Thread: What made you guys want to shave with a straight.

I used to get razorburn and bumps with those stupid multiblade things, so I started looking for an alternative. I read that DE's help, so I got one of those.

Then I wanted to try proper shaving soap and a brush, so I went to Trumpers here in London and bought them, and saw their straight razors on display.

So I started googling, found SRP and read a whole load. Then my girlfriend bought me a proper shave at Trumpers, and I bought my first razor from them right afterwards!

The rest is history..!

I have very fond memories of watching my greatgrandfather, shaving with a straight. I remember the smells of the soaps, aftershaves and leather when he was stropping.
Given that he was a very old and frugal Scotsman, he also used to trim and cut my hair with it.

Mac

I am 59 years old and never saw my father, brother, uncles or anyone else shave with a straight when I was a kid. The idea of not buying blades just to throw them out appealed to me. I thought it would cost less in the long run. Truthfully, it probably would, if I'd only stop buying these things. But since I began, the cost has not been a factor (obviously, since I keep shelling out for new ones). For me, it's the tradition.

After 18 years wearing a beard I saw my new drivers liscense compaired to one 4 years before and was shocked at the amount of gray.

So I started shaving.

At the same time my father handed down a shaving mug from his father in law (the man I'm named for) from the 1920's so I wanted a straight razor to display with it.

Then I found this place......I love it here......never looked back.

Zacsdaddy

I thought it'd be less expensive.




...and it was, until I caught RAD.

It's an affectation.

I am sort of a survivalist. I'm not the stockpiling stuff in a bunker type though, but the type seeking to be able to sustain a lifestyle in the absence of supermarkets, drugstores, etc...
Well, if there are no stores you can't buy disposable razors, or replaceable blades. With a couple of straights and a set of hones you are good to go.

Since getting into straight razor shaving though, I've gotten a bad case of ERTSSAD (Everything related to straight shaving acquisition disorder). I love the feel of the shave, the relaxation of the prep, and the way my skin feels after the shave. There is absolutely no way I'd ever go back to disposable or cartridge razors.

I started with a DE and SR, but when I got into high school I joined a MCJROTC, and performed with their Drill Team. Needless to say a SR shave in the morning was a little hectic, so I picked up a Mach 3. I realized that in a five year period I had spent over $3,000.00 on cartridges for the razor and switched back to DE and SR.

I, Like the OP, have always been a knife knut. Quite a large collection... Well, it got to the point where I decided, "Hell, the Gillette blenders aren't any sharper than I can get my knives... Why not shave with those?" So, I shaved with a knife for a few months, and it actually gave me better, closer, and less irritating shaves than the Gillette wonder-filet.. I got pretty good at honing knives, and could get them scarily sharp -for knives.. I figured that was as good as it could get-... Not sure how I wound up on SRP, but then I saw, "Whoa! There are knives devoted to shaving!?" (Note: I knew straight razors existed, I didn't know they were this commonplace... I thought it was a needle in a haystack scenario". So I picked up a Kreigar (I know, I know) Honed it like a knife, and shaved.... No change in that, but the shaves were better for the Brush and Soap...

I did more reading, and figured out that Kriegars suck -it's now a letter opener... Ironic that my first razor now opens all my razor related mail...- Picked up a Dovo Best Quality, a Tony Miller Strop, and some TOBS.

It is such a luxurious, comfortable shave, and the process from start to finish, lathering, stropping, shaving, etc, It's just so meditative and nice.

No regrets at all