Thread: Straight Razor is curing me...

Hey guys, obviously I am new to straight razor shaving, and I am loving every minute of it. I also found it is helping me deter away from a certain disorder that I have... Here is my story:

Several years ago, I managed to manifest a certain disorder, Trichotillomania which is the compulsive urge to pull out ones own hair. It first manifested itself as pulling the hairs from my ankles when I was bored. Soon enough it became worse and worse. I would pull hairs from my ankles, beard/facial hair, and from the top of my head. That was when it was at its worst. I have gotten it under control now... it is only manifested around my facial hair, which is better than but it sucks because I want to be able to grow a full beard one day and fear I wont be able to as my ankles have lost the ability to grow the hairs back fully... This has been going on for around six years now. I have tried several times to stop but to no avail.

This past Christmas my girlfriend bought me a straight razor as well as the various accessories needed to start straight razor shaving. Since then I have fallen in love with it for several reasons. I do not need to buy any more disposable cartridges anymore (I used to keep one cartridge for months before finally purchasing another in an attempt of saving some money), the shaves are vastly superior, it is easier on my acne-ridden face, and it has gotten me to shave everyday (I just love shaving now) which is preventing me from doing a certain action: being able to grab the hairs and pulling them out. Since I shave everyday, the hairs do not get a chance to grow long enough for me to be able grab them and pull them out. This is such a relief! I havent pulled out any hairs as much as I nearly would have prior to doing this. Ive noticed that the stubble on my chin isnt patchy anymore, it's actually filling out. I feel so great about this. Before, my goatee stubble would be very thin and patchy. Now its actually full again for the first time in years. I am hoping that I can finally get rid of this compulsive disorder once and for all with the help of straight razor shaving.

All was going well until yesterday, I managed to dull the razor by stropping incorrectly (I found out I was not holding the strop taught enough)... I can not shave with it because it won't cut anymore hairs ... I have to find a place near my location that hones straight razors, and I haven't been able to find one. So now my beard is starting to come out now and so far I have managed to not pull any hairs out and I am hoping that stays that way until I can get my razor honed... It is easy for me to not pull hairs right now because I am relatively stress-free, but school is around the corner and that is usually stressful for me which worries me :/ ... I have managed to grow a goatee before without pulling hairs out so I am planning on growing it out and see if I can still keep myself under control seeing as I havent pulled any hairs since New Years (I know it has only been 11 days but that is a long time without pulling hairs, compared to several times a day). I want to buy a honing stone but I do not know how to hone a razor nor do I have the money to buy one. I plan on going to a barbershop that I went to before and see if they can hone my straight razor for me. Also any suggestions on where to go would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully I can get my razor honed soon and continue shaving daily so I can make sure I do not pull out any hairs so I can beat this horrible disorder once and for all...

Thank you for taking the time and reading my story