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

I like the results, of course, the extremely close shave and great feeling skin that I have after a shave, but I don't think I'd have become so ... not obsessed, err, enthusiastic about straight shaving if it was only that. For me, the two things that really hooked me are
(1) the meditative, calming experience of the shave itself, when I'm forced to be completely focused and in-the-moment. It's meditation at knifepoint!
(2) mastering (and I'm not there yet by any means) a difficult beautiful tool, and the skills needed to maintain and get the most out of it. I've always liked beautiful, simple, functional equipment, and I prefer learning a skill to do a task properly, with simple tools, rather than buying a hi-tech gadget which de-skills the user (and usually compromises on performance, too). The fact that lots of people wouldn't dare try straight shaving and think I'm crazy to do it is just a bonus.

Edited to add: Thanks to all the people who so generously give their time and expertise on this forum, which has helped me immensely, and thanks especially to Lynn for setting it up. I assure you I'm having fun!