Why a straight razor?
Simple… it works, it works better than any other method/means of shaving ones face, it’s fun, it has a bit of danger attached to it, the razors can be incredibly gorgeous, there is a craftsman attached the creation of a razor, most other men & women are impressed by the notion that you shave with a straight razor, it’s a throw back to simpler times of yore, but for most, and why I personally use a straight razor – it’s the tremendous feeling of self accomplishment. Taking a blade YOU put the edge on, and getting a buttery smooth shave is like tying your own fly-fishing flys, and catching a fish every time. Shaving with a straight razor isn’t easy, but on the same token, it really isn’t that particularly difficult, keep in mind every shaven man for centuries used a straight razor… surely it cannot be more difficult than what we are troubled with today – like driving cars, and figuring out Microsoft Windows Vista! At least for me, shaving with a straight razor is a wonderfully calming experience, where I can turn everything in life off, stop and focus my mind and body to accomplish something most men cannot do, something that gives me a feeling of pride throughout the day – whenever I touch my face and it’s smooth as glass.
Straight razor shaving is neither scary, nor dangerous; it merely (like most things) has a learning curve attached to it. If you grab a random man – and assume they’ve only used an electric razor their entire life – if you give them a new cartridge razor, 99 of out 100 times they’ll figure it out, and get a decent shave… thus the selling point of cartridge razors – there is zero learning cure. Take the same fella and give him a new double-edge razor, and he’ll probably figure it out… but he might have a nick or two the first time he gives it a go, and he might not get as close a shave as he would with a cartridge razor, however given a week to get used to it, he’d be doing exceptionally well. Now – a new straight razor, give that to the average fella off the street… and they probably would have NO interest in touching the thing to their face. Let’s say they did however – their “new” straight razor would more than likely not be sharp enough to get a decent shave from, and the average man will have no idea how to properly strop, hone, and shave with a straight razor. DE’s, cartridge razors, and electric razors are popular not due to them delivering a superior result, but due to having such an easier, more direct learning curve.
Straight razor shaving, again – although not terribly difficult, DOES have a learning curve attached to it, and there is a lot of knowledge, and direction the average user needs in order to get decent, and pain free results. If for whatever reason, you just simply WANT to shave with a straight razor, WANT a challenge, and WANT to take the plunge and no one is going to talk you out of it – skip section 2 (DE VS Straight) and go right on to section 3. If on the other hand, you are currently using a DE razor (or cannot decide whether you want to jump into DE’s or straights), and are looking into making the switch to shaving with a straight razor – read on to section 2 – DE VS Straight.
The world of straight razors is exciting, interesting, challenging, and for most – incredibly fun, so it is with great pleasure I invite you on this wild ride with me…
Enjoy!
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