Thread: What Has Changed About You???

I was wondering what changes in your life have occurred since you started shaving with a straight razor or wet shaving? Do you look forward to shaving more now? Are you aware of and using more and different aftershaves or colognes than you did before. Have you mellowed out any as a result of enjoying the experience? Do you wear different clothes? Do you just feel better in general? Have you become an advocate to the point that your friends think you're nuts? I suspect if you're like me, you brought the AD's with you, but are they worse in this sport than with others? Have you used shop skills not used since middle school? Found any hidden talents?

What is different about you now?

Have fun,

Lynn

well I been using a straight for a few mth's now and its become an addiction , Ive been de shaving for the past 30+ years but of all those years it was nuthin more than a chore to shave , since starting with a straight I wish I had 3 or 4 heads so as I could keep on shavin its such a pleasurable thing to do with a straight anyway yes its affecting my life in a big way ...Ive got RAD , hopefully I wont get HAD ...Ive had a goatee for the past 20+ years only shaved it off probly twice in those 20 years well the straight has been slowly eatin away at it ..an yeah tonight I shaved it off was a first for me to shave my entire face with a straight ..lookin pretty pale atm but the shave went well ..I had no intention of removing my goatee it just creeped up on me ...now my problem is I wanna grow it back but I juz cant stop SHAVING !!!!

Good morning Lynn!
I use to shave in the shower and just go through the motions. Shaved with those twin blade disposables. I have a beard so my lines were hard for me to keep straight. I don't see as well out of my left eye so that compounded the trouble.

Now I really look forward to my shaving time, it seems to relax me.
Of course a mild case of RAD did come with picking up a straight.
I look at it as saving history for future generations.
I can no longer pass up an antique shop without stopping in.
Now I look for hones as well as straights.

Since I got disabled some years back I had to give up most of my hobbies.
This is one hobby that I can enjoy.
Also the people here at SRP are some of the nicest people you are likely to meet anywhere. They are always willing to help out in anyway.

So in the end straight razors have made my life a richer experiance.
This was all made possible by you setting up this site.

Thanks Lynn

Best wishes,

Silver2

As a result of my full-time three weeks of cut-throat razor use I have started using proper shaving techniques that I have always known about, but never bothered with while using the twin and triple blade Gillettes'. Instead of going one ATG I now use two (WTG & ATG). I now use shaving soap instead of bath soap. I now use an aftershave balm with moisturiser instead of nothing. My face is looking healthier for this extra TLC.
I have taken great knife honing skills and made them betterr by learning some basic razor honing skills (These need to be perfected however.) I have become aware of some basic maintenance skills and applied them as needed. Pin tightening for one. I now look forward to having some 'Me' time in the bathroom. I am now saving water (very important in my country) as I no longer shave in the shower just to get it done, I take the time to shave well, and have a longer lasting clean shave than ever before.
I feel better about myself. I am becoming more and more of an advocate, a border line nutter, who is gleefully heading towards full psychiatric commital to the straight razor asylum.
I now have HAD with a touch of un-requinted RAD.
I don't see shaving as a sport or a hobby, I see it as part of a richer and more fulfilling lifestyle, in a world that is rapidly becoming genderless. This is a little step to maintaining the essence of MAN.


Mick

To be honest, I always enjoyed shaving. Even when I was using a Gilette Fusion, I always made sure to use good cream, prep and aftershave. Never to the extent I do now, but shaving was always fun for me.

However, since I started using a straight, it is the highlight of my day. It is challenging, fun and it is a moment where you are so connected to yourself and what you are doing. Someone who has never shaved with a straight will never understand that. Besides looking forward to my shave everyday, this endeavor has given me other things to look forward to everyday. Chatting with the wonderful people on this forum, digesting tons of information on all the nuances of straight shaving and all the AD's.

Since I started shaving with a straight over two months ago, I feel more confident and motivated. Starting everyday with a challenging, enjoyable, relaxing shave makes everything better. You guys understand...right?

Lynn,

The most obvious change is that I no longer have a beard.

And all the time I saved by not shaving for about 35 years was put into some account somewhere, but I can't for the life of me find the passbook.

Actually, I hide the fact that I shave straightly. Letting this cat out of the bag would only further verify to friends and acquaintences alike that my atavistic nature has gone from helpless to hopeless.

And ADs...obviously incurable and unfortunately for the wallet, not terminal.

cheers, Bruce

My skin is better now, I shave every day.
I spend way more money than I previously imaged on shaving.
When I see the costs of fusions cartridges, i feel a bit better though.

The ADs come and go.

I definately enjoy shaving now, which I never did before, and way more than I thought I ever would TBH!

The irritation I used to get with the M3 is a thing of the past now as well.

I also have the requisite AD's, and I have way more bits of kit than I thought I would when I started. At the start, I fully intended to just have one or two razors, a strop, a brush and some soap. All I have to say about that is famous last words!

I also think the AD's are worse with this hobby than my others. I play guitar and shoot as well, and I dont think I really need another guitar, and I only get new guns when I upgrade, and then the old one tends to get sold.

SWMBO now calls all my various soaps and creams my "man products", and its become a bit of a joke that I've got a space in the wardrobe for all the various rocks and razors!

I also find I'm getting more into the olde worlde pursuits, especially cigars, and my taste in music has widened.

The morning shave definately has a soothing quality about it, and I do think that my friends think I'm nuts..!

Great post Lynn!

I could say my credit card and bank account balances but we won't go there. A PITA chore that had to be gotten out of the way ASAP has become an enjoyable pursuit. A passion more than a hobby if we include hones and honing along with razors and shaving. This sport has also led me to post on the internet a bit where before coming to wet shaving I was not very forthcoming on the internet.

I look onward to shaving now more than ever. I used to only shave once a week or every other week but with straigts it's a much more enjoyable experience.