straight razor are no dangerous
- Thread starter ramon
- Start date
Ban "Sweeny Todd"
great one.I think there are two main reasons: First, it seriously IS inherently more dangerous than using any other means of shaving. Second, in terms of practicality it is a bit inconvenient (can't straight shave while my coffee is brewing). That really does include some dedication to the morning rituals.
I would qualify that a bit: straight razors are not dangerous if you are trained to use them. They are certainly potentially more dangerous than a safety razor and certainly more so than a M3.
The problem is they require skill to wield safely and effectively. Skill requires time, effort, and often dedication to cultivate. And if there is one thing that I've learned consistently over the last twenty years, it's that it's hard for companies to lose money underestimating the sloth of the general public (to paraphrase HL Mencken). Furthermore, the financial incentives on the part of these manufacturers all favor the cartridge design that is omnipresent in the states. If the Gillettes and the Bics of the world thought for a second that the straight was a better money-maker than the cartridge, they'd spend a significant amount of advertising dollars to convince the public that they provided safe and superior shaves.
Unfortunately, that's not the case and so straight razors, when they are seen at all (typically in films set in the 19th century or prior), are presented as a dangerous relic of the past that modern shaving technologies have delivered us from. Perhaps that's a bit too bleak and profit oriented an analysis for you, but that's how I see it.
The problem is they require skill to wield safely and effectively. Skill requires time, effort, and often dedication to cultivate. And if there is one thing that I've learned consistently over the last twenty years, it's that it's hard for companies to lose money underestimating the sloth of the general public (to paraphrase HL Mencken). Furthermore, the financial incentives on the part of these manufacturers all favor the cartridge design that is omnipresent in the states. If the Gillettes and the Bics of the world thought for a second that the straight was a better money-maker than the cartridge, they'd spend a significant amount of advertising dollars to convince the public that they provided safe and superior shaves.
Unfortunately, that's not the case and so straight razors, when they are seen at all (typically in films set in the 19th century or prior), are presented as a dangerous relic of the past that modern shaving technologies have delivered us from. Perhaps that's a bit too bleak and profit oriented an analysis for you, but that's how I see it.
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Potentially dangerous and inconvenient, but overall I've been using them longer than I have a DE. The convenience of the DE now has more appeal for me.
I think another factor is the cost of getting all the equipment. The cheapest straight razor I've come across and that looked halfway decent was around the $50-60 mark new. Then there's the hones & strops which aren't that cheap also. Since I've been a member here I always looked at straight razor shaving as a minimum cost of $100 just to get started.
I'm expecting alot of people telling me I'm way off and you can get setup for cheaper than using DE's. If so, I'm all ears...convince me as I'd like to give straight razor shaving a try one of these days.
I'm expecting alot of people telling me I'm way off and you can get setup for cheaper than using DE's. If so, I'm all ears...convince me as I'd like to give straight razor shaving a try one of these days.
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Maybe we should stop refering to our DEs as "safety" razors 
If used properly nothing in the shaving world is dangerous. I have not yet gotten into straight shaving but that's more a financial reason.
Do we actually need to? It's not as if we are sent out into the world to return to B&B with 5 converts!
I think there's the public perception of straights. If a man is curious enough to look beyond that there are plenty of resources to enable him to make an informed choice when he decides whether or not to use a straight. Some of that information does come from vendors websites. Some of that information may come from someone using a straight.
However none of us are here to proselytize and convert people. I think there's nothing worse than someone banging on about their latest obsession! Sure, if a visitor asks about my straights (which are on shelves in my shave den for daily use) I'll discuss them. However I'll not try to convert him nor will I initiate a conversation on shaving just to introduce my use of straights.
I had the same fear when I started. The straight is so sharp that it's dangerous. No, it's so sharp that your shave will be easier!
Maybe we should stop refering to our DEs as "safety" razors
Hazard Razors? Peril Razors?
We each have to battle our demons, our way.
Why dangerous? We all remember holding that str8 in our hands for teh 1st time...the worst that happened was a nick here or a cut there...nothing that required an emergency room visit with physicians hovering over us yelling "Code Blue"
It's the mind that makes the situation more dangerous than it really is. Put a harmless insect under an electron microscope and it will look like the creepiest creature on the planet. The mind is like the microscope...it will blow things out of proportion.
The 1st step is realizing the fear (and how much we have - and for each, it's different), then accepting it, and willing it under control . Once that blade touches skin and you proceed, there's nothing to it...that colloquial "insect" just shrank to a normal size!! It just gets easier
Why dangerous? We all remember holding that str8 in our hands for teh 1st time...the worst that happened was a nick here or a cut there...nothing that required an emergency room visit with physicians hovering over us yelling "Code Blue"
It's the mind that makes the situation more dangerous than it really is. Put a harmless insect under an electron microscope and it will look like the creepiest creature on the planet. The mind is like the microscope...it will blow things out of proportion.
The 1st step is realizing the fear (and how much we have - and for each, it's different), then accepting it, and willing it under control . Once that blade touches skin and you proceed, there's nothing to it...that colloquial "insect" just shrank to a normal size!! It just gets easier
Maybe we should stop refering to our DEs as "safety" razors
We could start telling people that DE stands for "Dangerous Edge".
Maybe we should stop refering to our DEs as "safety" razors
I was refering to the contrast between straights and "safety" razors. If we call DEs safe it presumes straights are unsafe.
I like the dangerous presumption! It makes me feel more like a man when I weild my blade to shave! I think it might turn my wife on too!!!
Any "open blade" razor is of course more likely to hurt you than a protected DE blade is. And the use of one requires more practice than a DE. But its like anything, if you want it you'll get it.
There's just something really nice about using an open blade razor, once you get the technique down. 
There's just something really nice about using an open blade razor, once you get the technique down.
Check the B/S/T there are many excellent quality vintage straights available on a near daily basis in the $50 range. Beyond a shave ready straight, all you need is a entry level strop, which will set you back about $20-30.
Larry Andro (http://www.whippeddog.com) specializes in helping out newbies on a budget, and has really nice vintage quality straights for roughly $30. He also sells a strop kit that everything you need to keep your razor shave ready for months for $19. So he can set up for roughly $50 total.
In my experience, vintage straights are superior to the new production models.
I guess if you turn it sideways, apply much pressure, and drag it across the jugular, it could be dangerous...
But in reality, I've cut myself worse with a cartrige.
But in reality, I've cut myself worse with a cartrige.
