Thread: Did any of you take up Straight Razor Shaving to be....

When the grocery store quit carrying Schick injector blades, I ended up buying disposable razors with a fixed head (2-blade). They're plastic and so recyclable. The shave wasn't as good as the SE I was used too, but worked good enough for the 2 shaves a week I settled for. Not close, not that comfortable, but I managed to get a socially acceptable shave out of them. After two years or so, I got a nice DE and quickly graduated to a SR. Now I don't believe that my choice of shaving tools has any effect on the environment. Nor do I believe I am being more economical, with time or money... But I do know that my choices have provided me a new source of pride and satisfaction.

That is very funny.

It is one of the reasons that I gave my wife... But I don't think she ever believed me!

No did it cause I wanted to. Never even came to mind, if I was doing it to save the world , it wouldn't make any sense, we are killing a bunch of trees just shipping all the products around the world along with all the fuel for transportation. But I,m sure it keeps some plastic out of the landfill , but I didn't use them any way I use DE all these years except the plastic crap Uncle Sam gave me in 1971. Tc

I am only focused on making my personal foot print as small as possible. It clearly was one of my greatest reasons for starting this journey.

They say it's a benefit to the environment? I did not let that sway me. I don't think my wet shaving has been very good for badger populations. I shave for longer periods of time and use more water. Instead of having one tube of shaving lotion from trader joes I have 50+ tubs mostly plastic, all involved shipping by plane or truck.

Good for me? Yes. Good for the environment? Maybe

I have no hard proof but I think that my using a straight probably in the long run has been harder on the environment.

The vintage things that I own have already left their footprint whether I own/use them or not so I don't blame them on me.

My latest new purchase was an Atoma 400. Were the diamonds dug out of a hole in the ground or made using fossil fuel powered electricity? How much groundwater was used making them or the metal to hold them. It has glue holding things together. What kind of poisons are used in the plant making that?

How many shaves will this give me and what would be the impact of the equivalent disposables needed?

If my decisions/actions were truly environmentally driven I would have a beard.

Absolutely agree!
The wet shaving is wasting much more water and its doesn't make a positive contribution to our environment.

Originally Posted by JTmke

I shave for longer periods of time and use more water.

All through High school, College, and even many years after that I never shaved. I kept "scruff" by just using a beard trimmer. One day I had a very bad haircut and they shaved a space between my side burns and my hair. It looked really stupid. So I decided to shave everything off with a brand new schick quatro titanium disposable. Yup, I remember exactly what brand and model it was. My neck broke out into horrendous razor burn and lasted 3 days, it was terrible. I remember thinking, there's gotta be a better way. So I googled, A better way to shave which lead me straight to Double edge shaving. I found a Parker 99R and some shark blades online and bought them in a heartbeat. I found a local store that carried Col. Conks bayrum soap, and they had Col. Conk black badger. After the first 4-5 shaves I freaking loved it!! I also remember thinking, in the back of my mind, man I'd love to learn how to shave with a straight razor. I googled straight razors which lead me here so I signed up, but I didn't post anything for quite a few months. I read, and read, and read a lot of things on here and finally bought a couple straights which I honed and was able to shave with. Everything else has escalated from there and I'm loving it more everyday! Especially all the friends I've made which I never would have guessed to have happened.

The water I do send down the drain is cleaner. I think that is my point. I don't think rain is an environmental hazard. No doubt I do use more water. By comparison to the plastics made from petroleum and the blades in the landfill for a great period of time it sure seems an improvement overall. And don't forget the packaging too.