Thread: What's your shaving history?

Hi all I am fairly new around here and I was just interested to see how you all came to be at this point. (Sorry if this has been addressed elsewhere)

I started "wet shaving" at 14 - 15 with the usual "best a man can get" cartridge system and hated the daily ritual for years, decades even.Over these years I even have tried electric razors and beards, but neither were satisfying for me.

I got so sick of it that I started used DE razors when I was 43 (so many wasted years) the improvement for me at this point was great, I started with many acquisition disorders creams, bowls, scuttles, brushes, and razors and it became a hobby rather than a chore.

About a month ago I got my first straight (I am now 47) this is it for me now! I simply can't wait for my beard to grow so that I can shave it off again.

I am so glad that I have discovered this art form and look forward to perfecting it to the best of my ability.

If you mean by starting to shave with a straight razor that has a long story line. Started shaving in the mid 1960s with a Gillette adjustable, brush and cream. Tried carts, canned goo and electric razors along the way. Several years ago bought a SR just to see if you can teach an old dog new tricks. Turns out you can and now I enjoy having a relaxing shave every morning.

Bob

I started shaving with a gillette fusion when I was 12-13, that is my first shaving memory.
I did that for a few years and then I switched to electric for a few years, and then when I was 17 I started shaving with cartdridges again, but this time it stated to give me major razor burn and irritation. So when i turned 18 I bought a DE and started DE shaving. I turned 19 a few months ago, and I got a straight razor for my 19th birthday.
So to sum it up
Gillette Fusion from 12 or 13 to 15 or16
Electric shaver from 15 or 16 to 17
and DE since 18
Straight razor since 19 (in may of 2016)
I would say I have a lot of fun years of DE and Striaght razor shaving left compared to most guys on here

Originally Posted by alla2465

I would say I have a lot of fun years of DE and Striaght razor shaving left compared to most guys on here

You might have fewer years than you think if you keep making those comments it did make me laugh though.

Seriously though, I wish I had come to it at your age, take advice from someone who has more years behind him cherish it.

In October I will mark my 46th year of shaving with a straight. Started at age 14 when you were still eating Gerber. In those 46 years I tried various electrics about six times and they wouldn't give me a good shave. The only time I use a DE is for travel, which is something I rarely do.

About 40 yrs for me with a few dalliances along the way with gifted electrics and disposables when I was doing a lot of int'l travel for work. Got my first DE a few years ago and use it every couple of weeks. Just bought an 1924 Shovelhead to try.

Here's my reply to your thread.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ary-diary.html

Started with a Gilette Fatboy in the 60,s never used a cartridge in my life, only other thing I used for 45 years was those single blade jobs the army made us use in boot camp but after that went straight back to the Fatboy. Tryed straights a couple times, like most I didn't get a great edge on them so put it away, doing some of this here new tangled internet stuff found out about how a shave ready edge makes a difference now 3 years later, I now shave every day with a straight except on an occasion I get out my Fatboy set on 9 with. A feather blade and still get a great shave. Tc

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

Here's my reply to your thread.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ary-diary.html

Thanks for that, it's a good read, I expect that nobody messes with you when you pull out a straight razor in the truck stop when it comes time to shave and in the restroom of course

Interesting about going for the honing early on, I still haven't looked into that yet. My stropping still needs work yet. I will get there though I am determined.

1971, aged 16: DE; some sort of Gillette
1977, aged 22: plastic BIC single edge
sometime in the 80s: plastic twin blade Gillette
2009, aged 54: DE again; Merkur 42, Fatboy, slim adjustable etc
2011, aged 56: straight razor
2013: added GEM 1912 SE to the mix