Thread: Straight Razor Proselytism

I have tried, and failed, feelin like a Jehovah's witness out here in the cold. Maybe if i didn't ride a Harley or drive a 5.7 litre Chevy V8 would help. Folk i know refuse to spend $100 to set up a lifetime of shaving with a cut-throat, but think nothing of spending $20 on four cartridges that last a month.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I'd agree with them. consider what you'd think about a guy who spent every free moment talking about tooth brushes. Or lawn ornaments. Or compost.

... or golf

... women, cars.... no, that's basic survival operation.

Originally Posted by Grazor

I have tried, and failed, feelin like a Jehovah's witness out here in the cold. Maybe if i didn't ride a Harley or drive a 5.7 litre Chevy V8 would help.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Folk i know refuse to spend $100 to set up a lifetime of shaving with a cut-throat, but think nothing of spending $20 on four cartridges that last a month.

They probably had a chance to see Your bathroom and know the $100-story is a damn lie that only You and Your wife believe in ... naaa... she does not believe it either, but pretends, as she wants to keep on buying shoes and handbags.

I tend to keep it low profile, when they hear about it most guys give me the 'I hope he doesn't whip it out here' look. But then again, most of them apparently think that expensive suits and a 5 cent disposable bic and canned foam are a good combo. One exception is a colleague (couple of pay grades higher than yours truly) who gets his straight razor shave and face massage every morning at a barbershop that opens at 5:30.

Strangest thing I experienced was someone from the cleaning staff at a hotel where I was staying on business who had seen my kamisori in the bathroom and requested me to explain what it was and how I used it. He mailed me later to say he'd purchased one too. Call it a spontaneous conversion to the church of fine metal. But usually when away on business I shave with a DE.

Originally Posted by Bruno

I'd agree with them. consider what you'd think about a guy who spent every free moment talking about tooth brushes. Or lawn ornaments. Or compost. It's good to be enthusiastic about something, but don't expect others to share your passion at the same intensity.

Touche, good sir, but think about this...

If I were to talk incessantly about brushing my teeth with a lawn ornament made out of compost, surely one couldn't help but to smile and try to share my intensity.

Or maybe call the men in white coats.

In my line of work, all males shave daily, so the topic comes up from time to time. I've turned a couple people to DE with the help of my barber, but so far I'm batting .000 for straights. On the other hand, the very person who got me into wet shaving only does DE, and thinks that he would "hurt himself or get too much irritation" if he used straights. This is a dude who flies F-16's for a living and thinks he can't handle a little piece of sharp metal...

Originally Posted by RMarsh

In my line of work, all males shave daily, so the topic comes up from time to time. I've turned a couple people to DE with the help of my barber, but so far I'm batting .000 for straights. On the other hand, the very person who got me into wet shaving only does DE, and thinks that he would "hurt himself or get too much irritation" if he used straights. This is a dude who flies F-16's for a living and thinks he can't handle a little piece of sharp metal...:thinking:

Yeah but he knows what tiny pieces of metal travelling at warp speed can do if you collide with them ;-)

In all seriousness, most guys whom I spoke to are just afraid of cutting themselves up (and of course, when starting out you'll catch some scrapes and nicks, comes with the territory) or play the 'no time' card. The former is imho an invalid argument, the latter I can understand to some extent as I get up at 4:00 am every day and start work at about 5:30 but fortunately require only 4 hours sleep/night. I understand that most people will be loth to get up 20 minutes earlier so they can prep well and shave at leisure. Shaving the previous night defeats the purpose, imho. And rushing throught a straight shave...well....

I'm happy to keep myself and my obsessions more or less to myself, although when it does come up and someone shows any curiosity I'm more than happy to talk about it. Most think I'm nuts but a few have been intrigued enough to let me set them up with some gear to try out. So far two have stuck with it. and a couple of others have got into wet shaving with DEs.

I have no interest in actively trying to convert anyone to anything, but if they have questions I'm more than happy to answer and advise as best I can. But ultimately we go back to most thinking I'm nuts.

Pretty much keep this to myself, at least until I can do a good demonstration shave! But I expect guests will start to notice The Kit on display and begin to ask questions, it's a subtle approach

I think you'd need a pretty rare combination of circumstance and person to do a disposable to straight direct conversion:

- Willingness and confidence to learn a skill
- Can take a bit of pain and doesn't mind the embarrassment (told you so!) of a face slice
- Ok with the outlay
- Thinks they can find the time
- Actually cares about a better shave...

There're not many out there...

Originally Posted by xenophon

Yeah but he knows what tiny pieces of metal travelling at warp speed can do if you collide with them ;-)

In all seriousness, most guys whom I spoke to are just afraid of cutting themselves up (and of course, when starting out you'll catch some scrapes and nicks, comes with the territory) or play the 'no time' card. The former is imho an invalid argument, the latter I can understand to some extent as I get up at 4:00 am every day and start work at about 5:30 but fortunately require only 4 hours sleep/night. I understand that most people will be loth to get up 20 minutes earlier so they can prep well and shave at leisure. Shaving the previous night defeats the purpose, imho. And rushing throught a straight shave...well....

I am awake a 4am as well and start work at 5. I agree with your assessment about waking up 20 minutes early to shave. I always shower and shave in the evening. Makes for a relaxing time at the end of the day. Oh, I require more than 4 hours sleep. I envy your ability to function after a 4 hour nap. Years ago I could function after 4 hours. Today, that does not work for me.