Straightshaving missionary.

I've been straightshaving on a daily basis for about six months now.In that time I've learned to hone my own razors and get real bbs.I've become totally adicted to this fantastic form of shaving and the great hobby it is.Sadly it took me a couple of months to find this great place of knowledge after i purchased my first "shave ready":) straight.Right from the beginning of straightshaving I tried very enthusiasticly to spread the word of straightshaving among my friends and family.I evan managed to convince my brother of giving him a shave.Not my smartest move,he started out sceptical and ended up terrified after I made a bloody mess of his face!:medvl:Not one person have I managed to join the one true path of shaving.My best friend managed to argue that since the technology used to manufacture m3 and hellspawn of the like,was so advanced,there was no way you could get an equal shave with a straight! What do you answer to that?( without the use of violence.)
So how about you guys,any luck turning the infidels?

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Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

My best friend managed to argue that since the technology used to manufacture m3 and hellspawn of the like,was so advanced,there was no way you could get an equal shave with a straight! What do you answer to that?( without the use of violence.)

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I would challenge such a friend to a shave-off competition and let the ladies judge the results. There would be prizes, food, entertainment, etc.

even if you lose, at least you had a good time :)

He he,I'll try that:D

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I would challenge such a friend to a shave-off competition and let the ladies judge the results. There would be prizes, food, entertainment, etc.

even if you lose, at least you had a good time :)

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YEAH!! Get enough people in the room and somebody's bound to be interested.

X

PS No converts here yet.

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I would challenge such a friend to a shave-off competition and let the ladies judge the results. There would be prizes, food, entertainment, etc.

even if you lose, at least you had a good time :)

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Now there is a great idea!!!

I've converted 2 people thus far, but I've found very early on that they have to come to you - you will never convince them. I tell people about my straight shaving, what it entails, etc, but I never say "you should try it," or the like - I always wait for them to come to me.

It's a peculiar personality those who enjoy shaving with a straight, and you'll never convince a person of its worth if they don't have at least a passing interest. Like a snowball, all it takes is a little interest, a little knowledge, and then a little more of each before they've caused an avalanche and are hooked solid on straight shaving!

Mark

In my opinion you have to be a somewhat patient and nostalgic person to truly enjoy all the consepts of straight razor shaving.My wife just shakes her head when she finds me honing in the living room late at night with a big smile in my face.:D

Kristofferbodvin i am in the same boat man, but a little behind you. i took a brief break from the straight razor and tried out a DE for about 2 months. i am just hitting the honing stage now and am really excited about it. stuff like honing is like meditation for me i guess, very relaxing and when i am done i feel like i have accomplished something ( like when i am building a part for my motorcycle from scratch-- it may take longer then buying one but the feeling is much better). i also didn't find this place until i had already been shaving for a couple months (i wish i had found it sooner) but it has been a great learning tool. late night is wheni practice honing as my girlfriend falls asleep every night at exactly 10pm so after that is my time to goof around. luckily she isn't a light sleeper as our bed is about 5 feet away from where i sit . ha!

i haven't been able to convert anyone yet to the straight razors. i think it is true that you have to be a bit nostalgic, and because of the learning curve many people are turned off to the idea. i have been able to convert my dad to DEs and he is floored at how much nicer they are. i think DEs might be a nice stepping stone to the straight razors, though my dad swears he will never try one, not enough patience apparently. most of my friends will actually flat out admit they are too lazy to put the kind of effort needed into it. they say they don't have time (which is bull) or they say they heard the shave isn't that great. excuses.

i will keep trying though, i am thinking of getting some basic kits made up to sell in my health food store along with some inexpensive DEs. market them as more environmentally friendly ( which i think they are) as we have no where in town to buy them at all.

Sounds like a great idea.Its deffenitly an enviormental argument,and a little "up yours" to the general idea in our society: buy,use throw away.I meen a straight can last for several generations.
Btw: where in in Canada do you live? I went the "west coast trail" this summer.I love your country!:)

Could I be the only authentic Str8 shaving missionary in the forum? I am actually a missionary, serving as a church planter in Quebec and have been Str8 shaving for about a year and a half. This month I attended a retreat with the other missionaries with our group and the guys were righteously impressed when they caught me in the common bathroom with my badger brush, strop razor and the works!

Rich

"There is no native criminal class except Congress,"- Mark Twain

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Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

Sounds like a great idea.Its deffenitly an enviormental argument,and a little "up yours" to the general idea in our society: buy,use throw away.I meen a straight can last for several generations.
Btw: where in in Canada do you live? I went the "west coast trail" this summer.I love your country!:)

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ya i hate the "throw away mentality people get into. i'm definitely not perfect but if it is a matter of being lazy and getting something disposable or putting an effort into it i always choose the latter. i live in southwestern Ontario, Chatham to be exact. definitely not the West Coast, but i don't mind it too much. i usually go out to Salt Spring Island once a year for a couple weeks (my uncle lives there), it is inbetween the mainland and Victoria Island. if you get a chance that (or one of the other islands that are close to it) is the most relaxing place i have ever been. just amazing. next time i go i am checking out the Saturday market for straight razors for sure:rock: i'm sure the hippies there would be real into them.

I absolutely love Str8's. Shaving is without a doubt enjoyable. And I too share my enthusiasm with all that who will listen:rant::D

It really IS true that the Fusion, Mach-whatever do indeed give a VERY GOOD shave. In fact in my case-the shave is too close-that cut and pull=close shave sales pitch is the cause of in grown hairs, and other complexion problems.

But to enter a "shave-off" you had better have good blade skills;)-those disposables have received alot of high tech research and have become practically idiot proof. And they really allow someone with little skill to get a passable shave.

MOST people don't want to be bothered-you simply can't be in a rush with a Str8. And until the "infidel" is willing to slow down and smell the roses-you won't get them converted.:shrug:

3 conversions so far, I think its the appeal of the sharp blade in a hopefully steady hand, as well as the disposable catridge/disposable income phenomenom and the environment.

I only managed to convert my brother to DE and shavettes. To be honest though he is 17 and has hardly any hair to shave anyway. I'm sure he would be open to trying a straight if he had one. Maybe I should try giving him one next time I see him. Most other people just think I'm stupid so I don't bother trying to convert anybody.
My outlook on many things is the same - If somebody is intrigued they will ask, but as I have specific taste I usually don't talk about it.

heh ... I am reminded of my FIL who wanted to get set up with straight shaving gear so I did that for him on Father's Day a couple of years back. The fact that I told him to be careful and supplied him with much information and even offered to answer any question he had or demonstrate anything he found confusing didn't stop him from slicing one of his finger pads off at his first stropping.

:chop: He hasn't touched the stuff since.

X

i consider straight shaving a hobby and an enjoyable one at that, and most people today don't have hobbies beyond watching tv or their favorite sport (not that i don't watch tv or play and watch sports). i get the same reactions when i tell people that i use a straight razor as when i tell them that i bought an 8 inch reflector telescope (just in case 8" is the size of the mirror, the thing is about a 10" diameter tube that sits about 41/2' tall), they say "oh that sounds neat" but it always ends up that they think it is a bit boring. to me it has to do with the little to no attention span that people tend to have now-a-days. you really have to practice to get good at straight shaving, which takes time and effort and attention to detail. most people don't find that fulfilling, i know i do no matter if it is a great shave, getiing a great look at jupitor, fabricating a piece for a motorcycle or playing guitar, the concentration and sense of accomplishment is really why i do it. most people just don't give a crap about that anymore.
BTW, sorry about the rant.

P.S. maybe if someone encorporated straight shaving into the next grand theft auto game (not that i haven't had fun playing it here and there) people might get interested.

I managed to convert my business partner, but it wasn't any challenge! He was very excited by the idea. Had to buy him a cheap vintage razor & a 2nd hand strop to get him going though. When he's not using that he's using an old gillete de with feather blades that i gave him. No luck with my brother & my father just thinks i'm insane. Why would anyone go that far backwards?!

I thnk about the best way to convert anyone is to show just how good a shave can be. I am shaving more and doing a better job every time now. This is what people see- No cuts, scrapes, or missed spots! Always carry one or two razors in the pocket for show and tell. The razor gets the attention! The shave is secondary-but it must be perfect. So far, no convertees for me, but THE STORIES and history I am hearing! Straight razor shaving is definitely a link with the past. My banker is from Albania. She tells of her grandfather using a straight razor only. Maybe retro-shaving is making a comeback in the "Modern" World. People I witness to are not being bored by this hobby being showcased. Maybe they are just being polite; anyway, the idea is conveyed.

Nobody likes a proselytizer.

The guys in my unit have seen me sanding blades for resto projects during breaks and such, but no one seems to be interested beyond taking a look at the blade, so I don't bother.

My dad doesn't shave ever, and my brother is just getting to the age where he might need it. He's not the type of guy to spend the time to maintain the blade properly. I might get him using a shavette, though...
J.

I have a disciple to whom I have shown the straight path. He is thinking of buying a straight razor but not yet (but it will come). Anyway he bought a badger brush and T&H soap and oil, so soon he will take part in our sacred ritual and be one of us.:)

But the quest goes on to make the infidels come under the (razor) blade.

You cannot make someone take the straight path. They must find it for themselves.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the (5 o'clock) shadow of Death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy blade and thy hone, they comfort me.


Oh, and as for the argument re Mach 3s giving as good or better shaves.....well, that is just not true. Mach 3s are fixed angle of blade on skin - the head pivots to keep it on your face as you move over the jaw line etc, if I recall correctly. With a straight there are often unconscious angle adjustments which enables a much better and more comfortable shave. That's not even mentioning the control over the edge you have with the hones, which you most certainly do not get with Mach 3s.

James.

Did a gunshow this weekend and displayed a couple of dozen razors, some NOS brushes, and some gently used strops. I only sold a couple of razors,1strop and 2 hones. But I was busy all weekend long talking to people about the the wonderful world of straight shaving. I have to admit I generated a lot of interest and I am wondering if I should not expand on this endeavor, I think I'll try it again just for fun. I think my fingers are permanently cramped from writing "straightrazorplace.com" on scraps of paper!
PS: Maybe a live demo is in order!

I have converted a few. One guy went out and bought a Dovo and strop plus accessories that night. It's kind of true what Jimbolina said about you can't make them take the path- they must find it themselves. It needs to be a certain type of person who is ready to take the plunge. When you find them it's easy though.

As for the techology argument it's easy- First off, there was nothing wrong with straights in the first place to make Gillette start making DE blades- he was an inventor who wanted an ongoing sale. It was genius marketing. It is the ease of use with the new cartridge razors that is the only positive. The technology and coatings are fine and all, but 5 blades going across your face creates more friction and discomfort. The more passes- the more irritation is likely to occur. You can also make the argument that cartridges make more money for everyone- the producers, distributors, advertisers, etc. so why would they make you want to believe anything but "cartridge razors are the best way to shave"?

I'm getting most of my friends brushes and bowls for Xmas this year. I think slow exposure should pique their interest - once they see what a bit of badger fur can do, they should come back for more . . .hehehehe!

I have 2 conversions to my name :)
I only make an effort if people come to me and ask questions. Otherwise, I would just be 'that weirdo who always talks about shaving'.

I also taught a barber to hone, but I think he gave up on it and switched back to shavette. His problem was that he didn't shave himself with a straight, so he had no way to judge his edges.

As for how to convince a naysayer... If he is interested in it (or at least curious) offer to shave him so that he feels what it is like.

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Originally Posted by xman

... didn't stop him from slicing one of his finger pads off at his first stropping.

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I have cut my fingers a couple of times (very lightly fortunately) while freehanding a potato peeler on a 6x1.5 coticule.
always keep fingertips below the honing surface, boys and girls, or one day you'll slice off one of your fingertips :eek:.