Thread: Benefits from Straight Razor Shaving?

So, for a while I have wondered whether there were any benefits from straight razor shaving other than the pleasure of it and the really nice, close shaves. The tradition of the mug, brush and soap along with all the great fragrances and razors out there have always been enough for me, but is there any benefit to the skin? Is the exfoliation good for your skin? Are there any other benefits to the skin from using a straight razor? Are there any products that are better for your skin than others or is it simply a matter of what skin type you have?

What do you guys think?

Thanks,

Lynn

Two things started me straight shaving back in 1981.

I wanted nice straight lines for my beard...

Any other type of shaving leaves my face a total mess... I mean pain , red bumps, rash, did I say Pain???


The close shave is nice, but the comfort is still the main reason, heck that and it is fun too...

Started with an electric, used Gilette SEs for many years, returned to electric (top of the line, USD 400 Braun), then DE, then straight. A straight takes more time to shave with, but the result is the closest, and it leaves zero irritations on my hyper sensitive skin.

I find the shaves the most comfortable I can get. Another thing is that I can shave as close as I want where I want, & still leave the problem areas a little less close to avoid ingrowns far better. My skin is in far better condition too, so the exfoliation you mention seems to be very beneficial to me.

Thanks Lynn for bringing this topic up,

And I would like to comment. I apologize in advance if I start to sound kind of like a blow hard but I am just trying to put forward my idea as to what I think straight razor is doing and how it might help people's skin.

So to begin with, I think everyone can agree that straight razor shaving removes (exfoliates) skin cells from the outer layer of the skin. Done daily, its a mild repetitive injury, that forces the skin to produce new skin cells to regenerate. Injury sounds like a bad thing for the skin, but actually there are some studies which show that mild repetitive injury to the skin surface is actually beneficial. First off, it causes the skin to become smoother, and I think all of us can appreciate that quality on our skin after we straight razor shave. Thats one benefit. But also there may be benefits deeper in the skin too, that can help the effects of the aging process. Let me explain further.

Its very well established that chronic exposure to the sun over many years decreases collagen production in the skin. Collagen is the thick fibrous stuff that makes leather strong. Obviously it does the same thing for living skin too, and if you lose it, then your skin gets thin and wrinkly. Thats what causes aged skin to look the way it does. The face is one of the areas which gets the most sun, and as a result, it gets the most aging changes.

There is a technique called microdermabrasion, which involves the rubbing of small salt or aluminum chloride crystals on the skin to produce a controlled superficial trauma. Done repetitively this gradually improves photo damaged skin by stimulating new collagen deposition in the skin which makes skin thicker and firmer and reverses wrinkling. This is well known, and I include below a couple of references from peer reviewed medical journals to back this up.

If straight razor shaving produces a mild superficial trauma to the skin similar to microdermabrasion, and there is no reason to think that it would not, then its reasonable to believe that straight razor shaving could also have similar anti-aging effects compared to microdermabrasion, especially if performed on a regular (daily) basis. It would be interesting to perform clinical trials to further validate this.

Anyway, this is what I think straight razor shaving itself might be doing to the skin. This does not take into account what products associated with straight razor shaving, such as balms etc, might also have on your skin.

I tend to think that if you apply sun screen after a morning straight razor shave before you leave the house for the day, you would be doing as much or even more for your skin's overall health by further inhibiting the photo aging process.

I welcome further discussion by my fellow straight razor place friends, on what I think is an important topic here.

Cheers,

Pete

Microdermabrasion: a review. [Facial Plast Surg. 2004] - PubMed Result

Microdermabrasion: eMedicine Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery

i started in 07 with a straight , after about 42 years of working outside in all kinds of weather rain or shine without hat or shunshades on you can gues what kind of skin i had on my face . with the straight razor along with the soap and pre shave oils that i ues every day, it has helped get rid of a lot of the damage that time has brought on, and i realy like the shaving every thing from the hones to the soap making, so thanks S R P for being here for every body.

Pete I seem to remember reading about such a study in reference to all types of bladed shaving and the anti-aging properties...

I do however think that Straight razors tend to exemplify the good parts of this, and to lessen the bad parts...

Originally Posted by RazorPete

Thanks Lynn for bringing this topic up,
. . .
Injury sounds like a bad thing for the skin, but actually there are some studies which show that mild repetitive injury to the skin surface is actually beneficial.
. . .

There is a technique called microdermabrasion, which involves the rubbing of small salt or aluminum chloride crystals on the skin to produce a controlled superficial trauma. Done repetitively this gradually improves photo damaged skin by stimulating new collagen deposition in the skin which makes skin thicker and firmer and reverses wrinkling.

+1 on that! My dad shaved with a DE till I got into high school and my mom thought it would be cool to get both of us electrics. The major thing I noticed was that my dad always looked haggard after an electric shave but after his normal shave he always looked refreshed and young even. The basic point is that switching away from the DE his skin tone when downhill fast and really aged him. And now that the electric is many years gone his skin tone is back to its young self!

(IME, my post shave face always has that young and glowing look too!)

Originally Posted by gssixgun

. . .
I do however think that Straight razors tend to exemplify the good parts of this, and to lessen the bad parts...

I think SR shavers do take better care of their facial skin too. The beard prep and post shave soothing methods we all use do a lot to keep our faces in tip top condition.

Cheers and Happy Shaving!

Since Marlow was born I haven't had as many shaves as I'm used to in the course of a week because I didn't want to have a razor in my hand when i was looking after the boy. It threw my schedule off and I was rarely thinking about shaving at night. As a result, my whiskers would get longer and my acne would get worse. Straight shaving cleans my face of dead skin and bacteria like nothing else and helps me look and feel my best again.

Oh, and nookie.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Pete I seem to remember reading about such a study in reference to all types of bladed shaving and the anti-aging properties...

I do however think that Straight razors tend to exemplify the good parts of this, and to lessen the bad parts...

Glen, if you could provide a link to that study I would appreciate it.
Thanks