Thread: Chaaaz's "Zen and the Art of Shaving" Section

When ever you feel that you have reached a next level of harmony with your blade or the balance and flow of your shaving has taken on a mystical level of trancendental meditation please leave us your inspiring note here. Heck if you shaved with out cutting your self for the first time here is a good place to note it.

This area is dedicated to our buddy Chaaaz who's enthusiam for experiment is nearly boundless, and is a delight to read.

John in Covina

Geez! Thanks, John!

The High Art of Straight Razor Shaving - and that is exactly what it is - certainly has many qualities that approximate the levels of concentration achieved by meditation.

Focus and balance are the two beams we build our shaving knowledge upon. Lose either, and you ruin a blade, or even worse, a shave and your face!

Whether it is honing a blade, stropping to final keenness, or making a stroke along your jaw, your entire focus and concentration is required.

During this time, you sense the blade's balance in your hand; its weight as you direct it, and how it is responding to your touch. You can become so "in the moment" that you lose track of time and space, where the universe is focused down to the small patch of skin directly below the blade at the time. You become acutely aware of blade pressure, stroke direction, blade angle, lather lubrication.

In the end, after a particularly smooth, and event free shave, you snap back into the larger world, and realize that something magical has happened again. That you have connected to the millions of men past who have learned, and then performed this ritual the exact same way you just did. That connection is almost mystical, and serves to reinforce the rightness of the act, and a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

Yes, it can be Zen-like. And it is certainly a High Art. Hopefully, we can all continually improve our skill, help each other learn, and strive for that perfect, elusive shave.

"It's just a razor!" was the statement from my wife as I lovingly worked a Q-Tip about the blade hinge. Just a razor. I thought about that for a moment. The razor in hand was manufactured in the late 1800's or early 1900s. Who had it first? Was it a gift? A daily shaver?

I wondered if the guy had one of those big, handlebar 'staches so popular back then. I thought about all of the things he might have seen in his lifetime; war, the invention of electricity, manned flight.

Who had it next? Where was it? Was he important? I stared at the sculpted scales, and thought about who might have shaved with this razor over the years. What they did, what they saw.

This razor had survived many years, and more than likely passed through a lot of hands and faces before landing in my hands, through the miracle of the internet and Ebay. Will the person who gets it next "feel" my joy at owning it? Can they possibly know how much love and care went into keeping it in good shape?

Maybe it doesn't matter ....after all, it's "just" a razor!

Due to the longevity of Straight razors usefulness, has anyone out there given consideration as to who you are going to leave your collection to in your will?

I will pass mine to my son. I hope he will see how great they are also. 8)

That's something I really like about straight razors. Straight razors are real tools that have an aesthetic value and can have a quality of manufacture that the plastic mach3 can never challenge. Disposable razors are mere commodities that are completely fungible and can never have any real character, history or sentimental value. It would be ridiculous to place a mach3 in one's will.

I inherited all my razors from my grandfather and thus they have a value to me that no disposable commodity could ever have. I think the modern world uses too many disposable commodities created for efficiency, ease of use for the lowest common denominator, and built in obsolescence. Some tools, such as straight razors, are items requiring skill and created to provide a lifetime or more of service. They are sold on quality of craftsmanship rather than marketing hype. They are created for people who truly know how to use them rather than for idiots who may sue over their incompetent use of them. These are the things that can almost be seen as artwork and exude style rather than simply efficient utility.

I like that with straight razors I could take pride in learning a skill and seeing a normal life activity as something to be appreciated and mastered rather than put up with and finished in the most efficient and undemanding manner. Many things in life can be done with skill and appreciation rather than simply finishing them through the quickest means using the newest gadget. Such as writing friends real letters, perhaps with a fountain pen, rather than emails or shallow pre-written gift cards. Or cooking real meals rather than frozen dinners or all-in-one bag meals. Not that these things don't have their place, but it's good to think of the actions of one's life as worthy of being done with skill and care, rather than simple efficiency and ease. I'd rather live life seeing the tasks of living as things to be done well and thoughtfully rather than just things to get done in the minimum amount of time and effort.

I think that's the elusive quality that brought me to straight shaving. The razor represents a thoughtful and diligent approach to life that a disposable commodity created for mass consumption can never provide. It represents a tool, used by a craftsman, that is worthy of having value beyond its mere price; something the next generation can use and see the lessons and link to the previous generation. I look at a mach3 and it's just that; however, I look at and use my straight and I am reminded of my grandfather and what he taught me.

Well, sorry for rambling, but those are my thoughts on why I like using a straight razor and am happy that my grandfather gave me his. Bob

On target, Bob!

JIC

The nostalgia factor is part of my life in many ways, not just razors. My daily shaving mug was my grandfathers and I remember him using it and loved to watch him shave. Being poor imigrants to this country they could not afford much and his pewter mug came complete with someone elses initials so it had a long life before my grandfather as well.

Although most of my vintage razos have been sold so I could buy fancier NOS items I did keep over a dozen early meat choppers all in shave rady condition. It is fun to think about who used them and their lives. Many of my tools, hobby and personal items are vintage pieces and all carry a bit of their previous owners with them.

Tony

I really like this thread. I appreciate what you guys have written.

I too was attracted to the traditional and aesthetic values of straight razor shaving. But, like Chaaaz has mentioned, I have really found the meditative quality that this method provides.

I often wake up in the morning with some anxiety. Straight razor shaving forces me to concentrate on something other than my staticy thinking. I love the smells associated with this endeavor and look forward to improving my technique every morning. When I shave well, I leave the bathroom feeling a sense of pride. I've even noticed that I want to dress better.

I guess what I appreciate about this group is that the men here are dedicated to a gentler art of self care. I try and explain some of these things to friends and they stare at me blankly or can only wonder about the sanity of dragging razor sharp steel accross your face.

Thank you gentlemen for guiding me through this very satisfying experience.

Dr. Phong

It's amazing as well that no matter how many razors you hone or how many different ones you have, every now and then you reach another level of just how nice and close and smooth a straight razor shave can be. I think that wonderful sensation is what has completely addicted me to the enjoyment I get from straight razor shaving. I also believe that this is what has been so cool in seeing this world flourish. Lynn