Thread: Have you quit for a time?

Same here. I'll be fighting for my straight in the nursing home!

Originally Posted by JTmke

Recently I shaved the “old” way. No, not with a straight or a safety razor, I shaved with a cartridge razor. I will admit to using the better cream I have now become accustomed to. I did the one pass I used to perform. I spent the day wishing I had not attempted this shave. I kept touching my face in disbelief and the amount of stubble I could feel. I normally perform a two and a quarter to two and a half pass shave with a straight daily with the same passes on Sunday with a Double Edge. I do not get hung up on BBS but rather CCS or Close Comfortable Shave.

If you have quit using a straight or Safety razor what made you want to quit?


When you returned what brought you back?

My worst experiences were with multiblade razors, and I wanted an alternative to those and electric razors for 40 years. Getting a safety razor was like face candy. Straight razors had a sharp learning for me but my desire to master it was so strong that I persevered until I prevailed. After 4 1/2 years it is still a treat to have a face that feels good after shaving.

I could never go back, but a while ago I did a review on the new Gillette pro glide power here
I just wanted to try and see if what I had learnt from SRP about proper prep and shaving would make much difference to the end result, and it did, but I just enjoy using a straight razor too much now. I never once recall enjoying a shave when I used a cartridge razor.

I've only been shaving with a straight for about 9-10 months, and in that time I did go back to the cartridge razor while on a cruise... I didn't want to risk using the straight while being rocked by waves, or in such a cramped washroom with barely any counter space.

Looking in to the future, I'll be going back to school for a post-grad starting in January, and I expect I'll be very busy with long days of studying and homework. I'm not sure yet if I'll choose to sleep an extra 15 minutes in the morning and just shave with a cartridge razor.

From the day I put a straight razor to my face I have never going to anything else. However the days between shaves has fluctuated quite a bit

Not working for a year plus has left me with a rather long goatee (with no intent on cutting it yet) but I still shave the cheeks. I'm on my last puck of Colleens soap.... beginning to panic a little....

Nothing shaves me better and more comfortably than a straight razor. It's like having a barber at home that never quits.

Sadly, I have quit for quite a few months now. The reason -- all of my razors need sharpening and I still haven't mastered the process. I've thought of sending them out but I refuse to give up. I'm still working on it and I'm confident that one of these days, I'll put down the hones, test the blade and say, "Ah! Shave ready!"

Is there anyone near you that can help you out with your honing?

Having started in my 20s I quit for years and only returned recently after 20 years away. I reckon razor care was the issue - I think my stropping was ok but I didn't know about honing. I didn't have much info and my fritz Bracht dovo dulled and I didn't know what to do next.

The journey now is much easier - SRP has been a huge help...

I have had a tough time with straights, I went to a shavette for a while and now for the last 3 or 4 months have just used my old DE exclusively. Hopefully one day I'll find some local help and get my straights properly honed, until then I'm greatly enjoying the DE with a cheap boar brush. I have not ever gone back to a cartridge, but I did try one of the new 5 blade things because it was free at a local store promotion. It did not impress me, I love my $2 thrift store DE with Arko,Proraso, La Toja, or CO Bigelow. I got into this to save money but stayed for many other reasons. Shaving is for the most part a pleasant ritual instead of something to be completed as quickly as possible.