Thread: Straight Razor Shaving as a means to Going Green

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

Originally Posted by wayne394

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

Glen posted a video on the FB group about SR balance...basically like any other cutting instrument (swords etc) Straights are balanced in a very specific way. Merely removing the scales would ruin the balance and potentially be really weird to shave with. The way around this ofc, is to just turn it into a "kamisori" at least in shape.

Originally Posted by wayne394

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

Even if they could be used without the scales, I would absolutely replace them. To me, the attraction of an SR is not only the way it shaves, but also the aesthetics of the tool.

If you want a razor without the scales just buy a Kamisori.

Bob

Originally Posted by wayne394

I would agree that SRs are possibly the greenest option. BUT, here's a radical thought... when the plastic handles are beyond repair, do they have to be replaced? A Kamisori has no 'handle' to close into. Do SRs really have to have them? Would you use your SRs without handles? A bare blade SR can be a beautiful thing on its own, but the scales make a complete razor package, but they don't actually make any difference to the shave. We all like our razors to look as good as possible don't we?

Am I being green by posting this response? Those already on the thread may log back on to read the updates. Am I responsible for the power that takes?

I take your point, but I think you've conflated two separate issues here: using a computer and accessing a forum certainly does have an environmental impact, but that's something quite different from using straight razors. It's going back to an earlier point that there is a cost to everything and every way of doing it; saying that everything impacts the environment threatens to take us down this nihilistic path (e.g., accessing a forum has an impact = accessing a forum is bad = everything is bad = why bother even concerning ourselves at all?). I'm simplifying things here, of course, but this is precisely why it's so important to understand things in terms of better or worse. Yes, shaving with straights comes with it's own cost, but less so than disposables. And within straight razors, we can again find avenues that are more sustainable than others (e.g., local over imported, durable over breakable, sustainable over endangered) -- and even these are guidelines as there are numerous exceptions. Ultimately, it's on us to find the most appropriate means given our unique situations and that's a whole lot more difficult than just giving up and saying either that we shouldn't think about the environment or that it's all bad so we shouldn't bother.

Dont confuse "green" with "vegan"

Leather is most assuredly "green" it is natural, renewable, and long lasting. And when its reached end of life, completely biodegradable. The same can be said for many other parts of the shave kit.

You think ANYTHING is completely fossil fuel free? Unless that small artisan is using wood fire from wood they harvested with an ax, the soap was boiled on a stove top using either a gas, or electricity generated by... fossil fuels.
Every one can do SOMETHING to be more earth friendly, but it would be silly to think we could just stop using any one thing as a prerequisite to achieving that goal.

Even those who want to install windmills, solar, and water power on their property, forget that it takes fossil fuels to manufacture the very wires themselves that carry that current.
Dont look for the Ultimate solution, look for the best solution for YOU, that being the one you can best employ without making your life difficult enough that you stop doing it!

Originally Posted by Magpie

Dont confuse "green" with "vegan"

Leather is most assuredly "green" it is natural, renewable, and long lasting. And when its reached end of life, completely biodegradable. The same can be said for many other parts of the shave kit.

You think ANYTHING is completely fossil fuel free? Unless that small artisan is using wood fire from wood they harvested with an ax, the soap was boiled on a stove top using either a gas, or electricity generated by... fossil fuels.
Every one can do SOMETHING to be more earth friendly, but it would be silly to think we could just stop using any one thing as a prerequisite to achieving that goal.

Even those who want to install windmills, solar, and water power on their property, forget that it takes fossil fuels to manufacture the very wires themselves that carry that current.
Dont look for the Ultimate solution, look for the best solution for YOU, that being the one you can best employ without making your life difficult enough that you stop doing it!

sounds like a fun challenge: assemble the ultimate "fossil fuel free" shave, taking everything into consideration. Now, ofc that means:

1. Pretty much everything needs to be from either artisans nearby (walk or bike only), make yourself or buy vintage from pre-industrial era (or possibly late 1700s/early 1800s stuff that was likely manufactured without fossil fuels)...again walk or bike only
- this will potentially be interesting for all software. You could skip pre-shave, you COULD possibly even skip post-shave. Though again, both of those can be artisan/home made with natural oils...it may be easier to just skip it.

2. You'd need to really go old school on the shave, get a pail of water and and old style basin. No running water or electricity. OFC you also need a source of natural water nearby to use.

Honestly this is ENTIRELY impossible, and could be a fun challenge/project. The only thing is getting the water, as someone who lives in the middle of a city in an apartment...it's hard. ALTHOUGH i COULD potentially collect water from the lake nearby, but I'd have to find some way of cleaning it because it is FILTHY.

I love an impossible challenge. For me personally, to take it to extremes would be interesting.

There is a well in the field at the top of my road. I could get water in theory...

The nearest bricks and mortar shop selling straight razors is a train ride away. There are a number of flee markets locally - I might get lucky. There is blacksmith around the corner - but he is only making wrought iron work. I doubt he could make a blade - who knows...

The soaps are more challenging. There are some local craft soap makers but none make shaving supplies.

But seriously, all the thinking on this thread is helpful. People that have asked me about straight shaving in this context haven't been giving up on modern life completely but have been trying to make an effort to cut right back on consumption. All recommendations are helpful when discussing this topic with them.

Still, I like the idea of testing out shaving and living more simply for a short period. Emphasis on short. I remember straight shaving in a Welsh stream on a camping expedition as a teenager. Worst shave of my life, but I felt like a hardcore mountain man.

For about two years before I started wet shaving I was experimenting with ways to keep disposables sharp longer, both for money saving and with the thought that "hey, I resharpen all of my other edge tools, why can't I do it with razors too." Just stropping the accessible side of the disposable on a towel seemed to extend the life.

All that was to say that I had been in the mind set of maintained shaving edges for a while before I got into straights.

For me, my shaving environmental footprint increased exponentially when I got into straights. Not only did I obtain all of the tools for making and maintaining them, but I also attend many out of state meets per year. I suppose that some of that footprint displaces the footprint of whatever else I might be doing with my time, but.....

Originally Posted by bluesman7

For about two years before I started wet shaving I was experimenting with ways to keep disposables sharp longer, both for money saving and with the thought that "hey, I resharpen all of my other edge tools, why can't I do it with razors too." Just stropping the accessible side of the disposable on a towel seemed to extend the life.

All that was to say that I had been in the mind set of maintained shaving edges for a while before I got into straights.

For me, my shaving environmental footprint increased exponentially when I got into straights. Not only did I obtain all of the tools for making and maintaining them, but I also attend many out of state meets per year. I suppose that some of that footprint displaces the footprint of whatever else I might be doing with my time, but.....

Very true, but you're actually accounting for two environmental costs here: one, the impact of straight shaving, as compared to other methods; and, two, the cost of a hobby you're extremely passionate about.