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

Awesome way to end the day is with a great shave which I got last night. This led me to wonder why more (if not all) guys don't shave with a straight. A few reasons (or excuses)...

1. Risk factor of doing some serious damage if used incorrectly or not paying attention.
2. Adds a little extra time to the shaving process (at least for me it does).
3. If you really get into it, you could end up spending a fair amount of cash on supplies and more razors.
4. Hand shakes too much due to age or fear.

Just wish I would have started before 9 months ago.

For all the fathers out there with sons who will be shaving soon, hope you plan on introducing them to a straight. Wish my dad would have.

Rob

The only thing I can say to this is whenever I mention it to non-str8 users I get looks like I just told them to gargle with acid. The look of fear and amazement covers their face in an instant. I am not sure why I have to blame it on ignorance.

How about this:

Everyone makes it sound like rocket science with flattend steel.

To most, it seems archaic - like rubbing two sticks together to make a fire. The misconception that it's dangerous plays a part too. If they only knew how comfortable and close a str8 shave is...................

-Rob

As I see it there are close shaves and there are comfortable close shaves, and shades of anything in between. A straight razor is at the extreme end of the continuum toward comfortable close shaves. A good DE (with an experienced user) is a fairly close second to the straight razor in closeness and comfort. It is possible to get a close shave with a cartridge razor (the less number of blades the better) but the comfort factor tends to go downhill rather quickly with these as they tend to produce much more burn and nicks. So far, with all the above I'll assume we're talking about wet shaving and all bets are off if you're using aerosol shave creams. Then there are electrics (traditional electric razors) which come in dead last on both the comfort and closeness continuum. That's my opinion anyway.

Tom

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 alternative

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

Don in Ohio

Originally Posted by RichZ

The only thing I can say to this is whenever I mention it to non-str8 users I get looks like I just told them to gargle with acid. The look of fear and amazement covers their face in an instant. I am not sure why I have to blame it on ignorance.

Aint that the truth.. I have only one friend remotely intrigued enough to give it a try..

It's funny. When I tell people what I shave with, they think it's a bit eccentric. But, when I mention it in conjunction with a good wet shave, they all ask "Oh! I would love to find a proper barber to give me a real shave" and they do mean with a straight razor!
Why don't they buy one????????????
I have told them they are still available, and don't bite much

I think most people think that it is nuts to shave with a straight especially when it takes me at least 20 minutes. They are very reluctant to take the risk and give up the connivance of a 2 minute poor shave.

I suppose it takes on some people, and not so much on others.

I have one friend who wants to get a "man-shave" so I'm in the process of getting him started. Most people just shake my hand, and tell me that they respect me or that I'm the craziest son-a-bitch they know. Both of which I take as compliments.

The best thing though is telling someone to feel how smooth of a shave I got. Then when they touch my face, their eyes always pop open, because when I said "a smooth shave", they really weren't expecting a smooooooooth shave. Then after I'm done laughing at their confused face, I explain I use a straight. Then I generally get a handshake.