Thread: Interested

Hi names Dave from Hereford England. My dad died a few years ago left me his collection of straight razors and other Royce razors and just looking around forum with interest. I would think the shave is great but not got the guts to even try and use one. Will try and post some pictures up soon for comment. Just interested really
Thanks
Dave

Welcome to the forum. So if I understand right you do not intend to try shaving with them?

Is there any chance that we might talk you into it?

+1 on utopians answer!

But either way you've come to the right place to find out about what you have. We'd love to see some pics.

If you have a local barber that offers shaves try one, I bet you'd quickly want to try yours then!

Welcome to the site

Welcome aboard. Read everything you can on this site especially the forum "shaving with a straight razor" then give it a whirl.

Anyone who has ever shaved with a straight razor, had to endure "the first time" and we all stood there, looking at our faces and faced our fears about hurting ourselves. Then we took the first stroke with the razor. In a short while it became second nature to shave this way, to the point that we prefer it over all the newfangled stuff.

Yes, it is possible to cut yourself, but only if you do something you shouldn't, and most times you will feel the pinch/pain before anything serious happens.

Remember, it was only when King Camp Gillette brought out the "safety razor" in 1903, that people started shaving with a factory made blade that didn't require honing, and it had some safety built in. Yes, I said "some" safety, it's easy to cut yourself with a DE safety razor too... It's just harder to accidentally lop your head off. You do not want to see what happens when the rotary blades of a Phillips type electric razor wear through the foil, due to poor maintenance, while shaving....

I suggest you consider giving it a go, your dad shaved that way for decades... there is no practical reason you cannot do that as well. If you try and decide it's not for you, then fine, at least you know. If you don't try, you will always wonder.....

My dad was a barber back in the mid 1900s, he never shaved with a straight razor himself, but shaving customers with a straight was a large part of his business. I figured if he could shave his customers and they kept coming back, I could shave myself with a straight, and now I do.

Regards

Christian

Originally Posted by DaveG

Hi names Dave from Hereford England. My dad died a few years ago left me his collection of straight razors and other Royce razors and just looking around forum with interest. I would think the shave is great but not got the guts to even try and use one. Will try and post some pictures up soon for comment. Just interested really
Thanks
Dave

Id really suggest trying it. I'm a newbie and my first time shaving with one was Friday and I loved it. What a close shave. I was nervous at first but after the first stroke the nerves were gone. I look forward to learning and enjoying the art of shaving for years to come.

I need to perhaps watch a video how to shave with one. How do I know its sharp enough ect ect. Something I would like to try but need to read up on it. Not sure any barbers in Hereford that use straight razors. Thanks for replies and encouragement
Dave

Just bite the bullet and do it. Sounds like your Dad left you a whole collection............if one is needs honing just grab another till you find a sharp one.

There are plenty of videos out there, especially on YouTube. They are good to watch and learn. Watched plenty of them before I decided to shave.

Hi Dave & welcome aboard. The best thing to do is to start in the Library with the Beginners Guide & move from there. Also as pointed out already, there are plenty of Youtube video's out there & Lynn Abrams, owner of this forum has many on different topics so check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/user/LynnSAbrams/videos

Great to have you here. I'm sure your Dad had a strop too which is the most important tool you will need for a straight razor & you will get the smoothest, closest shave with one. You can practice stropping with a butterknife to keep from cutting a strop & also ruining a good sharp edge.
Good luck my friend.