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

No, no, it's not that they won't do it, it's that they won't give anything to the idea that perhaps they're better than modern shaving methods in any way. The difference is that you may not mow your lawn with a push mower, but you're willing to listen to someone who tells you that it's better for your lawn.

Originally Posted by Infectious

No, no, it's not that they won't do it, it's that they won't give anything to the idea that perhaps they're better than modern shaving methods in any way. The difference is that you may not mow your lawn with a push mower, but you're willing to listen to someone who tells you that it's better for your lawn.

You must understand that you are fighting against millions and millions of dollars in marketing and promotion from the cartridge/electric companies.

I can't add much to what has already been said. Nevertheless, I will anyway.

I think personality has as much, or more to do with it than anything. I write personal letters with a quill pen and dipping ink for many of the same reasons. One, it slows me down, and helps me enjoy the experience. Two, it sets me apart from a uniform, everyone does it the same way, approach to life. I like being a little different, even eccentric. Three, the stuff you use just looks so dang cool!

As for making converts, give up. People either get it or they don't. Mention it once, let them see your stuff, and they will either be immediately hooked or immediately condescending. If they miss out, so be it.

Just my thoughts, which are worth exactly what you paid for them.

stats

Originally Posted by Bruno

For the same reason that

That sums up my thoughts very well.

I think for most people if you tell them that they can spend even more time on something they consider a chore, they won't be very enthousiastic. If you add that it'll make it more difficult too, then only us die hard enthousiasts remain.

One of the reason might be that people don't know that the straight razor is an option available to them. I didn't know that you could get straights until someone at my work mentioned it.

To pile on, fear and laziness.....

As for me personally, general personality and one's perspective plays in (as mentioned). My job has, to most outward apearences, tended to suck over the years; long months at sea crammed into a submarine. Long hours on watch while underway. Lousey pay (considering the risk and hours) and little thanks. Separation from family and loved ones. The list goes on...

The thing is, if you don't look for the joy in what you are doing, everything can be a drag. If you have to do something, then why not find the fun (and joy) in it? Sometimes it will be very difficult to find the fun in a particular chore (scrubbing a $hitter during field-day, underway on a submarine leaps to mind) but it can be done. Those folks that can do this generally are more creative, more productive, less whiny and better leaders.

This brings me to shaving. For most, shaving is (as mentioned) and necessary evil and most look at it as a real PITA. I have turned a mundane chore that most dread into something I enjoy and look forward to!

Life is far too short to do things you don't enjoy; so whenever possible find the joy!


v/r

Allen

Well, *I* like using a straight because I am into doing stuff the old fashioned way. I like fountain pens, and yes, I use and old skool reel mower on my lawn. That's just how I am. Most people aren't. That said, I think there are several reasons why people don't use a straight: (please note that when I say mach3, I mean any disposable/cartridge razor)

1. Availability - you can't walk into walmart and pick one up off a shelf like with a mach3. most folks prolly have no clue that they are even made anymore
2. Ease of use - let's be honest with ourselves here: straight razors ARE harder to use than mach3's, and it DOES take practice and dedication to master them. Nearly a year into the game and I'm STILL learning stuff and improving my technique. Most people wouldn't spend that much time learning a skill.
3. Cost - yes, in the long run, it is possible to save money. But it never actually works that way, you get hung up on stones and strops and soaps and brushes and you wind up blowing hundreds if not thousands of dollars on shaving. Additionally, the start up cost for straight razors is an order of magnitude higher than a mach3.
4. Danger - yes, you CAN cut yourself with a straight, and if it's sharp, it's pretty easy to do so. You aren't likely to kill yourself, but think back to your first shave... was there blood? There sure was on mine. While the risk is easily overcome with training and experience, that first shave can be intimidating. I know I was apprehensive.
5. Convenience - as much as we all love straight shaving, can we admit that it's a hassle? An enjoyable hassle, definitely, but a hassle all the same. If you don't rush, it can take 30 minutes or more. If you DO rush, you can hurt yourself. For the career minded man with one eye on his watch, a 2 minute shave from a mach3 is good enough. I personally enjoy the half hour ritual on days when I have time, but I can totally see how not everyone has the time to do that. I am in the unique position of not having to be presentable at work, so if I rush out the door and don't shave, I'm not in trouble. This is not the case for everyone.
6. Quality of shave/diminishing returns - for every dollar your spend on better gear and every hour you spend honing and shaving, you get a slightly better shave from a straight. But there is a diminishing return. The money and time needed to get from "hurting myself with a straight razor cause I'm a dumb newb" to "I can shave comfortably and happily with a straight" is a bigger cost than most are willing to pay, especially when they can get a very decent (but not magnificent) shave from a mach3 and a can of sprayfoam for 10 bucks and 5 minutes of practice.
7. Marketing, marketing, marketing - this is a big one. Know why I used a Gillette razor and hundreds of cartridges over the last decade or so? 'Cause when I turned 18, Gillette mailed me a brand new, fancy mach3 razor with a nice carrying case and some shave cream, along with a note that said, "Happy birthday! We at Gillette feel that every man ought to have a decent razor... here's yours!" That is powerful stuff to an 18 year old. I hadn't paid them a dime, or asked them for anything. Gillette has certainly made their 20 bucks back over the next decade as I spend hundreds of dollars on cartridges. But I felt a very strong brand loyalty to Gillette because of this advertising stunt, and I don't regret it. I had never even heard of a straight razor as all the males in my family used an electric or were bearded. (even my great grandfather, who was born in the 1800's)

Originally Posted by Infectious

One thing I don't understand, though, is how closed most people are to the idea. I give ideas to my friends often about how they could improve some aspect of the technology in their lives, and they're open even to pretty unusual ideas....
...Why is straight razor shaving so impossible for them to open up to, no matter what else they'll listen to?

Possibly the same reason I will never own, nor use, an Ipod, bluetooth, or the like. I do own a basic (the one that came free with the service) cell phone for emergencies, and to keep in touch with my family, but I can't remember just how many times I've been tempted to throw the thing in the trash.

To each his own...

Scott

Originally Posted by str84ever

4. Hand shakes too much due to age or fear.

Rob

LOL. When I first started reading this line, my eyes were moving faster than my brain and I started to read this reason you listed as "Secret hand shake is too hard to learn".

The notion of shaving with a straight razor appealed to me because I can appreciate the ritual that goes into the process. It's the same ritual that makes a home-cooked meal taste better if I use my good Henckels knives for prep rather than some "never-needs-sharpening" rust sticks from Wal-Mart. It's the same ritual that led me to buy a new chopper with a rigid frame (no rear suspension) and no electric starter. I have to kickstart a 93" Shovelhead. If she's being stubborn, it may take 10 minutes worth of kicking before it fires up. But there's something different about it. Anybody can turn on the gas and hit a button; the kick-pedal sets me apart. I also own a '56 Chevy that I've modified to *just* this side of street-legal. It takes constant tweaking and tuning, expensive race gas, and total concentration to drive. But I get a kick out of it. It stands out in the crowd of fuel-injection, power moonroofs, and front-wheel drive econoboxes. It's this mentality that drew me to wetshaving. What better way to wind down at night (or start a new day) than with a relaxing shave? Some folks just don't understand...