5000 Post Pif! A Genuine Slash McCoy Straight!

[Slash McCoy]

In honor of my upcoming 5kth post, and in recognition of all the help and knowledge I have acquired from the great folks on this board, I have decided to PIF something worthwhile. I am currently on a ship and won't be hone until sometime in September but I am working on a batch of GD conversions right now and have several ready for scales. I will select one when I have 3 or 4 ready. The razor will come with a diamond pasted balsa for edge maintenance. Scales might be walnut, might be aluminum, might be most anything but the razor will be made from a GD66, dehorned, slimmed, faired, polished, and honed on film. Not your daddy's buick, as Shari said. It may have some minor imperfections but will overall be of good appearance and very good functionality. When I have selected the razor, I will post pics.

ELIGIBILITY:
Any member who shaves with a straight or is trying to shave with a straight, and who owns at least one straight razor already. Old pros or relative newbies all qualify but I don't want this PIF to be anyone's first razor. Also to be eligible, the member should have at least 200 posts and for this PIF, reside in CONUS or have an APO or FPO address. I may do a similar PIF later and open it to the entire world of badger-dom. Right now I want to keep it simple and cheap, without asking for shipping from the recipient.

REQUIREMENTS:
Post an essay in this thread related to straight shaving. Possible topics would be why you love straights, why you started with straights, why you think straight shaving is best, your favorite honing method, (no, no extra points for saying film is best!) your brushmaking adventures, how you converted a new straight shaver, what people think of you and your peculiar shaving method, your favorite razor, how straight shaving has made you a better person, whatever. You will not be selected according to the quality of your writing. I just want to see you put some heart and effort into inspiring or informing our fellow badgermen with some sincere and meaningful paragraphs. At the end of your post, add: "I'm in." or something to that effect.

SELECTION:
The recipient will be chosen from the qualified entrants by random drawing, since I am no judge or critic of the written word and can easily be swayed with flattery or agreement to everything I say. Just write your piece and you have just as much chance of winning as the next guy. That is, unless you claim that boar is better than badger, JNAT is better than film, bowl lather is better than face lather... just kidding. All viewpoints are valid as long as you are genuinely informing or inspiring others.

WHEN:
To be determined, but likely around the middle of September. I will announce the closing a week beforehand.

IF YOU WIN:
You agree that if you should ever grow tired of this razor or find it not getting any use in your growing collection, you will PIF it to some other member.

Good Luck, and may the best badger win!

 

[jrp316]

FILM RULES!! (A little kissing up never hurt, eh?). I started straight shaving two years ago next month with a Parker shavette and Feather blades (I've often heard that combo referred to as a form of 'newbie suicide', but it worked pretty well for me). It came as a package deal with a Parker brush and Proraso soap. From there, I picked up a myriad of Gillette DEs and my first real straight: a Crane Cutlery 5/8 half hollow from Whipped Dog along with the poor man's strop kit. The first shave was...okay. Subsequent shaves got a little better with experience, but I started finding my DEs (particularly my 40s Super Speed) to be better shavers. After a spectacularly bad shave with my straight, with irritation, razor burn and nicks galore, I switched entirely over to DE. The straight went into a box on my bedside table and stayed there for around 6 months.

One day, I came in and looked at the Crane razor sitting there in that box, forlorn, unused and hardly thought about. I decided to give it one more shot before I put it up for sale. The result of that was the best shave I've ever had. Even with the experience I've gained and the good shaves I've had since then, I've yet to duplicate the shave of that day. Zero irritation, zero nicks, the smoothness and closeness of that shave put every DE I had to shame. The straight earned its place back in my rotation after that. I picked up another razor (unknown brand) on the BST from Paco which had one of the sharpest and smoothest edges I'd ever used. With those two, the DEs slowly fell out of my rotation and I've been exclusively straight shaving for several months now.

Some time ago, I picked up a batch of lapping film on the BST and decided to try my hand at honing. I'm still very much in a learning state when it comes to that craft, but most of my edges have been pretty decent to this point. One neat trick I picked up here (I think it was you, Slash, that mentioned it) was to use lather on the last stage of film on 1 micron w/ paper. I'm still learning the finer points of 'honing gymnastics', such as the rolling strokes and manipulations to hone slightly warped edges. Those results haven't been stellar, but I'm gradually picking up on it. If you've got a razor with a perfectly flat edge, I can put a nice edge on it. If it's a bit warped, results may vary, see store for details.

One thing I wish that I could've done in relation to straight shaving (or traditional wet shaving in general) was to pick up on it in my early/mid teens. Back then, I had a horrible acne problem and a tendency for ingrown hairs at the same time. After a good ole' canned goo shave with a multi blade cartridge, I had more bumps and craters than the surface of the moon. I think that employing the traditional methods then would've helped immensely with the acne and ingrown issues and possibly saved me some of the social anxiety that came with it.

When I mention that I shave with a straight razor to others, the looks and reactions are quite amusing. I get the whole range from 'Oh yah, my grandpa used one of those. I think I still have it...you want it?' to the horrified 'OHMAGOSH you're gonna cut your face off with one of those! You'll cut your head off if you're not careful! Why don't you use a normal razor like a normal person?' The latter of these can be really fun to wind up...mention that your razor is used or vintage and see the look you get. By the way, I've had several people mention the 'grandpa razor' scenario as above, but never once have I received a razor as a result of it.

I haven't converted anyone over to the idea of straight shaving themselves yet, but I've at least opened my father up to the idea. I took my kit over to his house one day after deciding a 'shave and a haircut' was in order. My wife gave him his haircut (she's better at that than I am any day) while I handled the shave. I went all out for it: hot towel prep with warm Proraso lather, two pass straight shave, cold towel and Proraso aftershave for a finisher. Barber shop treatment the whole way...the only thing that would've made it better would've been if I had some wildroot cream oil on hand. He was quite well pleased with the shave quality (and I was too, since it was my 1st time shaving someone else). He's not really on board with the idea of shaving himself with a straight, but I've been tasked with coming over once a week to give him a shave.

I'm in.

 

[Blorkin]

Great PIF!! I assume the winner must also post pics?
Please enjoy my PIF entry (I'm in):

The Quest for the Perfect Shave:
A Tale of Conquest and Defeat

Written By
Blorkin
​

My journey began many years ago in the quaint suburbs of Seal Beach, CA. I finally came across the sacred age, the age that all kids covet, the age of shaving! As is tradition my Dad took me to get a razor. It would be my first razor, one that I would remember and seal my shaving fate…forever. My razor was an amazing and powerful electric razor. I shaved and shaved not knowing the wonders that lay ahead.

Many moons later I went to college. At college I learned how different I was from all the other kids. I had more classical (old school tastes). All the other kids were satisfied with their shaving routines, never thinking there has to be something better than this. I wanted more, no I needed more. I was consumed with my desire to seek out something better. I knew I would not be satisfied with the latest and newest 5 blade razor with vibrating action. So I went on a quest to find the perfect shave.

My quest started by realizing that in order to get the perfect shave I need the perfect shaving device. How to acquire such device? Once acquired how would I use it? These were just some of the question I had. So I searched and searched the vast internet. Then, one day, I stumbled into the obsequious temple of Badger & Blade. O the wonders that my eyes beheld. Everyone was so dedicated to their craft. I knew at this moment I was home.

After months and months of training learning the essentials, such as forming a lather, I was ready. The wise ones approached me and said “It is time for you to choose.” In front of me was a beautifully doubled edged safety razor and the most brilliantly straight razor. These were the tools of the shaving gods and I had to choose my path. I felt pulled to the safety razor and made my choice.

A few moons later I started to regret my choice in front of the wise ones. I started longing for more, a new challenge. But, no one has ever gone back on a choice in front of the wise ones! So I lived with my choice, secretly learning the ways of the straight razor. Then one night I was caught! I thought this was the end, that I would be expelled for the Badger & Blade temple. But it was not an end, it was a second beginning. I was brought before the wise ones to make a choice that I had made once before.

Before reaching the inner sanctum of the temple Badger & Blade, I greeted by my mentors. They told me to take a moment to realize my humble beginnings and to reflect on the decision I was about make. The then lead me to the inner sanctum, I entered alone. I approached the center of the room and the door behind me closed. Arranged in a circle around me were the statues of gods of shaving. Slowly a table arose; upon it was a straight razor. Not the brilliant razor that the wise ones presented to me many moons ago. It was a simple razor, but unlike none I had ever seen before. I picked up the razor and then a brush appeared laden with a perfect lather. I knew I had to shave. However, I was confused. How was I to shave without a mirror or water? But then I heard a voice, it said “Close your eyes and let the razor be your guide.” I did just that. The razor glided across my face with a precision I have never known, I had attained the perfect shave.

 

[Chaloney]

Great pif.

Here's my take on how to learn to use a straight:

Just shave with it. Do it carefully. Consider limiting it to just wtg on your cheeks til u feel comfortable. Take your time. Set the razor flat against the bottom of your sideburn after pulling the sideburn up with your other hand. Slowly move the spine slowly off your sideburn and shave. In a surprisingly short time this will be a comfortable movement. Then add your neck. Do the chin and mustache area with your dominant hand. After a while you will be shaving and suddenly realize you are shaving this area with your off hand. (I got to this point about 3 weeks in--looked in the mirror and said to myself, "what the heck is my left hand doing!?"). It's a largely unconscious process. The more you do it the better and more comfortable you will be.

And I'm in--always wanted to try on of "banned for life, twice"'s blades

 

[temjeito]

I've always loved horror and sci-fi, and some of my favorite stuff is what you might call "post-apocalyptic" -- that is, books and movies or TV shows that explore how a group of people handles life in a completely changed/destroyed world (post-WWIII, post-zombie apocalypse, etc.). Stephen King's The Stand is probably the quintessential example. I eat that stuff up and, ever since I was a kid, I've been preparing for the apocalypse in my own way.

Not in a serious, methodical, or rational way, but in a haphazard, "excuse to learn and do cool stuff" kind of way. I learned to drive stick because a sentient supercomputer could take over all the automatics. Turns out stick is way more fun to drive. I learned to ride a motorcycle because it is the best way to get around when the highways are clogged with crashed cars full of dead bodies. Turns out, riding and maintaining a bike, and hanging out with others who do the same, is a hugely positive lifestyle upgrade. I hope someday to learn how to hunt with a bow, and to field dress game.

I don't expect to be a survivor in a post-apocalyptic nightmarescape, nor do I expect most of the skills I've acquired would actually be of much use (I'm the anti-Neeson: "I have a very arcane set of skills, and I'm not terribly good at any of them."). But the underlying message in most, if not all, of the post-apocalyptic stories is that humanity survives or fails based on its ability to come together across tribal lines to join forces against a common enemy. So, my version of "preparing for the apocalypse" hasn't been so much about becoming Bear Grylls as it has been about trying to have at least one thing in common--one shared experience--with anyone I might come into contact with.

"Preparing for the apocalypse" has led me down some very satisfying and enriching paths. The most recent of these is straight shaving. What could be more useful after aliens burn down all the razor blade factories with laser cannons than knowing how to use and maintain a straight razor--which can also be used, theoretically, as a knife, surgical tool, or weapon? Better yet, this site is the most positive embodiment of what the post-apocalyptic fiction teaches us is both humanity's greatest strength and its most crippling weakness: community. If we don't stick together, despite our differences, we'll die. But overcoming our differences means stepping over the lines that define our own communities, and the fear of crossing that line is often what turns would-be heroes into villains.

Badger and Blade manages to be porous enough to welcome anyone who wants to join, but strong enough to keep us here, engaged and grateful. The people on this site are amazing. The generosity of time, treasure, wisdom, support and--yes--enablement I witness here nearly every day is astounding. This may be the most judgment-free community I know of, on or off line. Our tribalism is good-natured and mostly tongue-in-cheek (except the Veg, which is deadly serious. Have you been chosen?). This is particularly remarkable given the diversity of our membership and the very specific, mundane thing that connects us. Still, it's all eager sharing, sincere encouragement, and constructive criticism. Becoming a part of this community, and wanting to be more like its most visible members, has made me a better person.

The last year has been particularly difficult for me personally, and straight shaving (and restoring straight razors, and this forum generally) has been my meditation and my therapy. I look forward to that half hour alone with my razor more than any other time of day. Whenever I can steal away from my life for half an hour more, I'm down in the basement playing at honing and restoring. The tiny victories and incremental improvements that come with every day you keep shaving with a straight razor have been like little power-ups for me. Daily affirmations that I am capable of improvement and accomplishment. Keeping a straight razor journal has elevated that experience, and created a useful habit that has enhanced other areas of my life.

I can't imagine going back to shaving with anything but a straight and being as happy. The slight thrill of taking a naked blade to your skin (to say nothing of your jugular); the indulgent, zen-like pursuit of focus and perfection that is the act of shaving; the beauty, simplicity and heritage of the tools; the way people immediately assume you are a serial killer and back slowly out of the room when you offer to show them your straight razor collection....

I'm extremely thankful for this site and its members--including Slash, whose video and comments were instrumental in me getting my first (and, as of this morning, second) razor shave-ready, and who will probably be responsible for me learning how to weld. That's a long way of saying, "I'm in" -- and, in the event that the earth is overrun by mutant carnivorous fungus, please know that I'm there for you. Unless you've been infected. Then you're going to get a taste of my Captain's Choice flamethrower.

 

[KindestCutofAll]

Congrats on the approaching 5K, that's huge!!! (quite literally)

Somewhere in time... or the ultimate straight shaving experience for a vintage lover.

I had an amazing experience a while back. My mother is getting older (84 now) and it's nice to help her with some of the upkeep and fixits that she can't do herself around her house. So my wife and I spent the weekend with her in the house I grew up in, to do a little refresh and refurb so to speak.

I have to set the scene here. Several years ago my mother refurbished her guest bathroom and installed all antiques. Tiled the walls and floor to enhance the Old time feel. Claw footed bath tub, pedestal sink, even the toilet has the tank up by the ceiling with copper piping running down.

So that was the setting. I brought my shave kit along for the weekend. My kit was all vintage, razor, Fuller shaving brush, Old Spice mug with shaving puck, and I brought along my Old Spice aftershave (was a favorite of my Dad's).

I set everything out and started my routine. The pedestal sink has the old two separate brass faucets, so I put the rubber plug on the old brass chain in the sink drain. Filled the sink from the Hot faucet to soak my mug and brush. Got out of a hot shower to a steamy bathroom. The window opened slightly so I can hear the sound of the kids in the neighborhood starting their day of biking or baseball, etc. I applied my pre-shave oil, worked up a good lather, then wiped the mirror.

While shaving in this bathroom setting from the late 1800s, and carried by the smells and sounds, I was transported in my mind to slower more simple time. No TV, radio or rush hour. No cell phones or hurry to be 5 places in the next 30 minutes. I forgot about the economy, and politics. After a careful shave I splashed on the Old Spice a little heavier than I usually do, and was filled with memories of sitting and watching my father get ready for work. All the smells came back, even the Brylcream he used to keep his short cropped hair in place.

It was amazing! At the same time I was myself, my father and my grandfathers all at once.

It was with a significant pang of regret when I finished and had to leave the bathroom and be rocketed back to the present day. However, It was a singularly nostalgic and special weekend I spent not only with my mother, but the with the spirit of generations past and a greater appreciation for a slower pace of life somewhere in time.

I did make a small mental note. Next time I'll take my old Griffin Carbo-Magnetic straight razor along with my Medal of Award strop. Now I am looking forward to another weekend of helping Mom and another special shave in that bathroom. (Too bad I can't remodel my Shave Den at home like this)

 

[purerockfury]

Just want to say what a great pif this is. I am not in as I have a cheap straight but none of the goods like brush or soaps to use it. Looking forward to reading everyone's posts.

 

[joamo]

Great PIF! I'm in.

My journey into straight shaving reaches back 25 years now. In 1987, I began to take part in American Civil War reenactments, wearing authentic reproduction uniforms and carrying reproduction rifles and equipment to educate and entertain the public about the history of those turbulent times.
We tried to present camp life and battle in as realistic a manner as possible. One could feel they had stepped back in time. We did have anachronistic items hidden from the public though; soda’s stashed in out of sight coolers, an occasional forgotten wristwatch, and other modern amenities. Shaving items were rarely seen. In preparation for an evening’s dance, you might catch sight of disposable razors and aerosol foam or even hear the distinctive hum of an electric razor, but for the most part, even the normally clean shaven went scruffy for the weekends.
As I rose in rank to become an officer, I began to put together a kit of personal, period grooming articles, horn comb, boars bristle and bone toothbrush and soon added a 5/8 Solingen straight razor, porcelain scuttle and brush all purchased from the local Crabtree and Evelyn. Not exactly proper for the period, but they would give a good impression. I was eager to demonstrate how an officer and a gentleman maintained his grooming in the field.
However, I knew nothing about straight razors. Luck would have it that one of my sergeants was a hairstylist and had been trained in their use, although never once using them professionally. He began to explain about heel and toe and spine and scything just as he was taught many years before. We discussed setting up a “barber shoppe” at one of the next events. When the time came, while I sat on a bale of straw, my sergeant lathered me up, and made one pass with the grain, using my razor. I felt my cheeks and declared it a successful shave and gave him my thanks. Sure it had tugged a little and wasn’t BBS or even DFS, but this was no pansy disposable. This was a type blade from when men were men.
I tried to shave myself a few times afterwards but always got very nervous as the blade tugged and caught at the whiskers and I imagined ill applied pressure opening a gaping wound in my throat, leaving me to bleed out on my bathroom floor. Needless to say there was no more talk of grooming demonstrations and the Crabtree razor was set aside.
Twenty-five years later, no longer a reenactor, I was an every other day only, one pass against the grain, scraping foam laden whiskers off my face and hating every minute of the shaving ordeal. One day, looking at the rim of rust on the bottom of the barbasol can, I thought back to the soap lather whipped up in the old C&E scuttle and decided then to change my habits. That decision was helped along by an article or two recently read on the Art of Manliness website. Turning to e-bay to replace the brush and soap I had misplaced years ago, I awaited their arrival and began to browse the forum.
I became an avid reader, going back over old posts, learning and studying, although lurking and not posting myself. When the soap and brush arrived, I was having a blast lathering and chasing BBS with my disposable and eagerly browsing the used vintage razor listings.
One night while looking for a misplaced item, I let out a whoop when I happened to find my long missing Crabtree razor in a workbench junk drawer. Of course, I took it straight to the bathroom and lathered up. Taking a tentative wtg pass, all of the old fear of gouging out cheek chunks returned… but now I knew the rough cut and tugging was because it was never ‘shave ready’ and needed to be sharpened.
Sending it out to be honed, it was returned with a keen edge and the honer’s opinion that the Crabtree was an ‘exceptional’ blade. It certainly had become one through his attentions. What a transformation, from a stuttering chop, chop, to a smooth swikkk as whiskers were cleanly sliced away! Thanks to a proper edge and knowledge gained from the forum I was learning how to get smooth shaves from a razor that could give me a lifetime of blissful BBS.


Then I discovered single edge razors and they became my go to razors.

I still pull out the straights now and then when I'm inclined and the wife insists on a straight when I shave her legs.

 

[Slash McCoy]

Lovely posts, everyone! Just a reminder, be sure to add "I'm in" or something like that at the end so I know you aren't just sharing with us and you want to throw your hat in the ring for the PIF, which is after all the whole point of the thread.

Here are some pics of what I got going on so far. In the first pic is one nearly finished with the polishing, and another one nearly finished with the hand sanding. The next pic shows one in junk recycled scales just for temporary use, one that has had only most of the coarse grinding done, one that is sanded to 1000 grit but not polished, and three that are polished and ready for scales. In the last pic I have added a pair of walnut scales and a pair of aluminum scales.

The aluminum is a hassle. I started out with 1/8" stock and figured I could sand it down by hand to where it is light and flexible. Well, it takes longer than I thought even though aluminum is pretty soft. Normally I would use a belt sander to rough it into slightly oversize, but I don't have one. I might simply hollow out the inner face with the Dremel. I might get a belt sander in Norfolk... only problem is I hate running a load like that off a transformer and the ship is 220v. I might just forget about the aluminum and go acrylic. I only have enough wood for two more pairs of scales.

The best of the litter I will keep for my seven day set. Someone wants to buy one but I don't think it will be going to a good home where it is appreciated so the second best will probably be the PIF, whichever one it turns out to be. I want one of the shorties for my rotation and out of the remainder I might pick out another one to PIF. None will be for sale, from this batch, I am thinking. Maybe next batch. I intend to order about 20 or 30 GD66's and have them waiting on me when I get home in September.

Your responses have been awesome, everyone! Keep them coming! And please add "I'm in" to your posts if you are in!

 

[Hangten]

I am in! Just a hair shy of 200 but I promise to push my numbers. I want in because of that razor with the wood scales above. If I don't win hold that for me! Film rules and you've got some serious skill! Alright, enough with the brown nosing. I started in straight shaving almost 7 months ago after a friend saw my disgust with cartridges and the pain they were causing me. I was sold on the aspect that it would give me a better shave and also be cheaper in the long run. I grabbed a Whipped dog sight unseen and waited patiently by the mailbox. When it arrived the 96 hours of research I put in on B&B and YouTube helped me to have a couple of great starter shaves. Well, my stropping technique was so poor that I ended up rounding my edge off and continued to try shaving with it. Alas I was frustrated. I good friend lent me an eBay buy that he had procured and told me to get it sharpened. I took it to a place that sharpens knives along with my straight and had them sharpened; since she said she could do it. Well she sharpened them both on a wheel that looked a lot like a grinder and told me that is how her dad sharpens his. So I (not knowing any better) said great and took them home. That night I shaved....."Yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaooooooooowwwwww!" I gave myself a 2 inch laceration down my cheek that was right in the middle of the blade. I was able to stop the bleeding with a quick tourniquet around my neck. Well, at least that is what my wife wanted to do me for trying this crazy thing. I proceeded to go back to my whipped dog and shaved gently around the healing area. Well, it gets worse...Since I enjoy trying everything I decided to try the eBay straight again. I received the exact same cut in the exact same area. This time I looked at the blade and there was a burr right in the middle. I called the sharpener and she told me "sometimes that happens." I was 1 step from throwing all if it in the trash, but I decided to try B&B again for an answer. Like every time in the past I got my answer in the form of a gentleman offering to hone 50 razors for free (Rick you sir are a saint!) I sent it in. A few weeks later I got a note and my razor back from him. The note told me that my razor is very difficult to hone, and it was not done to his satisfaction and if I don't like it to send it back. Well, it was glorious! First ever BBS shave and I don't feel a tug or pull. If that's not 100% then I want to know what is! So since then I have improved my strop technique, enjoyed shaving so much that I even pass on a pipe or two to have time for a good shave. I still use my whipped dog but now I am in the hunt for a great new razor. I have also assisted in converting a few people to straights, funny thing is they saw me with that nasty cut and since I stuck with it they are trying and loving it! The downside is I get text messages that tell me about small nicks they get, which are always qualified with a "not as bad as your though." Happy shaving!!!

 

[GreekGuy]

This is a fantastic idea and incredibly generous offer. Hats off to you Slash!

 

[pmaster]

I'm not in but its very generous for you to gift away something in which you've obviously spent a lot of time! Cheers!

 

[DevinLT1966]

I'm in
As I have sat here listening to the entire 16 hours of The Ring cycle opera, I am thinking of the start of shaving. At one point Crog the cave man had to figure out that using sharpened flint to shave may not have been the best choice. So, steel was forged into a sharpened blade. The first guy to use something like that had to be a real man. Sharpening with some crude rock, long before any Norton stone or lapping film.

I'm so glad we have progressed to a time where we can have a selection of blades to choose from and we can keep them sharp without ripping our faces to shreds.

Well the opera is wrapping up. Thanks for the great PIF

 

[Member357]

Apologies, I just read it's conus only, so i'm out!

Good luck guys!

OOOhhhh, I'm in!

My journey to straight shaving has been a very bumpy one, so much so, that apart from disposable straights from Feather and Kai I haven't (yet) had a smooth straight shave.
I've always been interested in straights, but I initially found the idea of honing and stropping to be very much a pain in the backside, particularly as it didn't come easily to me. Recently though, I've been really enjoying some wonderful shaves with the Kai and so decided I was going to make a proper effort to learn honing and stropping myself.
My non-shave ready straights have been shipped off to Rickboone1 to get them up to speed, and I've ordered myself a bunch of GD66s and asked Seraphim for advice. I don't imagine I'll ever spend the time (or have the skills) to make them look like yours, but this time I'll be sticking at it until those bad boys are shave ready.

Thanks for the opportunity, very generous of you.

 

[Chadao]

I don't qualify, but this a terrific PIF. Congrats on #5,000!

 

[Bird_Flu]

Congratulations on your upcoming 5,000th post! Also thank you for some of the knowledge you have passed onto me, it's been invaluable. I'm in.

Here's why I love straight razor shaving.

I got into wet shaving to solve two major problems, razor burn and ingrown hairs, caused by using carts and canned goo. I started with DE's but I was always very interested in straight razor shaving since going to an old Italian barber as a child. After being generously PIF'ed my first straight and strop, I was hooked. I get the smoothest most irritation free shaves from straight razors. There's also something meditative about straight razor shaving, it causes me to have great focus and clarity otherwise I will cut myself. Between this and the luxury of it all I don't think I'll be shaving any other way.

 

[Rschan]

I'm not in but what a great act from a great badger!! when I was doing my GD with out stones or good tools Your advice was priceless.

Hats off to Slash

 

[ouch]

Fantastic offer, Slash. Thanks!

 

[Nosduj]

I started out shaving with a DE to save cash, but was always curious about straights. I ended up finding one on the BST for $35 shave ready and have been in full SRAD ever since. I'm currently restoring a batch of vintage razors, and will be selling them and buying more. the circle continues....

 

[Lamar]

I'm in!

I'm more of a DE/SE guy, but one of the 2 or 3 reasons I converted was to save money. What better way to save money than to convert more fully to a straight, right? I'm a newbie though so I don't have a lot of experience with straights. I have two useable leather strops and as of today, three straights. I had dulled the two I was given fairly quick with bad stropping techniques and had sent them away to get resharpened. Very pleased with the edges. I see a future where I spend equal time or more with straights, especially once I'm able to sharpen on my own. Just today I shaved my head with a straight for the first time and found it to be rather easy, with the exception of my left ear. Not much of an essay, I know. I just really want one and nothing says manliness like shaving your body with a straight!