A year ago I tried shaving with a straight razor again. I'd tried many times over the past 30 years without success for even a single shave -- but last year I had the advantage of this site. After study of the basics as posted here, I had a reasonably successful shave and have kept at it for the past 12 months. During that interval I have used a safety razor no more than six times, when I was really in a hurry. What I noticed last time I used a safety razor was, what a less satisfactory shave I got from it. I had seen contributors to these pages say that very thing in the past and couldn't believe it but...I am now compelled to say "it's true."

The advantages: First, I really enjoy shaving! What used to always be a chore is now something I look forward to (still, after a year). I get better shaves. I slow down just a bit more. I have the satisfaction of using well-crafted tools (brush, razor, strop) that my forebears used for centuries, in one form or another.

The cons: I guess it takes a bit longer: 15 minutes to have a full, luxurious wet shave, give or take a couple of minutes instead of the 5 minutes a safety razor takes but that's if I used canned lather (gag me with a spoon! as they used to say) rather than freshly created lather. If the only thing I change is straight vs safety, I'd say I save 5 minutes max with the safety. Cuts? I have cut myself enough to require a styptic pencil or similar hemostatic agent fewer than six times in one year. And once was when the doorbell rang mid-stroke and surprised me. It just isn't an issue.

Another benefit is to the economy. I have contributed generously to the college funds of the kids of purveyors of shaving paraphernalia. We're all winners here!

So my personal thanks to all who contribute to SRP, moderators, vendors and posters alike. Thank you!