Thread: Lovin' it!

I've done 4 straight razor shaves now. I have a beautiful 5/8 Bengall half-hollow and a 5/8 Dovo Special full hollow, stropped on a 3" red Latigo from SRD. I have two Edwin Jagger badger brushes (purchased from Crabtree and Evelyn; sorry, had them so long I don't know the specs on them); I use C&E's Sienna shaving soap, with their Sienna after-shave balm--no alcohol, so no stinging (been wet shaving since sophomore year of college, about 30 years ago).

All I can say is, Wow! I actually look forward to shaving. The first shave with each razor I did without stropping, since they came shave-ready (and since, in the case of the Bengall, I didn't have a strop yet) just so I'd have something to compare a stropped razor to. Those shaves were okay, but just on the verge of uncomfortable on the chin (I have a serious cleft going on) and along the jaw.

Then I used the strop for the other two shaves. I could immediately tell the difference in how the razor felt and worked. Just incredible.

I wish I'd known about SRP years ago. 4 shaves, no nicks or cuts with these razors, stropping coming along well. I'm a solid convert now! Thanks to all who have shared their wisdom and experience here! I look forward to learning more and progessing.

Awesome! Keep sharing your experience

I'm 46 and have one good str8 shave in. (I was going to say "under my belt" but I could see the riffraff I would get)
I'm loving it too. It makes me feel like I have accomplished something.
Brian

Hello, Durhampiper:

The pleasure of wet shaving with the straight razor should be minted and made available as a remedy for tired souls.

Welcome to the club.

Regards,
Obie

Congrats on great shaves and welcome from one FNG to another! I'm about 15 shaves in and completely hooked myself!

Thanks for the support, guys!

@Obie: I couldn't agree more.

And now the question is . . . will this be your new hobby? Or will you raise shaving to an art form?
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Morty,

Well, that is the question indeed, now, isn't it? I think that it will be an art for me, but I don't know whether anyone else would think of my shaving that way.

I think of this as being composed of or embodying a number of disciplines, by which I mean activities that require mindful attentiveness. So far, I'm aware of these:
--the discipline of the strop: being mindful of the razor in my hand and its position as I draw the razor forward and back; the position of the razor on the strop; the amount of pressure I'm applying; the tautness of the strop; the sound of the razor as I move through each stroke; the position of my wrist and fingers as I rotate the blade over its spine; and how the edge lies on the strop.
--the discipline of the brush and soap: being mindful of the temperature of the water as I wet the brush; of the lather and its consistency as I stir the brush against the soap; of the warmth of the lather and the softness of the brush as I lather my face.
--the discipline of the blade: being mindful of my grip on the blade; the position of the blade on my face; the angle of the blade on my face and the need to adjust that angle for different areas of my face; the sound of the blade on my face as I shave; the tautness of my skin as I take up traction before the stroke and as I continue to shave.
--the discipline of patience: being mindful that all of these listed are necessary to the shave; that though this is a means to an end (a clean-shaven face) it is pleasurable and satisfying in itself and deserves not to be hurried; that I am new to these instruments, their uses and care; that I am not on any timeline and that use makes master; that in hurry and impatience lie the sure roads to frustration and error--and in the case of a straight razor, injury (my uillleann pipes have been my great teacher of the discipline of patience for the last 24 years).

Anyway, that's how I see it. Don't know if that makes it art or not, but more than a hobby, I think. I intend to use my straight razors to shave every day, except when I have to travel by air on business, which I do some--I'm just not comfortable yet with the idea of putting my razors in the hands of the airline baggage system.

Your thoughts?

Brook

Originally Posted by Durhampiper

I think that it will be an art for me, but I don't know whether anyone else would think of my shaving that way. . . .

Anyway, that's how I see it. Don't know if that makes it art or not, but more than a hobby, I think.

Your thoughts?

Brook

Hi Brook,
(Thanks for the PM.)

I would think much depends on whether someone sees one's self as a hobbyist or an artist. A hobbyist is a person who pursues an activity in their spare time for pleasure while an artist is a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination.

Obviously someone who makes custom scales from rare woods or hi tech materials would be considered an artist. Some fellows go to great lengths to make their bathroom a special refuge that they call their "shave den." I would consider that man an artist as well.

I think the distinction, though, is finding one's passion in straight razor shaving above and beyond simple enjoyment of a pastime. While my "shave den" is rather simple, straight razor shaving is becoming a part of my identity, like being a Cold War Warrior and a disabled vet. I look at my strop, my razors, my scuttle and my hones and the connection I feel goes way beyond an enjoyable means of removing hair from my face. I don't think it ought to be defined any further than that.
Namaste,
Morty -_-