Thread: Why did Str8 shaving go out?

And by the 1920's straight razors started
to seem so... old fashioned, so 19th century.



Terry

I think that's probably the biggest reason: people want new and shiny, even if it isn't an improvement.

I agree on two points: the issue of DE's in WWI had the same effect as in the 90's when Bill Gates was issueing his Internet Explorer for free. You couldn't buy a IT magazine at that time or you got Internet Explorer for free. It ment the downfall of my first browser Netscape. Nowadays nobody seems to use Netscape (or any other browser) except for the few who clingend to the original (and in their eyes the best). That is how we see str8 shavning. We cling to old traditions and we tell everybody who shaves otherwise what they are missing..

And, mind you, I love it!

Second, there is the group who wants to explore everything new. The GM3's are marketed here in Holland with a commercial with the usual elements: a great looking woman, a fast car and a handsome cool looking guy with sunglasses (and a chin he could never shave himself with a str8 ). What boy/man doesn't want to belong to this group?

Referring to myself: I am a archer. I shoot 3D-animals (made out of foam) in the most taditional way with a wooden bow and selfmade wooden arrows. Besides that, I shoot the indoor competition with a state-of-the-art compound bow, with visor, scope, stabilization, etc. Is one or the other better? No, they co-exist. An I love them both.

My point is, although we see shaving with the str8 as a hobby/passion, other see shaving as a chore, to be done every morning. And if they want to use a GM3 or some electrical thing, let them be. We all know better.

On the other hand, let's tell everyone what a great shave our str8's give and maybe we can let the group grow...
I have thought on going to fares etc. to give others the same great shave, just like the old-time barbers. Hmm.. still a thought...

Anyway, just my € 0,02

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Everything is becoming idiot-proof.

Don't worry. As fast as they idiot-proof them, someone invents a better idiot.

Right now, they are trying to find solutions to problems that don't exist to sell more razors.

IMO it's all about the $$

you just can't make much money on a straight (not when they're the only thing and you got competition) and like all old things, they're made to last. (hence diminishing the ROI)

Face it, profit == limited time of possible product use, forcing the consumer to buy more. Why else would they have stopped with the DEs otherwise? You can nick yourself with any razor, wether it be a DE or a M3, the difference: instead of $0.05/blade you now pay 2$/blade for the same product-life(or less), to cover all those 'improvements' no doubt.

(DEs do add a convenience factor over straights)

come to think of it, the only problem gilette currently has (except for their blade-up war with schick) is the fact that their blades still last too long. I'm sure they'd love to get an "ultimate" blade that cuts 'super' but only lasts 1 shave. even at 0.30$ they'd make a killing :P

People are absically lazy and for some reason think newer is always better. Sometimes it is and sometimes not. Lets also think in todays society most people don't want to learn how to do things they just throw them out and buy new.

I tend to disagree there, you'll always have people who do want to do 'what is needed' to get their desired result.

For me however, it usually boils down to available choice: I had not before seen either a DE or a straight razor on the shelves of any store (and can only remember my father shaving with a DE about 23-25 years ago) for as long as I've been shaving and I'm 29... Gilette&Co has been very successful in their campaign to make us discard everything and getting us to buy more and more products IMHO.

How can you make an educated choice if you don't even have a clue about other options to consider, when things intentionally get hidden from you? That's capitalism for you. Less options == you allow them to chose for you and they'll make sure you'll fill their pockets.

My father taught me how to clean a paint brush after using it. Most of the people I know (If they paint their house) buy cheap brushes and throw them out after. We have become a disposable society where it is easier to throw something out (like Mock3 cartriges) then to learn how to prep it for use. I understand that some items are so far back that they are not readily available like str8 razors but if you think about it there are probably tons of things just like that.

Originally Posted by RichZ

My father taught me how to clean a paint brush after using it. Most of the people I know (If they paint their house) buy cheap brushes and throw them out after. We have become a disposable society where it is easier to throw something out (like Mock3 cartriges) then to learn how to prep it for use. I understand that some items are so far back that they are not readily available like str8 razors but if you think about it there are probably tons of things just like that.

Yea and those expensive paint brushes are just like straights they allow you to do a better job on one pass and can cut in better so you spend less on accessories like masking tape too. I just goes to show that if you take the time to educate yourself in any area of life you will learn what the best is, and if you actually get the best from those in the know you will get the best results, not the quickest, not the easiest, the best.

Originally Posted by harold

I tend to disagree there, you'll always have people who do want to do 'what is needed' to get their desired result.

For me however, it usually boils down to available choice: I had not before seen either a DE or a straight razor on the shelves of any store (and can only remember my father shaving with a DE about 23-25 years ago) for as long as I've been shaving and I'm 29... Gilette&Co has been very successful in their campaign to make us discard everything and getting us to buy more and more products IMHO.

How can you make an educated choice if you don't even have a clue about other options to consider, when things intentionally get hidden from you? That's capitalism for you. Less options == you allow them to chose for you and they'll make sure you'll fill their pockets.

There's alot of truth in what you said, though, I also agree that people tend to be lazy. If you aren't totally fed up with the current vogue shaving thingie or into the retro thing, good enough is just that.

On the education thing, I'll take it one step further. The safety part of the safety razor has really stuck. You might as well tell someone you shave with a chain saw as a str8. You'll get the same look. Its a bit of a paradox that our shiny sharp friends are in fact gentler on our faces. I guess we're just a fearless manly bunch.