Thread: When & Why

I hated shaving back in high school because of the irritation I would get on my neck. It was so bad. So for 13 years I used a beard trimmer on the lowest setting to keep the whiskers tamed. Then, about a year ago, I got a hair cut and the chick who did it trimmed my sideburns halfway down my face. So I decided, lets try shaving again. I purchased a schick quattro disposable, and went to town on my face. What a mistake!!!! My neck was so red and irritated. What a joke that thing was!!

I then got on the computer and searched for ways to shave, without irritation. That lead me to DE razors. I purchased a Parker 99R with some Astra blades and col. conk bay rum soap. What an awesome experience it was. I loved everything about it. Of course, a straight razor was always in my mind but I never thought id go that route.

I then signed up here and read a lot of posts and other info. I realized that it would fit right in with my lifestyle. Being a carpenter, achieving a sharp edge on a tool, I had already done many times. Straight razors, would prove to be way more challenging. So I dove in.

I've been SRS for only 6 months now. I look forward to every shave, like a kid at Christmas time. Coming on here and sharing with you guys, who know exactly what Im talking about, is awesome. The info, brotherhood, camaraderie, and friends on here make everything worth doing. I'm 32 now and can see this being a hobby for a long, long time.

Harry, that may just be the best reason I've ever read. Pretty good, Ferret Guy!

IIRC 1983 was my first straight purchase which makes me pre commercial internet. Like a lot of guys I was sick of spending money on cartridges. I started shaving with a DE as a teenager & got sucked into the multi-blade hype. I guess it's odd I didn't think to go back to a DE but I still saw that as a disposable medium & no longer wanted to be a "customer".

Now that I think back, I actually started with a DE back around 1989. Basically I liked doing things the old and simple way.

Unfortunately I knew very little and used goo from a can and a cheap DE picked up in a dime store. It was WAY too aggressive for my fine fuzz and I did several numbers on my face before giving up on it.

I received my grandfathers DE around '95 and tried again with similar results and put it in the drawer.

I started with a straight a little over a year ago. Just after my wife gave me an engraved AOS one for our wedding. She knew I had been looking into it for nearly a year and it made the gift all that more special.

I started because of the amount of irritation I got from those darned cartridges. Razor burn and ingrown hairs on a daily basis. I quickly picked up a DE Merkur HD to get me through the weekdays while I was learning the straight technique. After applying everything I've learned (mainly from this forum), I can easily say I will never look back. With the exception of a minor slice I gave myself when I sneezed once, I've never had any irritation since making the transformation.

Thanks to all the seniors and vets on this forum for showing me true enlightenment.

Originally Posted by Elenkus

I started with a straight a little over a year ago. Just after my wife gave me an engraved AOS one for our wedding. She knew I had been looking into it for nearly a year and it made the gift all that more special.

I started because of the amount of irritation I got from those darned cartridges. Razor burn and ingrown hairs on a daily basis. I quickly picked up a DE Merkur HD to get me through the weekdays while I was learning the straight technique. After applying everything I've learned (mainly from this forum), I can easily say I will never look back. With the exception of a minor slice I gave myself when I sneezed once, I've never had any irritation since making the transformation.

Thanks to all the seniors and vets on this forum for showing me true enlightenment.

Sneezing while shaving is a definite no-no.

Discovering the safety razor was a godsend for me for the reasons you stated.

Like you, straight shaving has become my passion. Sounds like you've got it mastered.

I'm just starting with straight razors. For most of my shaving life I've used an electric razor and finish with a cartridge razor.

The electric takes most of the hair of but doesn't result in a close shave. The cartridge does that and since most of the hair is already removed they last me a long time.

So expensive wasn't really a big reason for me. I do like the idea of a permanent blade and the control of the larger handle with a straight.

I like the old school aspect and the zen like aspect. I've always hated shaving and with straights I actually enjoy the process.

I also appreciate that (to me) the straight edge is a better solution to the problem while the cartridge shavers are more of a marketing thing. Basically, it's a give away the tool and over-charge on the refills kind of a scheme.

I started about 4.5 months ago. I started shaving in 1987 with a DE then switched to cartridge razors after several years. I went back to DE after I found my late Father's DE. After doing that for awhile I made the jump to Straights.

Why? The first reason is I always thought it was cool and dangerous, most guys won't do it anymore. The second is for some reason I use Zippo lighters, Fountain pens and now Straight razors. I like things that have "personality" and things that are used a lot tend to develop that as the years go by. I also attach memories to certain things. Disposable items aren't around long enough to be remembered. There also isn't any pride of ownership with disposable items. Third reason is because I like Knives. I would bet that a lot of guys that shave with straight razors also have a knife collection.

Disposables sucked, only shave twice a week cause they chewed my face up. DE's were just the gateway, but I have been intereste in them for years, just pulled the trigger about 6 months ago on the straights; about 2 yrs w/ DE's.

Originally Posted by rcavazos1922

I started about 4.5 months ago. I started shaving in 1987 with a DE then switched to cartridge razors after several years. I went back to DE after I found my late Father's DE. After doing that for awhile I made the jump to Straights.

Why? The first reason is I always thought it was cool and dangerous, most guys won't do it anymore. The second is for some reason I use Zippo lighters, Fountain pens and now Straight razors. I like things that have "personality" and things that are used a lot tend to develop that as the years go by. I also attach memories to certain things. Disposable items aren't around long enough to be remembered. There also isn't any pride of ownership with disposable items. Third reason is because I like Knives. I would bet that a lot of guys that shave with straight razors also have a knife collection.

I know I do... I wonder if you are right.