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

So yea, basically (sorry if this has been posted before) But what made you guys start shaving with a straight razor? I'm sure some people here are older folk and were taught by parents and never stopped, but alot of younger people shave with straights, so what inspired you to do so. I know with me, I really have a thing for knives, and that grew to when I had to start shaving (not that I have to shave at all but with a straight its rather fun) to shave with straight razors. I was never nessisarily the normal one of the kids my age, not one of the ones who went with the crowd and that may have contributed to it, but I love it and I'm so happy I decided to try it!

So what inspired you to try straight razor shaving?

Howdy! Well, I'm a young woman who is venturing into straight shaving. Apparently a very rare breed, and even rarer for the fact that I do not know anyone who shaves with a straight razor.

A friend of mine (who uses a DE), mentioned off-handedly trying it out a few years ago. That was really all it took.

I hate cartridge and disposable razors, and I have having to repeatedly replace things. And also, let's be honest, I like sharp stuff!

So as soon as it was mentioned to me, it just sort of started turning in my mind. I started googling, and eventually found a link to SRP. The rest, as they say, is history.

I like things that actually work. I like old things that actually work even more. Since even a DE gives me razorburn, I switched to straight razors. End of problem.

The luxury factor does, of course, play a role as well. Having a few really beautiful razors on display is an enhancement for any bathroom, I think.

Having had a few hot-towel shaves from a turkish barber in Limerick that used a shavette I decided to google some shaving suppliers in the UK as there are only a few in Ireland.

Saw a straight razor set and made an impulse buy.

As the razor was not shave ready, I ended up just using the brush and some soap that I bought.

In Sept of last year, decided that I did not want to waste the money I spent on the straight set, so got a shavette to practice and then in late Nov ordered a Dovo DL while my original straight was away to be honed.

To be honest not looked back since.

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.

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

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

Ditto on what he said.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

I like things that actually work. I like old things that actually work even more. Since even a DE gives me razorburn, I switched to straight razors. End of problem.

The luxury factor does, of course, play a role as well. Having a few really beautiful razors on display is an enhancement for any bathroom, I think.