Thread: If shaving one's self with a straight razor is practical, then why were barbers used?

I'm no historical expert,but I am going to agree with all the others as to why people went to barbers,I shave about 99.6% of the time now with a straight.I probably on average shave about every 2 or 3 days at the longest as I have noticed my beard growth is now different with said method. I can't really put my finger on it.My growth is hmmm ,....not as out of control and more civil ? I can shave at 6am and it will last till about 6pm for real.and my five o clock shadow isn't as noticeable till the next day ? Hope that is of some use to you. Have a nice shave eh.

Mr. Ironman,

First, I suppose, welcome. I think your premise is incorrect. Shaving yourself with a straight razor is a practical endeavor, but it has a learning curve associated with it. I think a lot of men used a straight razor a few times a week, and enjoyed the shave.

On the other hand, just as today we have many people that cut their own hair, it is still an endeavor that is "easier" when done by someone else.

Another consideration is this "do it yourself" mentality. Today, in general men shave themselves. I used to do my own laundry and wash my own dishes too. Today I have someone that does both of those for me. I consider this a luxury I can afford, as I prefer to have someone else do it for me. I also can rub my own shoulders after a long day and I can crack my own joints to get relief from life's stress. I prefer, on the other hand, to go to a spa and a chiropractor and have both done professionally.

I suggest that you let a professional shave you at least once in your life. It is an experience that transcends the shave itself.

I try to use a straight as much as possible. I'm absolutely flat out at the moment with work and moving house so I've been relying on my DE more of late, which is a bit annoying but unfortunately thats the way it goes sometimes...!

I rekcon it was as the other guys say - A mixture of cost, lack of facilities at home and the convenience of going to a barber once a week.

As was said, lots of us use straights exclusively or nearly exclusively. I have a DE to shave my head, and also bring it if I'm flying somewhere. Otherwise I always shave my face with a straight.

People still go to barbers, and it's not because cutting your own hair is dangerous. Why would you do it? Well I'm sure that it was convenient, sociable, and relaxing. Antique barber chairs are amazingly comfortable and those go back decades.

Also I think it was a matter of resources. People had their own straights, but it's not like you could pop on eBay or head to a strip mall to buy them. The other aspect is sharpening, which is much more difficult than shaving IMHO. Not sure that people had their own hones and if they did, it was probably just a small barber hone that wouldn't help with chips and dull edges.

Much easier to go to a barber whose razors are always sharp.

To troll or not to troll, that is the question...

Price/practicality of investment, light, water, expertise/skill, separate skillset for maintenance, etc. All very good. Still, plenty of razors sold to individuals. Perhaps part of the idea of straight razors associated with "gentleman's pursuits" is that it was far more often the gentry who could afford it? The blade and brush used was also a symbol of financial importance. Like expensive cars and nice houses.

These days are different. I just bought a 6 and a half dollar razor off of eBay, honed it up to 8k and gave myself a wonderful, irritation free shave last night. First shave off the hone. It took well over an hour, in all, to hone that thing. But now it's fine and mine. After the shave honed it up further on the synthetic hone, then peeled the tape off. Why did I do all this? Well, the shave was really good, for one. Also, using the skill was enjoyable. Back in the days when we exerted more effort to do things perhaps we able to enjoy more the act of absorption in the task (I don't think us Europeans were using the term: "the Zen of..."). The act of shaving one's face with an open razor is actually very relaxing and when done properly, like facials and other skin therapies, leaves the skin feeling quite nice. Practical and enjoyable makes it a time and effort-worthy pursuit even in modern times.

I still have cartridges from a holiday shave stand/brush/handle (mach3) set. They cost well over 2 dollars per cartridge and the smooth and effective shaves only last a little longer than a single edge of a double-edge safety razor blade (3-5 shaves). Then it's an inevitable descent into repeated raking, slow, ineffective shaving hell. Like a drug addiction, I must continue to purchase more razors. Forever. That 6.50 dollar neglected razor I purchased on eBay? After the honing it will require diligent stropping and drying and oiling to maintain and protect the shaving edge. It will most likely shave me effectively for 1-2 months (or more?) before needing time on the hones. I've heard people say their razors last between 60-100 shaves before needing a touch up, others say months are possible. Either way, refreshing on a hone takes less than five minutes.

I've yet to cause any deep wounds, let alone break the skin in a serious way. Products like NuSkin, even simple gels like petroleum jelly or the antibiotic ointment recommended in the stickies here, or the styptic pencil are very good for quickly closing/sealing a wound.

The "8k", or 8,000 grit I finished my new/old cheap/wonderful razor was more of a traditional, common and average level of sharpness in older times, kind of an approximation of an historical shave. It is safer in that I can get away with more, without digging in and cutting myself our gouging out a slice of skin. Yet I have to "push" it harder to get through the thickly bearded parts of my skin, and may end up with a line cut if the razor stops and the kinetic energy is transfer to something other than forward/pushing motion perpendicular to the edge. If I sharpen the blade beyond the 8,000 I can more easily cut through the densely bearded regions of my face, faster and closer and safer (for that kind of cutting). But I can also more easily dig deep and cause a more than superficial wound if I'm momentarily lax in my technique. The reason why I could become relaxed is after weeks or months worth of shaves with hardly any spots of blood, shallow line cuts or irritation. I think the same is true of many experienced shavers in forums such as these.

A little obsessed with the cutting part, aren't you????

http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...tml#post657654


You might actually consider my answer to be rude, but honestly that is your second post about cutting in relation to Straight Razors...


I am closing this thread down for review by the Mod Team...

Will PM you later today...

I find it interesting that as technology moves forward people become clueless to how people in earlier years lived without the modern amenities we have now. So they make up reasons that seem logical to them but are totally wrong.

Years ago everyone had a straight and they used them. You could buy one for less than a dollar. The reason people went to a barber is for the pampering and the social aspect and most important to get the best shave you would ever get. Just because everyone had a razor and used it didn't mean they were good at it. Just about everyone has a drivers license but how many have no business driving eh?

Most people couldn't really afford to go to a barber except on special occasions. It was mostly the well heeled and upper middle class who went to a barber on a regular basis.