Thread: Why don't more guys shave with a straight?

I don't think it's an "us against them" thing. Some of us enjoy taking more time and doing things in a more luxurious fashion. But, there are lots and lots of guys (the other forums are full of them) who use something other than a straight razor, and still enjoy a good shave. Just like there are plenty of people here who shave with a straight, and laugh at those of us who use expensive, perfumed shaving products.

To each his own. I, for one, don't go out of my way to prostheletize the masses. They will, I'm sure, eventually come to the one true shave.

I think that str8 shaving is like riding a motorcycle, bungee jumping and sushi. It is not for everyone and you either love it or hate it.

I have a friend to whom I mentioned in passing that I am using a str8. He was so intrigued and interested that he was ready to jump on e-bay and get himself one. I offered one of mine for him to try. He was at my hose that evening and next morning sent me an e-mail saying that it was the closest shave he ever had.

He just loved the idea of it and could not wait to try it out. Others are not even mildly interested.

Like Keith said, different stokes for different folks.

Originally Posted by DonOhio39

When I told my wife what I was shaving with, she asked "why?!" and I thought about it for a while.

I told her that a straight razor was nearly the perfect item for a man to shave with because....
1. They are simple, only one moving part. Or none, depending on how you look at it.
2. They are bright and shiny.
3. They are made of steel(Tim Taylor would say "man-metal!")
4. There is the preception of risk in using them.
5. They are very sharp
6. Using one sets you off from others as unique or special
7. Oh, yeah, they work better than the alterative

They are only inperfect in that they don't make outrageous amounts of noise. You can't have everything!

Don in Ohio

I don't know...the first time I really cut myself...there was LOTS of noise!

RT

Originally Posted by vladsch

Like Keith said, different stokes for different folks.

I actually had that exact statement in my post, but then took it out before I hit the post button.

There are lots of reasons, like many listed here, people are lazy, they don't want to take the time, perhaps they naively think that modern disposable razors are simple better and more effective.

One reason I haven't seen listed yet is the maintenence required with the straight. It is a bit of work to maintain the razor and keep it in good working order. Most men want to just shave and get on with the day and don't realize the pleasure that the whole process can be.

A DE can come close and for some be just as good a shave as a str8, but it does take more time with a DE than a MachIII as well. Part of it is the culture that we live in. Fast, fast, fast, go, go, go....People are often in a hurry, but they don't know why....

All right, enough musing and philosophy.

I think I have to agree that there's a lazy factor out there. Many people I know think it's a waste of time, I disagree, but that's ok. The less people that are straight shaving, the lower the prices on the razors, right? Or is the exact opposite??
I have gotten a couple of people to start wet-shaving. Straight razor shaving is the next step. Little steps at a time. It's fairly easy, to find people that will be sympathetic to straight shaving, look for the ones in the office that only shave every 2nd or 3rd day, there's probably a reason for that! They'll be glad to find a way to shave without irritation.
-Fred

The less people that are straight shaving, the lower the prices on the razors, right? Or is the exact opposite??

The greater the demand the cheaper the prices. Sell more pay less. Sell less pay more.

They are only inperfect in that they don't make outrageous amounts of noise. You can't have everything!

Get you a nice cd of muscle car sounds. Play that. Make a stroke with the revs.

I haven't gotten to shave with a str8 yet . but I am looking forward to it. My wife told me when she found out what I was going to do and she told me "You better use all that stuff you're buying more than once" I am 27 years old and would like to slow down in something I do. To much rushing. I already have high blood pressure. Maybe I can let some out of those little nicks I am sure to get. Oh she also said"We don't want any visits to the hospital for cut jugulars" I thought that was pretty funny when she said it.

just my 2 cents
later
Keaton

i wonder what the failure rate is though with str8's.does everyone who picks one up after a bit of practice always think its great and continues to use one?
have you ever heard of people come to this forum try and then give up,word of mouth could spread in the negative camp as well as the positive one.i'm finding that even having a razor that pops the hanging hair test, then subsequently getting a razor from lynn which was nice and sharp i'm still having frequent shaves where nicks, gashes, burn etc are the norm.sadomasochism comes to mind.if someone asked me whether str8s are option i'd say they are from an experienced barber,but a diy shave is definately in my experience not for 90% of men i know where more than 5 minutes grooming is too much.but then we are in the age of the metrosexual. asking them to embark on a 6 month journey where you nearly use your steptic pencil (mine keeps breaking) as much as your razor and you start reminiscing about blemishes because now you have scars(all be they small). i reckon i'm about three shaves from giving up.i used to be handsome before i started this!

i used to be handsome before i started this!

You sure? Send us a before and after and we'll take a poll. I'm sure some give up. But it is becoming a lost art. If nobody tries and succeeds it will most likely be lost forever until the necessity arises again. Which if it keeps going the way it is going it isn't that far off. Anybody ever seen the movie 'Day after tomorrow'? Great movie. Not really a blockbuster. But who really wants to see what is most likely really going to happen. Anyway got off the subject. Sure ppl have given up. But I have also heard that after using one and giving up some still go back. Nicks and all. I really got into getting all this together because I need a change. Some ppl get piercings. I got a tatoo. Ill have to put a pic of that on here. And some shave with a str8. Anything to get out of a rut. New things help out sometimes to take your mind off of other stuff. Some stick and some don't.

Keaton

I'm reading all these posts and really agreeing with all of them. So far, I've had only moderate success with the straight. I got an antique as a gift almost a year ago from a girlfriend and tried to shave with it finding it not sharp enough. Then I got one for christmas 2005 figuring to make a serious run at straight razor shaving. I shaved with it with significant burn and a fair amount of cuts, then put a lot of time into improving the edge with what I had available - a dovo paddle strop with red paste and leather. I've been trying to learn what I can from barbers, but am finding a serious lack of success from some that say they were taught. I know my handle is NavyBarber, but that was just a one month school where i learned the basics of hair cutting. There was no talk of shaving unless it was with an electric trimmer.
I've always been fascinated by straight razor shaving and will keep at it even if it is just for special occasions when I want that extra close shave (Yes I can get very close, but not with any comfort yet), but I have been getting discouraged and really just want this significant expenditure to pay out instead of being some thousand dollar debecle that I pull out every once in a while to play around.
Incidentally, I have been improving the edge of my razor(s) from shave to shave, and have popped hairs, but I still get drawing and not very close on the first pass. Very uncomfortable. I've got the beginners barber hone package coming, so I should be able to refine the edge some more on a finer hone. Right now I'm limited to a 6000 japanese waterstone and polishing compounds of 1.8 and 0.5 which really don't seem to sharpen the edge effectively