Thread: What is it that you like best about shaving with a straight razor??

It's wonderfully, inherently cool...and fun. Shaving went from mundane to sport/hobby. Memories of my life before wet-shaving are just that much more fuzzy to me now. What the hell was I doing before SRP came along?

Wow!! Some fantastic replies!!! I'm just happy when I finish and find that I didn't make 'Pink' lather!

What I like about it is when my pals and I go cross town for a rumble and the police stop us and find the razor in my boot I tell them I'm just bringing it home after being honed. So they say yea wise guy lets see you shave with it. They look on in amazement as I do and let me go. Often times they want me to visit the station house and teach them how to use a straight.

I like the feeling of connection with the past, of following in the footsteps of those who have gone before. It's the thrill of rediscovering an arcane and vanishing art and realizing that those old guys weren't so backwards after all. Add in all the purely physical/sensual reasons, and it's a helluva lotta fun!

Originally Posted by Matt69

... It's meditation at knifepoint! ...

I love that line, Matt! Maybe...

"ZEN & THE ART OF SCHIZOPHRENIA!!"

I like how relaxing it is to shave since I started with using a straight. I find that my face also feels ALOT better after shaving now compared to when I used disposables. Also the idea "If I honed the razor" that I turned a piece of metal into something sharp enough to shave comfortably. Also all the new items that I can try keeps it fun. Another thing is that my razors will more than likely be around far longer than I will.

i began as a teenager - self taught. often painful as my factory razor back in the late 70s wasn't really shave ready. But it felt real manly. especially in a growing world of metrosexuals. maybe not politically correct there.....
i did drop off for a while, but as i was always working with knives and swords and a whole assortment of archaic instruments {much more graceful and efficient than so many modern things} it was inevitable that i would find my way back and also eventually add razor making {well, attempt to } to my knifemaking skills. i like that they are simple, elegant but highly effective. A single pass with a straight on my face gives me a smoother finish than one with a disposable. When the women at work found out, they often wanted to feel my face in the mornings and then began hassling their husbands. {hhmmmm... the "popular" kinda wore off there with the hubbies }
In short - simple, elegant, effective and real manly.
Adam

For me, it's about the process and the fact that the quality of the shave has virtually no limit imposed. As good as I can hone and as good as my technique is - well, that's how good my shave will be. I control the angle of the blade, the placement of the blade, the pressure against the skin, the sharpness and, of course the preparation. A nice wet shave with a great straight razor just feels great and leaves my face feeling much better than with cartridges or even double edge razors. And, of course, there's the elegance of the razor, the luxury of the warm, foamy brushing, the great creams and the satisfaction of doing a job right. Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh.

For me, I say it is the fact that I am removing hair from my face with a knife edge.

I have always been attracted to sharp things even as a kid, and straights were the natural choice, even though admittedly I used a shavette for the first couple of years. There is something manly, no-nonsense about a straight. A cartridge razor is like a pair of pink fluffy slippers and a pink bathrobe. No man should be proud using them, even though they might technically fullfill the requirements of what they're being used for.

The question is like asking why a sports car has to have a manual gear shift. The answer is that the alternatives are not really 'real'.

Number 1 for me,it's the smoothest most comfortable shave I've ever had.Number 2,I never have to throw away another razor that has dulled or I can't get parts for.3 I get to pass this on to my son,who thinks my razors are realy cool!