Thread: My heretical rules for enjoying str8s

I used to be a frequent honer, too, for similar reasons: my edges were deteriorating rapidly, and I liked having a freshly honed edge. However, I later discovered that my short-lived edges were due to 3 or 4 easily corrected mistakes. My frequent honing was not only unnecessary, it was creating a wire edge which would then break off & necessitate going all the way back to 1000 grit sandpaper to re-establish a bevel. So you might want to make sure your frequent honing is not merely masking some deeper problem with your technique.

Originally Posted by HenrikWL

100 years ago, when straight razors were the only means for beard removal, I'd have agreed.

However, in this day and age, if all you want is to get enough beard off of your face to look presentable for an entire day, you buy some electric thingamajig and get the job done in less than 30 seconds. Hell, they even have rechargeable, portable ones that you can bring to work and do a quick once-over in the bathroom during lunch if you have really heavy growth.

The very fact that anyone would use a straight razor at all indicates that they're not just "looking to get the job done".

That being said, your opinion is your opinion after all - and opinions are never wrong. One might get the feeling that you hold your eleven points to be somehow universally appliccable - which would be wrong, but I don't think that was your intention.

Great post!

b7j0c's post is rather ironic. I have no problems with his opinions, or anyone else's for that matter. - ... only if it were all honestly true and did not have emotional attachments to it, he would never have a need post something like that!

and that is just my humble opinion.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion.... they just don't all have to be taken seriously. Do what feels good for you... don't worry about the opinions of others.

It would seem to me after being around this planet for an extended time that we are most probably as different from one another as our finger
prints.As I have not been a member here long I would like to thank you for inviting me here and to suggest , as a beginner at this, and after reviewing the post #1, that we all celebrate our successes at this most interesting thing of "shaving". If this includes the use of totally fragrant things and perhaps a few dollars spent that were not otherwise earmarked for this, than so be it. Lets celebrate the sharing of information that would not otherwise transpire if it were not for this website and let each be happy and not quite so accusing.

I am retired and shave, with a straight, about three times a week. I have been a wet shaver all my life and discovered straight shaving about eight months ago. I shave with a W&B straight that belonged to my grandfather. The three or four shaves a week are relished and I particularly look forward to the Sunday morning shave. I don't pamper with a lot of fragrances but tend to use aromatic soaps and creams. The entire process is a wonderful pleasure and, with shower and shave prep, takes the best part of an hour. I am slowly learning the honing/stroping process and the blade is feeling better all the time.

I don't shave with a straight because it saves money but I feel good about not buying disposable blades/razors all the time. Hell I don't even know what kind of disposable I own and ended up buying the wrong cartridges all the time, a complete waste of money.

Straight shaving is a wonderful, calming, feel-good experience and I only wish I had started this 20 years ago and I thank you, Lynn, for this website and the great information on it.

Do something nice for yourself. It feels great and will make you feel great all day. The cost is minimal, once you get started, but the warm feeling after the shave cannot be matched by any other type of shaving. And that's six decades of experience talking.

Eric43

Originally Posted by Eric43

I am retired and shave, with a straight, about three times a week. I have been a wet shaver all my life and discovered straight shaving about eight months ago. I shave with a W&B straight that belonged to my grandfather. The three or four shaves a week are relished and I particularly look forward to the Sunday morning shave. I don't pamper with a lot of fragrances but tend to use aromatic soaps and creams. The entire process is a wonderful pleasure and, with shower and shave prep, takes the best part of an hour. I am slowly learning the honing/stroping process and the blade is feeling better all the time.

I don't shave with a straight because it saves money but I feel good about not buying disposable blades/razors all the time. Hell I don't even know what kind of disposable I own and ended up buying the wrong cartridges all the time, a complete waste of money.

Straight shaving is a wonderful, calming, feel-good experience and I only wish I had started this 20 years ago and I thank you, Lynn, for this website and the great information on it.

Do something nice for yourself. It feels great and will make you feel great all day. The cost is minimal, once you get started, but the warm feeling after the shave cannot be matched by any other type of shaving. And that's six decades of experience talking.

Eric43

Great post! Great outlook!!