Thread: Why Do You Shave With a Straight Razor?

Great stuff!

So Obie,

How did this ever turnout for you? Did you get remarkable inspiration from your fellow members here for a great and celebrated article on the why's and wherefore's of shaving with the non-safety style razor?

Originally Posted by Bruce

So Obie,

How did this ever turnout for you? Did you get remarkable inspiration from your fellow members here for a great and celebrated article on the why's and wherefore's of shaving with the non-safety style razor?

Hello, Bruce:

Good to hear from you. I had planned on writing such an article on the straight razor world for quite sometime and had approval from the magazine, but I had to finish a string of other articles, as well as work on my second novel.

One day it dawned on me to ask our SRP members for their thoughts on the subject of why they shave with a straight razor. Of course, the answers were all inspirational and I was able to use some of them. Then the interview with the noble Lynn added more to my background material.

I could only use a tiny portion of the research material I had. After all, my space was limited by the magazine to 800 words maximum, and you can do only so much in 800 words — it comes to about three and a half pages, double spaced.

So once again, thanks to all our SRP members for their thoughts and wisdom on the subject. By the way, I have approval for another article on the world of wet shaving, due in by September 15. Tomorrow I will do the research and begin writing on Wednesday.

These are fun pieces and I enjoy writing them.

Regards,
Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Gentlemen,

I am writing an article for a magazine on the world of straight razor shaving: that it is far from a lost art. I have an 800-word limit, about three pages, double spaced, and will have to keep it tight and well-focused.

Please answer this question: WHY DO YOU SHAVE WITH A STRAIGHT RAZOR?

Although I will not give attributions, I might use one or two quotes, depending on what I get from you. Please keep your answer to about two or three lines maximum, and well focused on the topic. Also, please use proper English. If you want, include how long you have shaved with a straight razor.

Again, the question is: WHY DO YOU SHAVE WITH A STRAIGHT RAZOR?

Thank you, gentlemen.

Regards,

Obie
obieyadgar.com

Great question. I think the feeling of accomplishment is the reason I doggedly pursued straight razor shaving. It's an indulgence with rich shaving soap, a 24mm knot super badger brush, and a scuttle. If it wasn't for that, I would go full-time with the Merkur slant. Right now I use the straight if I have time and opt for the slant if I'm running late. When using a DE razor I use a boar brush and an Irisch Moos shave stick. Either way, I'm getting the best and most enjoyable shaves of my life.

Getting late to this great post of yours Obie. Wish i've seen that earlier.

I started with straights just because i wanted to know if i'm able to do it. The elder generations before me had done it and i thought i should be able to do the same after practice, time and learning.
I didn't except great shaves from the first shave and surely didn't get one but little by little things started to go well. Better than i ever expected.

I'm very much after working with old hand tools and using straight is nowadays part of this all. A triangle of your mind, steel and the material you are working with. Trying to reach the point where tool becomes natural extension to your hands. I'm getting better, little by little and know also that there will always be more to learn.

I shave with a straight razor for three reasons.
1: I like the nostalgia, etc...
2: I used to have terrible problems with ingrown hairs and irritation, but I haven't had any trouble whatsoever since I started using a straight.
3: Shaving with a straight, and all the stuff that goes with it, turns a morning chore into an enjoyable experience.

ok. Maybe there are more than three reasons, but those are the main ones.

As the love of my life states as one of her favourite quotations..

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." Robert A. Heinlein

This sort of lifestle invites the cut throat razor shave to me.

Wow..wish I woulda got to this sooner also but....The artful zen ritual of it,the feeling of self accomplishment,the sheer quality of the shave,the nostalgia and the conservational aspect all contribute to the why. I will never go back to wasteful corporate consumerism style shaving .Now when I have a good shave, it puts me in a fantastic frame of mind and makes my day better.Besides...I'm an old fashioned guy ...loved the article by the way,very cool !

Shaving with a straight razor gives me an inter peace and satisfaction that no other form of shaving ever has. A little bit of heaven on earth.


Silver2

Because I like to.