Thread: I don't get it.

Originally Posted by Iwan

It was certainly a factor for me. I was horrified at the price of the new Fusion razors/blades, disappointed in the quality of the shave, and I needed to change blades after 2 shaves with Fusion or Mach3 as they were already starting to pull uncomfortably.

I went over to DE razors after finding B&B, and was overwhelmed at the improvement in shave quality over Mach3/Fusion, and the fact that you could buy 100 blades for £10.

Straights was a natural progression, and now the ongoing cost of blades is zero. Plus I'm not putting metal/plastic into landfill every week like before.

It was a factor for me also but I was originally attracted by the mystique. I started looking at straight razor prices and got sticker shock, so I started crunching some numbers to see if I could justify the initial outlay of cash. When I realized it was actually cheaper, I was pleasantly suprised. Also, for the really thrifty, you can beat the prices on used razors, hones, etc.

Bottom line: we're removing hair from places where we don't want hair using a sharp piece of metal and a lubricant. (And even that is "looxury" compared to the original shavers who I'm sure used nothing more than a sharp rock or perhaps one of those Pakistani razors! )

Let's face it - technically, hair removal with a straight requires a single razor and something to keep it sharp with. Doesn't have to be a gold-inlaid Dorko with mother-of-pearl handle and a Norton combo stone etc. Whatever works will do.

But, using a straight is about more than just utility for most of us, I'd guess. It's something akin to a hobby at the very least, and an obsession at the other end of the spectrum. It's just something that happens when people get involved in old things - car restoration is a good example. A beat-up old escort will get you from point A to point B, but it's much more fun (and satisfying) to do it in a fully restored, shiny valiant.

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Bottom line: we're removing hair from places where we don't want hair using a sharp piece of metal and a lubricant. (And even that is "looxury" compared to the original shavers who I'm sure used nothing more than a sharp rock or perhaps one of those Pakistani razors! )

I'll take the sharp rock, please.

I agree with what the other gentlemen have said. This is the wrong crowd, for the most part, to be talking about "needs" - all you "need" is a razor, a strop, and a hone. You could get by with that and a can of barbasol, though I won't speak to the shave.

Like any other hobby, you can spend as much or as little (within reason) on straight shaving as you want. I think that in general, most of us have a few categories of things - one or more razors, one or more strops, one or more hones - the basics of "straight" shaving, and then the basics of all "wet" shaving - one or more brushes, and one or more creams or soaps. Then, a few colognes, styptic pencils, and other shaving whathaveyous.

If you stick to the "one" and don't go for the "or more", you don't need to spend a fortune to get even a great shave.

And honing services aren't anything new, nor are hones, nor are, I'm sure, men with a large number of razors.