Thread: It just hit me - one of the best things about Straight Shaving

I've saved money switching to straights, I'm almost sure of it, though I haven't kept track. Bought a Jones Manufacturing Co round-point and a Sheffield spike from an antiques store for about $15 each, a Norton 4000/8000 and a paddle strop and some chromium oxide for $85 from a Woodcrafter's and a nylon/leather strop from a beauty supply store for about $10 at least three years ago. I bought a $5 brush from Wal-mart and I most often use william's mug soap, and a spare coffee mug, which is like a dollar, and one puck will last me a good month. I will admit to using a tube of C.O. Bigelow recently, but the menthol was a bit strong for me, so I'll probably just stick with the puck since I like the scent and it gives good lather for the price if you put in a bit of effort. That's $151 spent on shaving since I've made the switch. Cartridges cost $10-$15 for a 4-pack, which is supposed to last 1-2 months. If you push it to three months, because you're a cheap bastard like me who will torture themselves a bit to save a nickle here and there, that's $40-$60 a year on just cartridges, or $120-$180 for those three years since I've switched. So I've either got about 30 more dollars to save before I break even, which will happen in about 9 months, or I'm about $30 up.

First I was interested in doing this to save money. It turns out I've spent about the same as using cartridges, but I still think it's money well spent. I have lots of cool razors. Shaving is pleasant now. I'm happy to spend the money that I spend on shaving now, instead of being pissed off. I think it's because I'm buying something that is personal, unique, works perfectly, was made by someone who cares about what they're doing. I'm not spending lots of money on something that was specifically designed to be thrown in the garbage. I feel like when you shave with cartridges, which are meant to become garbage, you are actually shaving with garbage.

And the bonus that I wasn't counting on when I started this: I used to get several ingrown hairs every week; but since I started using straights a year ago I haven't had one ingrown hair. Some might complain that using a straight takes longer, but that time is made up for by the time you save NOT having to dig infected hairs out of your face. And you're spared the red, infected marks on your face.

Using a straight doesn't have to be expensive, but it's so great that even when you let it become expensive, it's still worth every penny.

Originally Posted by Kantian Pragmatist

and one puck will last me a good month

Wow, you must be shaving 3 times a day or something. You sure your pet rock doesn't use it when you aren't looking?

@stonewall +1 i see the razors and to some lesser part the strops, brushes, and hones more as an investment then an expense. at the end of the day everything comes down to perspective. wishful thinking? maybe but i have made many 'real' investments that cost me 10 times what all my shave gear has cost me and i have every form of AD there is.