Thread: When & Why

Maple, I knew that you knew your stuff but I never realized that you were such a veteran.

Originally Posted by Baxxer

Maple, I knew that you knew your stuff but I never realized that you were such a veteran.

Well, thanks, but I don't consider myself a "veteran." It's not like I've been shaving w/a straight continuously since 1975! Come to think of it, I don't think I used one at all between 1985-1994.

I wish i could say 20 years, but it's only been 3 months exclusively with a cut-throat, approaching 50 shaves i am guessing, initially started with DE razors, but then found this site, and saw some razors that were nothing short of a work of art. The reason for starting was like alot of others here, initially to save money on expensive cartridges. That theory has been blown out of the water, but the up side is i actually enjoy shaving. I did buy a razor and strop about 20 years ago but purely as display items, and without the internet, and this website, i don't think we would be able to get the knowledge to hone, strop and restore these items, let alone learn to shave with them.

I am in straight shaving for almost a year now.

Why? Because the shaves are better. Because razors are fascinating tools. And there is the stropping and touchups. It opens a whole new world. But most important, it is pure fun.

As I recall I started about 10 years ago. I used a DE for years before that and I was looking for a place to buy supplies and saw an ad for a straight. Being that I used to carry one all the time in my younger days with the gangs in N.Y it was kind of like a old friend type of thing.

Of course it was easier using one to slice someone up as opposed to shaving but that's another story.

My regression therapist tells me I have used straight razors for the past 350 years, on and off. Apparently back in the late 1870's I used to shave once a week on Friday nights after work before I'd go out on the town. Bearded ladies need love too you know...

I cannot remember how many years I've been using straights - before I joined here, but not too long before: maybe a year or two maximum. I don't count them really, because I had no idea what I was really doing then and only really a vague idea of what I am doing now. Wisdom may come with years but IME the converse is certainly not true: as Oscar Wilde said, "With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone."

However, I can be definite about why I started using straights. I am ornery and belligerent. Anything I can do to set me apart from the "norm" and thus allow me to criticise the rest of society, I embrace with an open heart and a narrow mind!!

James.

I started two weeks ago so I do not count yet However, all the time I'm asked why I bother. My answer: because it's bad-ass. Then the questioning ceases

I started around six months ago. Always was interested in the craft of it. I've used a DE for maybe over five years and a shaving brush for about fifteen years. I just wanted to put my chips in and give it a shot. I am very happy I did. I enjoy taking my time. Having to focus helps make me concentrate.

Oh great question. Sixth of June 2011. I think I came across it (straight razor shaving) on The Art of Manliness web site, which I think I got to when researching cufflinks, fountain pens or hats (I was considering buying a hat at the time, and now am again). I love old stuff, but not old stuff that you just sit in a corner and look at; I like old stuff you can use; the oftener the better. Hence the vintage cufflinks, vintage German Medium Format cameras and vintage fountain pens. These were all 'stages'. All are still with me, albeit pared down a little (only two pens, 8 cameras, maybe 30 pairs of cufflinks). I'd like to be Edwardian, I think...

After finding the article on SR shaving; and then this site, I jumped in head first and bought a Burrell Top Flight. I am forever indebted to the seller for selling me a truly shave ready razor; it could have been disaster otherwise. I then got a massive gaudy W&B in huge abalone scales that I hated and swapped for another, smaller W&B. While getting that W&B I annoyed the seller constantly by asking question upon question about honing. I'm no handyman at all, but I again jumped right in and got a Norton 4/8 and a Shapton 16k. I've made a great many friends along the way; and got a tiny bit of knowledge. What some of the guys here know about the whole thing still amazes me, as well as how much some people are really in to it.

Shaving used to hold no pleasure really at all for me, but now, it can be almost a main event in a day. I especially love the looks of amazement you get when people find out (are told, whether they like it or not, and whether it's relevant to the conversation at hand or not) that I shave with a straight razor. I hope it never goes mainstream, I'm a bit of a hipster I guess, I hate to be counted as one of the herd, I want to be a little bit different. If straight razor shaving goes mainstream I'll start shaving with a Polynesian sea shell from the 30's...

Quite a few years ago.. Back when the army used camo faces everytime they left garrison.. Still had to shave in the field, regular razors cloggered up... Really never knew what I was doing until I joined this site though... Good thing I was a bared faced youth, I only had about four whiskers until I was thirty..