Thread: why a straight razor?

I love everything about it. I've always been a hobbyist and a DIY kind of a guy, so the entire idea of collecting, restoring, honing, etc was a huge draw. I never disliked shaving, and I don't think I get a "better" shave from an SR, but it's so much more fun to be involved in a community and a hobby that has almost endless variety and challenges. The gurus around this site are always innovating, and continue to learn, and I actually like the fact that I've barely dipped a toe into this vast pool... and I have fun everyday learning something new or practicing one aspect or another.

I started shaving with a straight because I have really thick and coarse facial hair combined with really sensitive skin. I spent the first 20 years of my life post puberty either with razor burn or looking homeless. I tried every sort of shaving and, while a DE safety razor reduced the irrigation a lot, I never had a comfortable shave until I tried a straight. And, I haven't looked back.

I have not started yet, but have been researching for several weeks, but here are my reasons.
1.) I am on my last Quattro cartridge
2.) They are almost $20 for 8 cartridges
3.) 1 cartridge will last me maybe 1 week to almost 2
4.) that will end up in a land fill for 10,000 years?
5.) Sick of being dependent on someone for a product where I don't have to be
6.) Sick of being price gouged by that provider(s)
7.) I will now be self reliant
8.) I will learn a whole new skill/art
9.) I am already addicted to collecting them(American steel, a Masonic Straight Razor that will become a family heirloom that I will pass on to my 15 year old son, need for a square point to detail my goatee, and try the many different points, hollows, brands etc etc etc....)
10.) The new brotherhood I have come to find here at SRP


Thanks for getting me addicted, I think LOL

11: if there's a zombie apocolypse, you can use a SR to ward off the savages. Something you can't do with a Quattro. Although the threat of giving them a bad shave might work.

Part of it for me is pushback against the rising throw-away culture that we live in. To quote Kurt Vonnegut, "everyone wants to build, no one wants to do maintenance."

Another part is building a "relationship" so to speak with tools that you use every day and care about, that will last you the rest of your life.

It's also just a lot of fun!

I hated shaving... but when I decided to be a firefighter I had to be clean shaved 24/7 so I decided after a year of razor burn and overpriced 28 blade replacement junk I was gonna do something about it.

I said I'm tired of shaving like a sissy. My great grandpa used a straight and he was perfectly shaved in every picture I've seen him in and he was no sissy. That's what I'll do!

So here I am. RAD and all. Loving shaving and feeling like a man.

I just did my first test shave tonight on the right side....loved it, nice and smooth

must be beginner's luck

I started because I love to sharpen things. What better to sharpen than a razor that you use daily? I love that not many people can or would do this either.

I shave with straights because of an absolute fascination I have had since my first haircut in June 1947.
The smell of the barbershop and the barber stropping his razor really pushed my button then and ever since.

I started SR shaving on a whim. I have always hated shaving and often wouldn't shave for days. I hate the ridiculous price of 'decent' cartridges and figured I'd check it out. 40+ razors and hundreds of hours watching videos/reading this forum later and I'm converted for life!! I now look forward to shaving and shave nearly every day. I've been at it for about a year now and finally feel that I can put a terrific edge on my razors and take the hair off my face comfortably and enjoyably

Chris