Thread: Introduce yourself!!!!!

Well, I have posted a few times, but I will jump in here and introduce myself. My name is Mark. I work in corrections. I am a enjoy cooking, and I came across straight razors while shopping for kitchen knives on-line. I saw them and thought, "Wow that's cool." That led me here and soon enough I had my wife convinced I had to buy a straight razor. Well a straight razor turned into like 8 and a bunch of hones. Oh well you win some and you loose some. I figure if I can stop buying stuff, and I shave every day, and I live to be like 120, I can save money over the hated mach 3. I guess I am lucky, because by my third shave I was getting great full face shaves with little to no irritation, much better than the above mentioned and much hated mach 3. I learn something new almost everyday. Just a few days ago I had my first good shave with a razor honed by me. Just today I learned I need to get up earlier. This lesson came in the form of a rushed shave, with a spike point, and something that you can't really call a nick. Gash might be a better word. Just call me scar face. The only good thing is that it will heal well because it is a super clean cut. I find I cut myself less with my straights than I did with the despised mach 3; however I find that a straight can cut you a lot better! Anyway, I guess I ramble. Thanks for all the good info and happy shaving to you.

WOW guys and gals this has really taken on a life of its own and I am so very glad it has. It's really great to get to know a little more about everyone and to get more people participating after all that's were all the fun is! So let keep the momentum going I can see 100 posts coming right around the corner!!!!!

Hello everyone,
Thanks for a wonderful website! My Dad (82yrs.) and Grandfather (passed) were both barbers as well as the gentleman who sponsored my grandfather when he came to this country. A friend of mine recently helped me sell off the collection of razors my Dad owned to help pay some bills. We found SRP to be an invaluable resource for just about any question that we would have. Thanks again!! Marty

This isn't my first post, and I am no longer a lurker. My introductory post on SRP was deleted though, so

I am Lee the hoglahoo. I started shaving with Gillette TracII cartridge razors and various canned shaving creams and gels when I was 13. I always used them, ignoring other methods and products since I was too lazy to change what I figured was working well enough.

I have a good friend who has varied interests and is often eager to share them with me. About four years ago, he told me about straight razors, strops, and shaving brushes and soaps. I already knew he had tried to make his own soaps, so I thought this was probably another hair-brained idea. It never occurred to me to wonder what people used to shave with before cartridge razors or plastic - I was surprised at the screwy look of the John Holler razor he gave me at that time... It went into a box and gathered dust until-

Gillette apparently stopped making the TracIIs and I was having a harder and harder time finding them even on eBay for the prices I wanted. the last batch of cartridges I bought were actually TracII-style (read auction descriptions carefully) cartridges which arrived ill-fitting and dull. I was so outraged at having to spend so much money constantly on a continual basis that I actually got that old razor out of that box and tried to shave with it. I think I would have done better with a vibrating staken knife!

It was far too dull to shave with. So I called up my buddy Mark, and he referred me to the wonderful forums at SRP (where he is called Straight Razor Place Forums - View Profile: mslovacek), telling me that Lynn and Tony Miller were two great guys I could get loads of information, experience, and quality products from. For the next few weeks I read much information here on the forum trying to figure out what I would need to do in order to start shaving with that Holler razor, hoping I'd never have to throw it away and buy another. When the monthly giveaway rolled around, I signed up for an account and entered the contest thinking that if I won, I wouldn't have to buy anything :P

Well I didn't win and I'm still buying stuff. Even though I've never enjoyed shaving, if I have to shave, I'll definitely keep using a straight razor. MY joy in using a shaving tool that will not need replacing in my lifetime is almost too much to bear. Thanks SRP for showing me how to use it and encouraging me when I got stuck (especially Glen, who has persevered more more times than one in helping me out when I was making it harder than it had to be and couldn't seem to get it)

Those of you who want a reason to come out from lurking, go on and introduce yourself and share why you're here - everyone's perspective is a little different, unique, and interesting

Hello Fellow Straight Shavers!!!

I don't know if my original intro is still hanging around somewhere or not, probably not, so I thought I'd do another.

Obviously, I'm not, exactly, new here. My name is Reed. I am 30yrs old, still going to school, only 9mo left though. I am married, 8yrs now, with 3 kids and one golden retriever.

I started str8 shaving about 5 or 6 months ago, with just an $8 shavette from a local beauty supply, and some DE blades from my brother. He also sent me a boar brush, and an AoS badger brush, along with some AoS Sandalwood, ToBS Sandalwood and ToBS Avocado creams.

Since then, I have acquired a 5/8, full hollow, DA (shave ready) and a couple others I can't remember right now, that still need some work. Originally, I was going to only use the DA on the weekends, to help it last longer, but I liked the way it felt so much, I kept using it, and using it, and using it, until the tug was just too great (I'll be sending it out, with one of the others, for honing, either today or tomorrow).

So far, the shaves keep getting better and better, and I will never go back to cartridge shaving, nor will I ever buy they canned "goo" that sells for so much money.

[FONT='Century Gothic', sans-serif]Hi all,
I have just ordered my first straight razor, a Thiers Issard [/FONT]5/8 inch High Carbon Sheffield Silver Steel Full Hollow. I'm giving up disposable razors for my New Years' resolution. I have never shaved with a straight razor before and I'm pretty certain that I'm going to make a bloody mess of my face the first time. I could really use some advice on getting my razor shave ready. I'm also really interested in the Japanese style razors, are these too much to handle for a novice?

My name is Vnam68 (Richard). I will be 60 on the first and want to start useing a SR. I am told this the best place to get the best advice! I already have learned alot from this site. Thank you!

I go by smills. Have tried straight shaving once or twice to mixed results. Got the itch, So went on line and bought a Master from amazon to suplement the spike I got from grandpa. The master is not much better than a butter knive. I need to get them both honed. Any honemisters in the sacramento/vacaville area(would like to avoid sending them off if possible)? the spike could also use a restoration probaly but I think I might leave it as is.... can see where this could get crazy expensive

Originally Posted by smills

I go by smills. Have tried straight shaving once or twice to mixed results. Got the itch, So went on line and bought a Master from amazon to suplement the spike I got from grandpa. The master is not much better than a butter knive. I need to get them both honed. Any honemisters in the sacramento/vacaville area(would like to avoid sending them off if possible)? the spike could also use a restoration probaly but I think I might leave it as is.... can see where this could get crazy expensive

You don't even want to know how "crazy expensive" this can be. Some of these guys have turned it into their hobby. Once I can get my finances under control, and get me some spending money, I probably will too.

Hello,
My name is Gabriel Van Wyhe and I recently had a friend who said he was starting to shave with a straight razor - I was intrigued and when he explained that he didnt have razor burn anymore and was able to get a really smooth shave (over the way too expensive multi blade cartridges I use) I decided I should research a bit and figure out if its worth jumping into.
My wife and I recently had twins (such an amazing blessing!!!!) however, this means that any investment of money needs to be well justified.
I guess I'm hoping to learn more, figure out what this would cost and if I can/should invest in it.

To be more personal - I am a professional photographer who started my business in the last year and am working to get it off the ground - I love backpacking and camping and I love living in the Northwest.

Thanks