Thread: Jawing in the Locker Room

"You must be a patient man."
"Why do you say that?"
"I see you here everyday. I mean you're really into this stuff."
"Shaving ritual, you mean."
"Yeah. The brush. Soap. That — straight razor."
"It's my daily drink from the fountain of civility."
"It's nice to be passionate about some things."
"Passionate enough so that you can't wait till morning — so that you can slap on warm, fragrant lather and hear the scraping of the razor against your skin."
"Scary."
"Well, it's like having butterflies just before you step on the stage. Then you roll."
"Takes some kind of skill, I guess."
"It does. And it's a philosophy, too. A way of life. Gives one a sense of individuality. In a way you're your own man — I sound like a TV commercial."
"No. Watching you, I see what you mean."
"It's being one's self."
"How long does it take you?"
"Here at the gym? An hour. Hour-fifteen."
"Man, that's a long time to be shaving."
"That's counting some of the jawing I do with the guys. Always been a sucker for a good conversation."
"Me? I hate shaving."
"That seems to be the general consensus."
"Most people don't have that kind of time."
"Most people can make the time if they want to."
"I suppose. Most of the time I plug in the electric and shave in the car."
"You do hate shaving, don't you?"
"You ever tried the electric?"
"Long time ago. For a short time. It felt like bathing without water."
"What happens if somebody gives you an electric for Christmas?"
"I'd look at it as the Lord's punishment of a sinner."

Regards,

Obie

I also shave at the gym about 90% of the time these days.

Mostly I get a "wow, haven't seen one of those in ages..."

There's this sweet Russian/Turkish bath I've been going to in the East Village, if it weren't so busy in there I would LOVE to shave there. nothing softens the beard like an hour in the sauna! But there are only 2 or 3 sinks and I would be afraid of attracting attention or catching someones elbow, etc...

Tonight will be my first trip to the gym and I'm taking a straight with me. I think I like the idea of getting attention.

Lol. Our gyms explicitly say, no shaving. But shaving at the frat gets a lot of that kind of convo too. Especially if I'm in a hurry and can actually shave faster than some poor dude dealing with a clogging cartridge or endless passes with an electric.

Perhaps my best experience was I was shaving in well, my towel, and a girl comes in to use the bathroom and she just starts staring right- I mean, how often do women walk in on an almost naked man, shaving with a straight? And just then a brother of mine comes in and is like, "Damn girl, you really think he's that good looking?" and she like blushed and started stammering and man we just cracked up. HILARIOUS. Absolutely HILARIOUS.

Obie, always a pleasure reading about your escapades at the gym. I think you're starting to convert them, little by little. Maybe someday you should whip up a shavette / DE for him to try?

Originally Posted by khaos

Perhaps my best experience was I was shaving in well, my towel, and a girl comes in to use the bathroom and she just starts staring right- I mean, how often do women walk in on an almost naked man, shaving with a straight? And just then a brother of mine comes in and is like, "Damn girl, you really think he's that good looking?" and she like blushed and started stammering and man we just cracked up. HILARIOUS. Absolutely HILARIOUS.

My dear Khaos,

This is not fair: how come no nubile female ever barges in on me in the locker room? All I get is a bunch of old geezers reminiscing about their grandfathers shaving with a straight, and army of yuppies rushing around as if to see who could get out of there faster.

And my dear Ursus,

I have actually converted several people to the double edge. I figure one thing at a time. My standard line to them is: "If you're ever interested in shaving with the straight razor, I'll be more than happy to train you and give you pointers about what to buy. It will be my pleasure." Two I have even trained on how to use a brush, make lather, and sold them my double edge razors. One of them also bought one of my straights with a replaceable blade.

So there is hope for humanity, gentlemen.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

So there is hope for humanity, gentlemen.

Regards,

Obie

Dear Obie,

What would the world do without men of your caliber? I cannot help but be proud that we have men such as yourself walking the earth, those truly deserving of the term gentleman. It deeply pains me to see a lack of such civility in my own generation.

Regards,

Drew

My dear Drew,

Bless your heart for such kind words. Thank you, sir.

Here on SRP, I am indeed among gentlemen. And artists. And craftsmen. People who love what they do.

Those who spend time and effort to be themselves. To define the meaning of individuality. To portray the picture of civility.

Thanks to all of you, gentlemen.

Regards,

Obie

awww you guys, you're going to make me cry.