Taking the Path of Most Resistance
I'll never be a Navy Seal or the like, but I've always liked the concept of "taking the path of most resistance." I think the Seals have a saying like "get what you need" to point out the human tendency to take the path of least resistance. Maybe this is what attracted me to straight razor shaving -not the history so much , not the idea of collecting a slew of razors,brushes and the like--but the idea of using a very simple, pure instrument to achieve a superior shave while learning a specialized skill set. All of us who've decided to switch to this method of shaving have reasons to do so ---that moment when something clicked and the journey began. Anyone care to give their reason?
times forgotten-- why and wherefore
Well I returned in October to using a straight after a six year exile into the land of full beards trimmed with DEs and hedge clippers.
The most memorable shaves thus far are these six:
My first shave was done by a barber using my Dad’s Boker when I was 14. My Dad and grandfather used straight razors until it was no longer safe to allow them to shave themselves. Every Saturday though they went to the barber for a shave, and when their health got so that a trip to the barber was too taxing especially in the winter, he would do a house call. It was a practice I adopted until college… my first foray into a beard. It was a bit frightening though when I was a junior and senior in high school because I was dating the barber’s daughter.
Next my wedding day, in 1990, that morning I went to the barber again and instead of the barber, who just watched my Dad and grandfather performed the shave, again with Dad’s Boker.
One year later my wife convinced me that after watching for a year she was certain she could shave me, I had by that point, learned to faithfully say “yes Dear” it was not real pretty, I could not shave for 3 days, but she got better. The razor a Dubl Duck Dwarf. Within a moth we lost a closet and expanded the master bath to accommodate a nice Collins’ barber chair. What sinfulness. She shaved me nearly every Saturday after that until October 2000. The last shave was as wonderful and smooth as the first one was not.
The morning of her funeral I shaved with the Dwarf and then slipped that a bottle of T&H West Indian Limes cologne (her favorite) into the coffin, and promptly began to grow a beard.
After much ribbing from my daughters about how there was more grey in my beard than in my hair. I took my dad’s old Boker to the same barber I started at and he took it for a week and honed it up and then as a personal favor gave me a shave like when I was a kid… his daughter is even single again.
This past Saturday morning, I let the girls, 14 and 9, watch me shave I only got 2 nicks, one by the right ear and one under the nose. I still use the T&H limes everyday and recently found a Dubl Duck Dwarf, in nice shape, on ebay.
So that is the story as to why I like to use a straight lots of really great memories, a skill set that will impress women and it is so relaxing even though you need to stay focused.
Sorry for the long blithering post but there it is.
the secret life of a straight guy.....
That’s pretty funny, I’m also 26! When I first tried a straight shave it was about 6 years ago. I was on vaca in GA and needed a hair cut. The barber and I were chatting while he cut my hair and he said he was bored and had just gotten a new razor he was dying to use. Me being the adrenalin junky I am said “whip the little fella out!” That was it, I was hooked! It was the feel of the blade scraping across my skin. Something primal about it. It just feels sooooo good! Besides, I’m an edge weapon freak anyway. lol. Since then I use it as a treat, maybe twice a month before a big date or important day at the office. Skip it in the morning and work a long Saturday, come home tired and shower and “treat” myself. I, unfortunately, have never gone to the quality blade and have only used cheap throwaways. My presence here is meant to change that! :y
BTW, I enjoy “man day”!! It starts with a longer than usual shower and a nice slow straight shave. Really relish every stroke! Dress well but comfortably and head to the local cigar factory or shop or bar. (there are a few in my area) puff a beautiful cigar I paid too much for, while sipping gran monier on the rocks or a warm red wine and watching a little sports with the sound off and chatting with a few old men and swapping stories. Very zen indeed! The ladies can keep there spa and mani/pedi, I’m “straight” (pun intended…..) :rolleyes:
Simply put there is a majesty and pride I take in mastering (or attempting to) a forgotten art. It is truly a labor of love, on that I’m sure we can all agree. :tu
