Thread: Benefits of Straight Razor

I started because my grandfather did it, and in his late days taught me how to shave him when I was about 17 or 18. Being the hairless monkey I am, it wouldn't be for another decade that I needed regular shaving. Having tried the electric and disposable razors I picked up (on a mall store, of all places) a plain vanilla Hoffritz and a cheesy strop and had a go for a couple or three years. Due to an unfortunate encounter between the razor and the faucet I stopped for a long time, until I found this place and had my old razor fixed up and took it up again.

As opposed to many, and mostly due to my own shortcomings, I don't think I get as close a shave as I did with disposables - although is by far not a shabby shave by any means - but I enjoy the ritual and the time with myself it allows me. I can shave in ten minutes on a weekday morning if I need to, but oftentimes I spend half hour or more in the evening or on a weekend morning, no rush, no complications. I like the feeling of getting it done too.

That's just me, though, and your mileage may vary.

Good luck,



Marcos

For that little bit of Oppositional Defiant Disorder that lives in every single one of us to some degree or another.
For when conventional wisdom isn't.
Because the culture at large says to use once and throw away.
You can never own enough straight razors.

Originally Posted by Don164

Hey Straight Razor Palace !

I was wondering if you lot would be kind enough to list why 1 would choose a straight razor compared to modern methods, personally i'll be purchasing a shavette in the next few months while their is a difference in the design, construction and heritage, if its used properly, a shavette can yield results just as close as the real thing.

I was wondering in a simple bullet point format, if you could list benefits of a Straight Razor in general and over the disposable razors of today which are plaging shaving !

Thanks

I started with a shavette just to trim close to a beard I had, then when I shaved off the beard, I wanted to use it for all around shaving. I had a terrible time with the shavette and almost gave up on SR shaving until I found this web site and learned about straight razors. It all changed when my wife bought me my first straight razor and I began to learn how to SR shave. I always said that with straight razor shaving, you are taking a mundane task and turning it into a pleasurable ritual. Now I have 15 razors in my shaving line up and I love each one.

If you are a survivalist you will be able to keep a smooth face while civilization comes down around your ears.

1) Once it is generally known that you waft a three inch piece of insanely sharp steel about your face for the purpose of de-whiskering, men will slink off into the nearest corner with their tails between their legs, and women will swoon at your feet.

2) You will instantly take on the appearance and persona of a latter day cross between Errol Flynn and Clark Gable, women will swoon at your feet.

3) Your street credibility will increase by a factor of 100%, and women will swoon at your feet.

4) You will have the most fascinating personal grooming regime in your social circle, men will be insanely jealous of your manliness, and women will swoon at your feet.

5) Women will swoon at your feet.

Originally Posted by Crotalus

If you are a survivalist you will be able to keep a smooth face while civilization comes down around your ears.

I like the way you think.

Every SHTF movie I've ever seen has scruffy bearded post-apocalyptic bad guys running around. You'd think if they could at least SHAVE they might be better tempered.

Originally Posted by osdset

1) Once it is generally known that you waft a three inch piece of insanely sharp steel about your face for the purpose of de-whiskering, men will slink off into the nearest corner with their tails between their legs, and women will swoon at your feet.

2) You will instantly take on the appearance and persona of a latter day cross between Errol Flynn and Clark Gable, women will swoon at your feet.

3) Your street credibility will increase by a factor of 100%, and women will swoon at your feet.

4) You will have the most fascinating personal grooming regime in your social circle, men will be insanely jealous of your manliness, and women will swoon at your feet.

5) Women will swoon at your feet.

HAHA! I love that! All of the above and , as stated before, I hate that everything today has become disposable.I hate that.I really,really hate that.Take pride in shaving with a tool that was built with pride.And the healthier skin on your face and neck are just one more big bonus.

On a side note concerning the Shavette.I have a razor that hold replaceable baldes.It does eliminate the need for razor maintenance,but i think the sheet metal blades are much harder to control vs. a real straight.Just my experience.I'd say get an actual straight and go for it. My replaceable blade razor just sits on the shelf.

Originally Posted by osdset

1) Once it is generally known that you waft a three inch piece of insanely sharp steel about your face for the purpose of de-whiskering, men will slink off into the nearest corner with their tails between their legs, and women will swoon at your feet.

2) You will instantly take on the appearance and persona of a latter day cross between Errol Flynn and Clark Gable, women will swoon at your feet.

3) Your street credibility will increase by a factor of 100%, and women will swoon at your feet.

4) You will have the most fascinating personal grooming regime in your social circle, men will be insanely jealous of your manliness, and women will swoon at your feet.

5) Women will swoon at your feet.

I disagree Sir. Real men wouldn't slink off. Real men would say, "Nice -insert brand of razor here-! I have a -insert brand of razor here- in -insert blade width-!" Do you do your own honing as well?"
Only people who are males of the species, but not really men would do the slinking off...


Mick

Catching up on this and had a thought...

I don't drink (personal choice, not religious conviction). But I love the Dos Equis (XX) commercials. They always make me laugh. But if that guy was so manly, why's he always got a scruffy face?

"I don't always shave, but when I do, I prefer a straight."

"Stay smooth my friends."

Ha!
Jim

Originally Posted by osdset

1) Once it is generally known that you waft a three inch piece of insanely sharp steel about your face for the purpose of de-whiskering, men will slink off into the nearest corner with their tails between their legs, and women will swoon at your feet.

2) You will instantly take on the appearance and persona of a latter day cross between Errol Flynn and Clark Gable, women will swoon at your feet.

3) Your street credibility will increase by a factor of 100%, and women will swoon at your feet.

4) You will have the most fascinating personal grooming regime in your social circle, men will be insanely jealous of your manliness, and women will swoon at your feet.

5) Women will swoon at your feet.

I like the idea of all this swooning, are you speaking by experience?

I can see the women chant, “Oh you are a real man after all, not only can you kick sand in other man’s eyes but you can flick cold and hot lather too and while they are blinded can you please promise to show me your straight while I drop to my knees in awe and swoon about your feet?!”

In reality (mine anyway) I am not actually quite sure how to drop in to a conversation that I shave with a straight without looking like I am trying to boast and I think so called real men would not boast about it anyway and just get on with the job of shaving.

Unless I use it as an excuse for running late for work, “Sorry Sir that I am somewhat late, my straight razor needed a bit of a touching up on the hones.” With any luck a drop dead gorgeous women would have to listening in on this comment so I can have the swooning effect while the manager slicks off into the corner, which gives me time to show her my straight.