Straight Razor Shaving Reality

When I get in to a new endeavor, I'm likely to research the heck outta it. I love the concept of straight razor shaving. Straight razors are pleasing to the eye. They conjure up thoughts of days long ago, buried in history, days of men's men and hearty women who've made this country great.

I've been reading all that I can about shaving with straight razors. I've bought three Boker straight razors dropping at least 5 bills. I've ordered a Tony Miller strop that went a buck fifteen. I've picked up a Boker 8000 grit Belgian Coticule whetstone that set me back another "C" note plus a few more bucks. All I have left to add to my repertoire is a silvertip badger brush, a lathering bowel, lathering soap, and a straight razor & brush stand. By the time I'm done, I'll have about a grand wrapped up in straight razor shaving.

From my research, there is no closer shave than with a straight razor. And therein lies conflict. How close a shave is close enough? Is straight razor shaving worth the time and effort? I can't say for sure because I've yet to straight razor shave. I do know that I can whip out my Fusion and Shave Butter or Neutrogena shave cream and be good-to-go in two minutes. In fact, my girlfriend wants no part of straight razor shaving because of effort required. Like me, she can shave what needs to be shaved in about three minutes, maybe less.

My dad used to routinely tell me to buy it right the first time & I'll not have to buy again. Usually when I buy something that is essential, I'll buy the best I can afford. Lest you get the wrong idea, I'm not rich. More importantly, I'm not good buying the right equipment the second time when I would've saved money by buying right the first time.

Part of my straight razor research, besides reading, is watching youtube videos of straight razor shaving. Here's straight razor shaving in process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvKoDXbGDsw

This video is 16+ minutes long. Who would want to spend 16 minutes straight razor shaving when Fusion takes about two minutes?

The other conflict I'm confronting is I love straight razors. I love the whole process of straight razor shaving. But I won't like spending 16 minutes shaving. So far, I have zero buyers remorse. However, I do have a feeling that I'll buy a straight razor display case and decorate my bathroom with straight razor paraphernalia. I'm not sure that I'm going to retire my Fusion even though it does leave stubble under my chin.

And then there's Angie Dickinson (Feathers) straight razor shaving Dean Martin (Dude) in Rio Bravo.

Yea well if you don't want to spend the time don't take up shaving with a straight razor is all. :shrug:

Bob

It is one of those things. It is kind of like cars. They all go from point A to point B, but they are not all the same ride, there are many many differences to the different levels of cars. Similar things can be said about shaving. Honestly if you don't have an issues with the quality and comfort of your multi blade, then I say keep going. I started with straights because I was fed up with the cost and quality of the multi's and the lack quality of shave. I can get a very close and very comfortable shave with my straight, and it would not matter how long I spent with a multi I could not ever achieve those two things. For me that is it, two items that separate everything for me. Yes it does take me 20 minutes to shave, stropping lathering shaving, stropping and a little wipe up in the bathroom. I don't think I ever timed how long it took with a multi but I'm certain it as not two minutes. Personally I can't see trying to convince someone that they should learn to shave with a straight razor. If you are happy with your shaving experience up to this point, then just buy the nice display case. If you want to learn to do it old school, let me know, I'm happy to help with anything I can.

yeah, it's not about speed it's about enjoying the ride. i went from hating to shave, to actually enjoying it. now instead of hearing "aren't you going to shave?" i hear, "are you shaving again?" makes a chore into a relaxing pleasure.

20 minutes of pure self indulgence is about right. For me it has been as much about learning to shave as learning to shave with a straight. I also don't shave every day, sometimes not for a week. A straight just wipes it off. Something a cart nor a DE can do. A grand is a lot to drop on something you are not sure about. It can be done for much much less.

ive been straight shaving for a little over a year now its absolutely more about the journey than the destination. it definitely takes more time but im finding the focus and ritual very relaxing (i shave at night AFTER a long day at work).

but as far as a cost savings... ha! i have more razors than fingers or toes, four strops with a 5th on the way, three brushes and at least 20 good quality soaps. and i wont even go into all the honing equipment both synthetic and natural.

i regret none of it. but if i added all the expenses up im sure i could be shaving with a new mach-3 razor every day for years. =P

Spend less time watching videos and more time learning to use your tools. I could take 16 minutes to shave if I dicked around, but I routinely take less than half that without rushing at all. OTOH, if speed matters, you're probably best off displaying your straight razors and paraphernalia and sticking with your cartridges. Rushing a straight razor shave will only lead to scars. It's all a matter of priorities.

The main time difference for me in my everyday shave is stropping and I don't do 100 on linen and 200 on leather.

I have had a shave by a barber twice. Nothing that I couldn't do myself, but I went to be pampered not speed.

Well you've put together a good kit to do the deed. When I first began straight razor shaving it took me so long to shave one side of my face/neck, that the lather dried on the other side before I got to it. I would have to re-lather. IIRC my first few shaves took 45 minutes. Of course I got faster as time went on.

It may have taken me 6 months to a year to equal the closeness of DE shaving. Something like that. I just got done shaving a 3 day growth. I didn't time it, but I can shave (straight) in maybe 7 minutes for one pass and call it good. I usually do two passes, so maybe 15 minutes. Today’s shave is as close (2 pass) as any I've had with any shaving instrument.

Aside from appreciating the history, doing something the way our forefathers did, it is nice to lather up a high quality shaving brush with high quality soap or cream. Feel the sensation of lathering and then take the freshly stropped blade, not only admiring the beauty, but putting it to work.

Anyway, if you approach this wanting to shave fast and close you'll probably be disappointed. I have a few DE razors that I can use if I'm running late for church, or whatever. I reserve the straight for an enjoyable time of pampering myself. Try that approach, until you master it, and I think you'll find you've made a good investment.

I'm not rich either BTW. I drive a 2005 Ford Focus, and haven't eaten in a restaurant in a dog's age. Shaving with quality kit is one of the few extravagances I allow myself, along with smoking quality tobacco in a quality briar pipe. :gl:

+1 to near everything mentioned above.
The heritage, the lineage, the beautiful simplicity of the razors edge in keen state of readiness, the soaps, the brush, the rigorous diligence to avoid mishaps by following a specific regimen. Cannot rush that experience, nor should one try.
The resulting quality of shave, and longevity of same makes it all worth it if the above reasons do not.
:beer1:

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Originally Posted by TreeBrand

This video is 16+ minutes long. Who would want to spend 16 minutes straight razor shaving when Fusion takes about two minutes?

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You kiddin' me? The woman with the hot towels and face massage alone is worth about a $30 tip! :D

But seriously, time seems to be your main concern. Straight razor shaving probably isn't going to be something you'll stick with. Btw, that video continued for another 13 minutes or so, so that shave took him at least half an hour. Collecting paraphernalia, on the other hand, is anyone's game so have at 'er!

I've only been doing this for 3-4 years so I don't really qualify as an expert or anything, but shaving with a straight is the only way I'll do it now. My routine takes me about 40 minutes: shower, strop, 2 passes and clean up. Granted, I don't shave daily. If I did I'd consolidate that to suit. But understand, me shaving in my bathroom is far from what was on the video. I would tend to think that that level of luxury isn't for everyday enjoyment, I wish though.

Have fun and be careful, .02.

16 mins? I could quite happily spend that just stropping everyday!

I've never timed it but I'll bet that I spend less than ten minutes stropping, lathering, and shaving.

At one time a straight was the only way to do it and most men despised it. Then Gillette came along and set men free and most never looked back. It was good riddance to that cursed instrument.

We here do it for the nostalgia and the overall pampering experience and of course the close shave is icing on the cake.

This isn't for everyone. It ain't for most. If you ain't chomping at the bit to start consider your options.

If I don't do a multi pass shave it usually takes less than 10 mins including stropping and prep. Use a DE during the week and a straight on the weekends if you are short on time

Is straight razor shaving worth the effort? Hell No.
Would I do it all again? Hell Yes.

Time to quit all this talking and researching, just shave! Tc

You stated that you like to research the hell out of anything before you do it. I think you might have missed that, straight shaving is not a race but in fact a way to pamper yourself with the ways of days gone by. I would say that if you even questioned yourself a bit on if this is right for you, you spent a lot of money on just a display of new razors and such. That is up to you and each their own. The 30 or 40 min I spend enjoying prep and stropping and the "me time " is why I do it and as stated above the close shave I get is just a benefit. Most of us simply enjoy the learning process, the form of this. From learning to shave on into restoration and honing or even creating your own razor. IMO you bought a Ferrari for the garage

I'm fairly new to straights and have started wet shaving only a couple of years ago.

The reason I started looking into wet shaving is that the Mach 3, the cartridge I learned how to shave on, was always slow to get a BBS shave and left my skin irritated and with lots of ingrown hairs.

But why was it slow? To start, if I wanted a very close shave, I'd have to do a lot of touch-ups, in several different spots. This friction would irritate my skin a lot, and if I had ingrowns from last shave they would most likely leave a little bump for the razor to cut off. So I had to wait 5 to 7 days for the skin to heal before the next shave.

Problem is that after 5 days worth of growth, the beard would be too long and dense, and the cartridge ended up clogging frequently, I had to clean it every few strokes and do many passes, which further irritated my skin.

By the end of the shave, the new Mach 3 cartridge I started with would be too dull for a new shave.

So I read how a DE performed well for longer beards, specially the open comb razors, and decided to give it a try. My first DE was a Parker 24C. Very nice and inexpensive razor. Got a bunch of blades and started experimenting.

The first shave was incredible. Had a 2 months beard, the razor chopped it off without clogging or anything. My fist DE shave was very comfortable, close and irritation free. I was hooked :-) and started buying different soaps and aftershaves, new brushes and two more razors.

Also, since I had almost no irritation and not a single ingrown hair, I lowered the interval between shaving sessions. I found out that I could shave comfortably every 2 days.

While I was researching the DE, I saw several people sharing experience with straights and I though they were mad. Who would want a "cut throat" near the throat? Well after having so many wonderful shaves with my DE razors, I was ready to try.

Got a Dovo Bismarck (gifted) and a 2" strop. The first shave was not very nice, but interesting enough to get me going. Living in Brazil it's hard to buy anything pertaining to wet shaving, but I decided that I would buy two shave ready, beaten up, cheap razors and a few hones when a relative went to the US.

The shave ready razors were unmatched in performance and comfort. Very, very, very close shave, smooth like I'd never experienced before, no irritation. And I now I can shave everyday and feel no discomfort.

Like sloanwinters I'm a night shaver, and I take my time to relax after a nice shower. Sometimes I even put on some relaxing music while I shave.

A smooth shave, without "chasing every hair" takes about 15-20 minutes. If I really wanna go overboard and live absolutely no stub behind, it can take from 30 to 50 minutes, depending on my mood.

I got started because razors have always let me down. When I found one I liked, along would come Gillette or Schick or Wilkinson with something better...and I'd buy it. If I still had them all I could sell them on eBay or the classifieds here and make some real cash.

Anyway, my theory became that I was getting screwed by Gillette and the others. They were up-selling me, and maybe even degrading their former line when the new one came out. Blue Blade, injector, trak 2, and 3, Mach whatever. The shaves never got better, just more expensive. Same with electrics, Norelco, Remington, etc. in today's dollars, I spent a fortune, got a worse shave and irritation.

You'd have to try to screw me to understand how much I hate it. So I took charge, and went SR. Unsuccessfully, because their was no internet, and I had no local mentor to turn to.

Fast forward to a few years ago, I I found SRP. Now, I am in it for money way beyond what you're talking about, but I enjoy it! I'm in charge! A DE one day because I'm in a rush, a different SR every day which I strop to refine, a soap and brush I enjoy, and then maybe a day with a SE, because I want a change. After 3 years, I pick a different path almost every day I'm home, I enjoy every one. Sometimes I do the whole hot towel thing, some days I do a cold water shave, some I bowl lather, other times I face lather.

The point is, it's my choice and I'm screwing Gillette (which like lots of things you consume) is now owned by Procter and Gamble). I see a $14 pack of their latest cartridges and laugh. That's fun.

The pay off for me isn't time, it's FUN!

I've still trying to follow the money references, five bills, a grand, a buck and some change. You forgot, five large by the way. :)

Usually one has a reason or passion before undertaking a new interest. You seem to have purchased all of the gear without having a reason or interest. :)

I disagree that one should buy the best one can afford the first time. I hear this all the time (usually from a salesman) but it rarely works out.

It sounds good on some level but what is missing is that you don't know what you will want when you are more informed and experienced so whatever you buy now probably won't be what you want later.

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Time to quit all this talking and researching, just shave! Tc

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I agree TC and tomorrow morning seems to be a good place for him to start......clocks are set back an hour and the shave taking too much time is no longer an excuse. Let's cheer him on when he posts in the SOTD forum. :D

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Originally Posted by Benz

I agree TC and tomorrow morning seems to be a good place for him to start......clocks are set back an hour and the shave taking too much time is no longer an excuse. Let's cheer him on when he posts in the SOTD forum. :D

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:rofl2::tu

Won't take anytime. Tc

Straight Razor Shaving Reality. Hm-m-m-m. Well, it is history, it is connection to the past, it is sharing the experience our forefathers experienced, it is zen, meditation. I started nigh on 40 years ago for one reason only. The damned multi-blade razors kept getting more and more expensive. What is it now about $30 plus for four or five cartridges. I pinch a penny till it screams. Every SR I now own is an antique, most never costing me more than $30 for the most expensive, many are five or ten dollars each and some were only a few bucks.
My origins with SR's came down to pure economics, yes I would love to have a $300 to $800 dollar SR, but that defeats my entire origins of economics. Every SR I have has paid for itself, and even paid for many of the accouterments I have purchased. I have connections with both my grandparents, my dad never used a straight razor, always a safety razor for him. I have not timed myself, but I really don't care how long it takes because it is a pleasure in multiple levels. Back to the time. I spend at least 15 minutes plus, there is pre-pre prep by stropping or some other touch up prior to shaving, then it is face preparation with a few rounds of hot face wraps, then shaving cream, paste or lather (I like the variety), then the shave performed ever so carefully, and thoughtful, face clean up, clean up of tools and area, then the post stropping. Most of the time I close the shave out with Witch Hazel--it doesn't burn if the razor is getting to the need of touch up.
well. It has been nigh on forty years plus, and I would not trade one moment for a cartridge razor. I do have a few tucked away in the event I must make a speed shave, but I am never at a race so speed is irrelevant especially since I am retired.
I think the reason many men (women) don't use a straight razor is that they are not so openly marketed, then of course there is the sticker shock at the initial investment (for many, but not here).

That's my prattle on SR's shaving. Do or do not. Simple as that.

Elegant point gcbryan.

What will 16 min of stropping achieve? My circuit is about 40 and 40. Could be more depending upon the feel of the edge.

Yep! Each if my razors ride differently.

Sounds like you bought everything brand new. Did anyone mention that straights are not shave-ready out of the box? In spite of what manufacturers tell you?
You may want to send at least one out to a honemeister for reference and buy a practice razor and practice strop before you put your C+Bökers on the CXLIX coticule yourself.
Did you get a bout with the coticule?

1. Whether you use the straights or not - please do not put them on display in your bathroom if it puts them in proximity to your shower. They will get rusty.
2. Many other have already said this, but if I have to get up early and go to work, I either take the time to shave with a straight the night before or use a double edge in the am.

I've given this more thought. I'm going to straight razor shave. While I can shave with a Fusion in about two minutes, I'd rather go with a straight razor. I love the entire concept of straight razor shaving.

Anyone noticed the OP hasn't acknowledged all the members falling over themselves to help? I suggest he stick with his fusion neutrogenia and two minute shave. He can throw another 10 Cs at this. It will be a waste of $.

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Originally Posted by pcb01

Anyone noticed the OP hasn't acknowledged all the members falling over themselves to help? I suggest he stick with his fusion neutrogenia and two minute shave. He can throw another 10 Cs at this. It will be a waste of $.

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Look through his posts. He goes from knowing nothing to being an expert, back to knowing nothing. Asking for advice on the basics, then giving advice out to others. One of his threads was already shut down. He's the essence of the word troll, and will likely not be in this community for long...

You guys did notice that he was banned a couple of days ago, didn't you?

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Originally Posted by tintin

yeah, it's not about speed it's about enjoying the ride. i went from hating to shave, to actually enjoying it. now instead of hearing "aren't you going to shave?" i hear, "are you shaving again?" makes a chore into a relaxing pleasure.

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Edit to change my post!
I just read the post above mine so no need to waste my time with encouraging words...

But he doesn't want too!

I don't think he really wants to shave with anything other than an expensive cartridge that will cost him more over time with one good SR.

But he still wants to have a couple of shiny straights to display in his bathroom:)

"16 minutes shaving?!"

I'm a true newbie, but I haven't gotten a good, thorough straight razor shave down to less than forty-five minutes. I see this as time well spent.

These days, I could breeze through a DE shave (and still derive no small amount of pleasure from it still), but I've found the time spent stropping, lathering, stretching and learning strokes far too enjoyable to pass up now I've started. The sheer subtlety of the practice of shaving with a straight razor is something I've found myself eagerly anticipating as the days go by and I gladly reserve time now in my schedule to get in touch with my razors, prepare them and my face and work towards a better shave. It's a treat.

If you're looking for the most efficient method of shaving, I don't think this is it. I know I'm not going back, however.

EDIT:
Oh, right, I see. He's gone...