, much happier with a straight razor compared to the Mach3/Sensor Excels I used prior.

I find myself when I finish a work shift or wake up, rubbing face to see if enough beard has grown to "need" another shave... my beard grows fast. Eight hours after a "good" shave with a new Sensor Excel, I'd look like I hadn't shaved in a day or two... 5 o'clock shadow was very clear. Now shaving with a straight, 12 or so hours later it just starts to look and feel as smooth as my disposable blade shaves.

Only been shaving for a month with a straight, so this one big change is a huge one already... I'll have to remind myself to continue to self analyze and see what other changes pop up.

Speaking of which.... it's been about 20 hours... I need a shave.

I have collected many knives and cutting tools over the years and believe that the cutting edge is one of the single greatest developments known to humankind. Many of the knives in my collection have never been used. I like the fact that I get to use my Str8 razors.
To answer your question, nothing has changed with me other than I am getting better shaves. I told you when we had the opportunity to meet, for me, using the Str8 razor is like going back to a time when words like honor and integrity had a meaning. Some of us long for those days to return and perhaps in a small way are taking that stand.

Have a nice day!
Mike

I actually look forward to shaving, to the point of not hitting the snooze bar more than once anymore. I'm also far more awake and alert in the morning.

It has changed me for the better overall. It's made me more aware of the level of personal grooming I can attain, as well as having a relaxed approach to it.

i always enjoyed shaving.. i used to use a mach3 and a vdh brush from rite aid.. always loved shaving.. sometimes i'd skip the weekends or whatever..

now i start to shake if i miss a day.. i have 5 brushes and enough soaps and creams to last a lifetime.. i look forward to shaving so much.. i consider doing it twice daily.. i often palm lather just for the fun of it.. i feel stupid washing lather down the sink constantly.. but i've gotta do something between shaves.

Thanks guys.

Judging by all the changes described, this really is a very positive experience.

I am so much more conscious now of grooming products and approach life from a much more relaxed perspective. It's amazing.

Long live the ritual!!!!

Spread the word and I hope we continue to grow see many more new members and growth in all areas that make wet shaving and straight razors so much fun.

All the best,

Lynn

Hi Lynn,
Thanks for posting this thread. Shaving for 40+ years, I never enjoyed it until I came to straight razor shaving.

I've learned that wet shaving can be so much more than just a paper thin layer of Williams mug soap scraped off with a disposable cartridge razor. Everything about the daily ritual gives me satisfaction: the nuances of beard prep, building a rich, thick über lather that just won't quit, a relaxing turn at the canvass and leather that has kept my razors shave-ready sharp, the artistic three passes themselves that are so far giving me a DFS, even the attention to detail of cleanup and oiling my razor are a part of it.

In years past, I'd splash on a bit of musk only to impress the ladies whenever I had a date. Now I find I look forward to the tingle of witch hazel and the soothing coolness of the shaving balm I apply. For the first time in my life it feels really good to touch my face after I've shaved. And the irony of my lonely styptic pencil that just sits in my cabinet now is not lost on me. Cutting the mole on my chin and on my upper lip was an almost daily occurrence with my Gillette Sensor 3 but it never happens with my straight.

I could go on but I could not add to what the others have already said. Straight razor shaving gives me something to feel good about and that makes me feel good about me.

And for that, I am grateful that you founded SRP.
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Like many, I've always enjoyed shaving. But now, it's actually what I get up in the morning for.......... and earlier than ever before.

I used to hate buying blades just to use them up and throw them away. Likewise, I hated throwing away empty cans of Barbasol or Gillette. Now, I love buynig blades that I can pamper. My original goal of saving money this way has gone down the toilet. But my used blades no longer do.

Oh yeah, and I've met a great bunch of people and had some great discussions, if only online. I've learned a lot from them.

Thanks, Lynn

The morning of my 18th birthday my Dad took me to an old time barber for my first straight razor shave. I remember the hot towels on my skin, the message of my face with the warm lather. The sound of the razor removing my very soft sparse facial hair. I remember the warm towel on my face after the shave and the odor of the Lilac after shave as he rubbed my skin.
Since that day, periodically I would endevour to find a good barber to shave me with a straight razor as a treat to myself. Sometimes it would be several times a year, sometimes I would not enjoy a shave for a couple years.

It never occurred to me that I could do it myself. There have been difficulties, a couple of cuts on my face and a nasty cut on my finger from not being careful enough when drying the razor. There was skin irritation and burning sensation on my skin from antiseptic and after shave.


Since January I have been learning and now enjoy shaving everyday. Matter of fact I look forward to the 30 minutes when I am alone and able to shower and enjoy a good shave and relax.

Thanks to everyone on SRP for answering my questions and providing me with the means by which to enjoy straight razor shaving.

To Lynn....thank you for making it possible for me/us to enjoy your passion also by creating the SRP.

well I love to shave now... before I avoided it like a bad date. Like others I have found that I am gravitating toward other finer things in life like cigars and fine liquors.

I also just made a post about the biggest difference my life has made and that is that I enrolled in barber college. I have no idea if this was my best choice.. but I think I will enjoy it very much.

plus I now have a hobby that I enjoy and can enjoy everyday.

I forgot to add that I now spend much more time checking out the grooming products available to me. everything from many different types of shaving soaps and creams to the plethora of aftershave products(I am favouring clubman products for now). I am in general just taking better care of my appearance and I am scheduled for my first manicure tonight with cosmetologist friend.

• I no longer have those annoying, parallel cuts, where I used to nick myself with that "vintage" Gillette Trac-II.
• I no longer have any hair on the back of my left hand or forearm.
• I have enough blades, brushes, suds, and scents to last me the rest of my life.
• I got to watch JimmyHAD spend even more money than I did, on this stuff.
• I had to listen to JimmyHAD grouse about having spent all his money on this stuff.
• I got banned from B&B.