Thread: Might be blasphemy but......

What I am about to say might be considered blasphemy on this site but here it is anyway. My straights are put away and oiled in anticipation of leaving on holiday overseas in a couple of days. This morning the shave was with what I will use on the trip, Arko, old nondescript boar brush and a 2 bladed disposable razor bought at the Dollar Store for you guessed it, 1 dollar complete with spare blade heads. The razor is made by Personna BTW.

No prep other than to wet my face with hot water, lathered up, shaved and finished with my usual splash of Thayers Original. I did my normal 3 pass shave and was rewarded with shave that was no better or worse than I get with a straight. It was smooth ,comfortable, close and irritation free. That just reaffirmed why I can't understand why a lot of people say they simply can't get a decent shave from a disposable multi blade razor. My guess is that if you have good technique with whatever type of shave tool you use, all else being equal, you should get a decent shave.

So why do I bother with a straight razor at all if there is no real difference in the end result? The reasons are many and varied. I enjoy learning a new skill that is not the easiest to get a handle on, notice I did not say master as I have not got that far yet. Straights are far more appealing aesthetically than a hunk of plastic, art versus bare bones practicality. The pleasure of finding old discarded tools, repairing them if necessary and putting them back to work. I enjoy learning the history behind them. So for those reasons and likely more I use a straight but certainly not for the end result and that's what might be considered blasphemous around these parts.

Anyway, just a ramble for your consideration. Why do you use a straight?

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

... Why do you use a straight?

Bob

Here you go:Why do you shave with a straight razor?

Originally Posted by BobH

Anyway, just a ramble for your consideration. Why do you use a straight?
Bob

I enjoy the patience, practice and precision required of all aspects of cutthroat shaving. Stropping and face prep set the mood. Lathering provides a tactile pleasure. I also truly enjoy the concentration needed when the blade is at my throat -- it's a sort of tunnel-vision.
The best part is afterwards, when SWMBO runs her fingers across my face and tells me that she likes!!!

For me, the nostalgia, doing something that's not the norm. The need of challenge, and with success, the feeling of accomplishment. Turning a mundane chore into a meaningful event whilst pampering myself. but, that's just me. I, as well, feel I will never master the art, but, I'm working on it.

I like doing something that others find odd/impossible.

I guess I am an attention seeker. I just enjoy doing something that everyone used to do, and somehow so many today say it is "impossible" or impractical. I love proving people wrong too...I shaved today in under 3 minutes. Single pass and results as good as I used to get with my 6 bladed ultra-expensive cart razor....AND I enjoyed it far more!

Otto

Thanks Otto, I had not seen that before.

Seems like so far everyone has similar reasons and they don't seem to have much to do with the end result. So why do so many claim they can't get a good shave from a disposable multiblade razor? That is what puzzles me more than why I use a straight. The only thing I can think of is incorrect technique and not much else.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Otto

Thanks Otto, I had not seen that before.

Seems like so far everyone has similar reasons and they don't seem to have much to do with the end result. So why do so many claim they can't get a good shave from a disposable multiblade razor? That is what puzzles me more than why I use a straight. The only thing I can think of is incorrect technique and not much else.

Bob

I'd suggest that you are right. I never had any trouble getting BBS every time if I prepped properly.

Disposables make it so easy that users further simplify (over the years) and develop learned ignorance.

Unit

That is very likely true. It amazes me how many people with a digital SLRs have no clue of the basics of photography and the basics have not changed since film days and are still applicable with digital. Same thing different pile.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Unit

That is very likely true. It amazes me how many people with a digital SLRs have no clue of the basics of photography and the basics have not changed since film days and are still applicable with digital. Same thing different pile.

Bob

(Ducks head for cover) I think you are talking about me... My wife got a DSLR and I can take a slightly better photo with it than I can take with my iPhone...I generally just use my iPhone

I never claimed to be a great photographer though...but I can occasionally take an interesting shot

Originally Posted by BobH

What I am about to say might be considered blasphemy...

Uh-oh. If you see a crowd of angry straight shavers approaching with rocks in their hands, RUN!





For me there are a whole bunch of reasons:

The almost meditative aspects of the process

An appreciation of simple tools that do one thing extremely well, and for the craftsmanship of those who made them (and I'm talking brushes, soaps, and strops here as well as razors)

I too enjoy the process of bringing old razors back to life even though I am just learning that process and have a long way to go.

It's just kind of a cool, badass, sort of thing to do to drag a deadly-sharp hunk of steel across one's face on a regular basis.

And finally the thing that really got me started on this whole thing: I *really* like not having to pay over the top for over-priced, over-hyped plastic thingies.