Thread: Why I started to straight razor shave, why I still do, and why I’m never going back

Well written and thanks for sharing.

I have several hobbies. What I find in each one is that there is a romance in the crafting and maintanence of the tools. In the last year, I've found that I butcher wood less to get a pretty job than to use a jnat to sharpen my chisels. So I totally understand you.

I also understand what you have discovered: once you've learned how to do "it" better, even if it's a little more time consuming, it's very hard to go back. It's deeply unsatisfying and unsettling to go back. I believe this is a relatively unusual quirk of our Judeo-Christian/Protestant cultural heritage. I have never found another culture that has this aspect, the closest being parts of Britain/Scotland.

The entire rest of the world seems to be built in the idea that the entire point of success, of excellence, is to free oneself from ever doing anything work-like with one's hands. Instead, for us, everything you cite in your experience is...I don't know any other way to say it...a deepseated part of "integrity" for us.

Yours is a great, great post. Thanks for your thoughts on this.

Very well said! I think the biggest factors are sadly people have become lazy about many things and shaving is one. The media is another, think about it, almost every movie, tv show, commercial shows the man in a hurry, rushing of to work, a date, meeting whatever, showing that shaving is an inconvenience and must be done quickly to "get it out of the way" never showing that it can be something enjoyable.

Originally Posted by Pagan2003

The media is another, think about it, almost every movie, tv show, commercial shows the man in a hurry, rushing of to work, a date, meeting whatever, <snip>

Since you brought up movies...

Have you noticed that unless the movie is specifically about a caricature of work ala "Gung Ho" or "Wolf of Wallstreet" that you never see work? Every physical, mental, emotional, and situational circumstance of life is explored and depicted in movies as an incidental accompaniment to the plot EXCEPT what does on at work.

Why is that?

@Suavio
Well Said & thanks for sharing!
You have definitely caught someone else that feels the same about society becoming "disposable" and the discipline that comes along with our hobby! It is slowly becoming a passion for me. And to think, I didn't like the routine of shaving?!
As you said (not in so many words) but it's becoming an "art" of pampering myself. And who better to pamper!!

Have you noticed that unless the movie is specifically about a caricature of work ala "Gung Ho" or "Wolf of Wallstreet" that you never see work? Every physical, mental, emotional, and situational circumstance of life is explored and depicted in movies as an incidental accompaniment to the plot EXCEPT what does on at work.

Why is that?

I dont know, maybe because of things like this? Lol

It may be semantics, but I don't see it as a "disposable society" thing.

It's all about time me thinks. We have become a time deprived society. Its everywhere. Half hour lunches sitting in front of our computers rather than our friends etc., etc... Disposable blades (especially the ones with the gel strips) are enormous time savers if used in the shower. And ultimately, what more do we want than ways to save time. Disposables give you that.

Whether its right or its wrong, the perception that disposables save us time and give us a close as ever shave - is real and here to stay. Were the market to demand different, manufactures would provide it.

I guess you could argue that the "big boys" aren't providing you with options but - here we are. We found an alternative. Not enough are - and why? No one wants to slow down. Speed and busy represents success.

Anyway - I like the fact that I am on the fringe. I like that I am on this forum with like minded people who have all committed to taking the time to slow down.

Maybe its semantics, but I don't think it's about disposable... I really think it's a time thing.

Excellent post from the OP.

It's interesting how Gillette always comes up in conversation... And how that company's strategy to date has been selling the fast, convenient, easy shave. Well it seems that it is hitting trouble with sales (perhaps in part due to the type of shaving all you ladies and gents prefer) and now has embarked on a new sales pitch - the manscaping craze! Gillette is now focussing on selling more 'body hair trimmers' because the likes of us are going back in time (and forward in quality) with our shaves.

That wasn't intended to be a thread hijack.

Oh, I too love the quality of my straight shaves and the romance of the straight shaving experience. No more multi blades for me either - straight all the way!

Originally Posted by kiwichris

Excellent post from the OP.

It's interesting how Gillette always comes up in conversation... And how that company's strategy to date has been selling the fast, convenient, easy shave. Well it seems that it is hitting trouble with sales (perhaps in part due to the type of shaving all you ladies and gents prefer) and now has embarked on a new sales pitch - the manscaping craze! Gillette is now focussing on selling more 'body hair trimmers' because the likes of us are going back in time (and forward in quality) with our shaves.

That wasn't intended to be a thread hijack.

Oh, I too love the quality of my straight shaves and the romance of the straight shaving experience. No more multi blades for me either - straight all the way!

Is Gillette having trouble with sales? Forbes is still touting them as a buy. If 8 billion in sales is down... meh lol!
Gillette on the Forbes World's Most Valuable Brands List

I think it's a big mistake to think that Gillette is even remotely concerned about the wet-shaving community. They bought out The Art of Shaving after all and though they may have started to push some of their disposables (dressed up of course), they have kept the DE and Straight line. I am pretty sure that were they to want to... they could easily monopolize this end of the spectrum.

Hair trimmers is just another segment - got to stay fresh and push new products to stay reliant as they say lol. Got to keep up sales .

Originally Posted by earcutter

Maybe its semantics, but I don't think it's about disposable... I really think it's a time thing.

Good post earcutter. I think it's a bit of both though! Disposables, like you say, give us time. But I do believe there has also been a change in industry and quality of goods. What was the reason for Gillette (sorry to pick on them!) moving away from good quality DE shavers to plastic DE shavers in the 1960s? Their early DEs are still sought after around these parts! But, they opted for a cost cutting and money-making exercise - they took away the razors that would last us a lifetime and told us that we should pay less for something up front that would only last 10 years. And then 5. And now a few shaves with the 'true' disposable. If a company with factory can produce 10,000 items in disposable plastic for the same cost as 10 in life-lasting steel, I'd say we're certainly talking "disposable". The trend isn't limited to razors of course.