Thread: Did they get this close in the old days?

I often wonder if they get the same close shaves with a straight razor for 50-100-150 years ago compared with today?
Can anyone tell this?

Why not?
What would be different?

I remember my Grandfather shaving with a straight "Taylor's Eyewitness" at the kitchen sink...He sometimes had the odd very small patch of silver whiskers he must have missed....but I don't suppose a small boy watching him and asking stupid questions would have helped his concentration much...

Men in those days always seemed to have a mustache too...was This Edwardian fashion?...or were they avoiding shaving their top lip.

Originally Posted by Michaelshane

Why not?
What would be different?

I thought maybe not everyone could get their hands on good razors, preshave oils, cremes and a good hone.
Maybe there was a relief when the DE-razors showed up?
Maybe my question was bad formulated?
I meant that today almost everyone can get good equipment at a fair price and very easy.

Eh, I think we've over-complicated this a bit, due to the fact that nowadays it's more of a hobby than a necessity, as you could always shave with a disposable, DE, electric, or not at all. I take a pretty minimalistic approach to shaving, and in the past I've gotten by just fine with just a razor, brush, and soap. That being the case, I'm sure those old timers got by just fine, without all the luxuries that we enjoy today

Remember in the old days a straight was the only ticket so most folks were quite competent at it. As has been said, for most of us here this has been turned into a hobby and we obsess over much of it. You don't need much to get a great shave and also remember straight related products and services were more readily available back in those days.

Originally Posted by Michaelshane

Why not?
What would be different?

Quality of Hones
No SRP
No quality soaps and creams
No Styptic pencils
No ASBs and Colognes
BBS had yet to be invented
No SRP
No Alum blocks
No SRP
No Ebay
No RAD
No SRP

It is pure speculation. Personally, I think it would have been about the same as with straight razor shavers today or better. Some would be awesome at it, some would get shaves that were good enough to make them happy, and some would have never learned or not taught themselves properly and hated it.

Quality razors would have been easier to come buy, and they'd all be new. From what I have seen, the average cheap vintage razor (pick your favorite no-name brand) is better than the average modern production razor (IMO, of course, but I really think the QC and the steel was better - it had to be because of the competition). Vintage miners got the first pick at the best raw rock - if you had a whole mine fully of Thurry, you'd use the best stuff and dump the rest. Plus labor was cheaper and there weren't safety regulations, hence better rocks and lower costs to the company. There were also professionals that just sharpened razors (cutlery carts or barbers), professionals that only used razors, and professionals that only manufactured/retailed razors. Sure, they didn't have the (pick your favorite synthetic 1k), but that doesn't mean they couldn't set a bevel.

Ace, a lot of the stuff you mention has nothing to do with shave quality. You don't need SRP when your whole family can teach you to use a straight, who says they didn't have quality creams and soaps (some guys go nuts for vintage shave soap), I have never actually seen a stypic pencil in person and it doesn't affect shave quality, nor does cologne, who's to say they didn't have good balms, and etc for the rest of your list.

My relatives, from seeing what they did with DEs (they used DEs when I was a kid) - I'd say they were looking for presentable. My dad's dad used an old DE and a brush, and he shaved fast and flinged the blades out when he was done.

My dad is on the opposite side, he plays around shaving going directly ATG over and over until he's really satisfied.

I doubt most folks shaved every day 150 years ago, or even 100 years ago. My grandfather worked in the courts, so he did. My other grandfather was a farmer - he shaved every few days and he didn't get too worried about it, either.

I like to get a presentable shave off of a straight each day. I would rather be able to feel a micro short bit of hair than work twice as long to get it all off and get razor burn (sensitive skin to the max).

Also, judging by the straights that I've come across with frowns, uneven hone wear, etc that look like they were put away like that many years, I get the sense that a lot of guys were looking for "good enough" instead of perfect.

Just like now, there were probably all kinds of folks.

Awesome discussion.

I am really undecided on this one as I believe there were probably some OCD folks around in the good ol' days, no matter how far you go back. What I find interesting is that I can go to one barber shop and have an awesome experience and be left with a minute amount of whisker in the same trouble areas as when I shave and then go to another shop and have a complete BBS shave. Both are great experiences and both shaves are sticky smooth. Some days when I am shaving, I experience the same thing myself. Some days I only shave with the grain and although I look presentable (always a matter of opinion.....lol), I can obviously feel a little whisker across or against the grain. I think that since we started the first forum, we have seen a lot more compulsiveness regarding the sport and I think that some of the soaps that make big cushion and suds might be better today, but I really don't know. We do have a lot more visibility than in the old days and the capability for information and experience to be shared on a global basis. This is a really good thing, but we also have those who would proclaim products, individuals and even source information as the best or greatest which sometimes offsets people developing and learning from their own experiences.

We do know that there were good razors in the old days as many still exist. But, even in history, there were people who used stones, belts and grinders to sharpen razors so I'm sure the variability there was as big as it is today. I would just love to go back into history and talk to barbers and guys from a couple hundred years ago to see what their shaving experiences were like. Sometimes when you shave with a 100 year old razor or one that is older, you can't help wonder about it's shaving history.

I for one, think that we are making our own history by preserving this art and ensuring that the next generations have the opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of shaving that we enjoy from the straight razors or DE's and all the wetshaving tools.