Thread: why a straight razor?

I am curious for what reasons a man decides to use a straight razor. As for me I thought it would be a good idea to carry a sharp blade in my jump boot. It was a simple change from that to shaving off what little fuzz I had and to give the razor some honing on my leather boot. That situation improved when I acquired a Chinese soldiers leather belt which I used for stropping That razor was confiscated when I came home but I re enlisted and went to Germany where I bought another razor and have used it ever since, along with a dozen more.

I think people have their own reasons why they do it. I started SR shaving because I thought it would be fun to do things a bit differently than most people do it. It was also interesting to learn a new skill. Ordinary modern shaving is so easy and "straight" forward. It's more interesting if it takes some skill.
Since I started, shaving has become more fun than it used to be. I incorporate more things into my routine to make it more comfortable and that makes the whole experience better. The feeling you get after a SR shave with proper preparation, execution and finish is so much better than after a quick electric dry shave.

I can't speak for anyone but me. I use a straight because I can for one thing. not everyone can say that. the other is I found this site. the fellowship. It's kind of like having thousands of new friends. I have to admit shaving with a straight and collecting them and honing them are fun but the fellowship with all these great people are the best

Originally Posted by rhensley

I can't speak for anyone but me. I use a straight because I can for one thing. not everyone can say that. the other is I found this site. the fellowship. It's kind of like having thousands of new friends. I have to admit shaving with a straight and collecting them and honing them are fun but the fellowship with all these great people are the best

I totally agree with you on that. This is by far the kindest, most gentlemanly forum I have come across. Here you know you will be treated with respect.

I first started 30 or so years ago, whn I ran across a Hoffritz cutlery store, went in to look at the kitchen knives and saw the straight razor section. I bought one and a strop, and armed only with talent acquired watching barbers as a child while getting my hair cut, I shaved with it for about 3 months. By then I had probably dulled the edge between shaving badly and stropping badly, and gave it up. Luckily, I cleaned it and oiled it before putting it away, because now it has been honed by Lynn and in my rotation.

This past June I ran across in in my gun safe, where I had stored it while we had kids in the house, and searched the internet. I landed here, watched the videos, read everything, bought a new strop razor, brush and mug, and thus was born my new hobby. I enjoy pampering myself with the shaving process a few times a week, although I use the brush and a soap or cream every day with a double edge. I just think it's fun to take my time, and as Ludvig said, i love the help, support and spirit of this forum's membership!

I'm among those who started because I was just _that ticked off_ about rising cartridge prices. Sure, I still throw money at shaving, but this way I throw it at something I love instead of something I hate.

More basically, though, I like anything that calls for learning, that pays off tangibly, and that never "runs out" or reaches an end: chess, martial arts, straight shaving, math…that kind of thing.

Because I can

I hated shaving most of life (my dad used an electric and naturally so did i) until my son convinced me to try a DE. now i'm graduating to a straight and look forward to shaving. love the challenge and also the collecting!

It seemed a natural progression after doing back to using a DE for a few years. I'm also a bit of a history buff so it was very tempting to be able to shave with razors that had been around for over 200 years. I think that there's also a little bit of old school manliness about being able to shave with a straight.

I’ve always had an interest in edgeware of all sorts, particularly their manufacture and performance.


Japanese swords/knifes, Scandinavian blades and high quality chef’s knives are all wonderful but it’s hard to justify spending money on such indulgences if they don’t have a practical purpose (given what SWMBO did to my one and only quality carving knife, I can assure you that such knives are not practical in my kitchen).

With straights I get to indulge everyday and I don’t have to worry about anyone else mishandling my tools. I also get to satisfy my intellectual bent, as straights are quite literally at the cutting edge of blade performance.


Not least of all is the superior, irritation free shave I have been able to achieve, even though my technique is still in it’s formative stages.