Are You Mocked For Your Shaving Choice and Hobby?

[Saloogie]

I can't say I've been mocked for this interest of ours, at least to my face!

Some of my friends actually think it's interesting in an odd sort of way, but I have a miserable record of making converts. I've tried, sending video links of wet shaving and store links like Shaving Emporium to guys, but they are really stuck in their ways. They all think a can of Barbasol and a Mach 3 are the ultimate and the only way to shave! They perk up a little when I tell them how cheap DE shaving can be, but even that isn't enough to turn them.

Gillette has done a masterful job of conning, oops, I mean selling(!) cartridge razor shaving to the masses.

 

[Quaznoid]

No

 

[slimshavy]

I found out a neighbor shaves with a DE and was excited to unload all of this on him, only to learn that he thinks about shaving as little as anyone who uses a cartridge. He doesn't know what kind of razor it is, doesn't know what kind of blades he uses. It's cheap and gets the job done; he would just as soon talk about brushing his teeth.

 

[Mojo88]

I always found it interesting that wherever I worked shaving was a topic of discussion with other men. It usually started out with a discussion on how expensive cartridges were and how much everyone felt we were being gouged. Once I discovered wet shaving I would talk about my experience and some guys would give it a try. I gifted several razors and have no idea if they kept the razors or sold them. Did they mock me? Maybe, but I was never overly zealous about it. Now, I never talk about shaving. If you gauge how popular wet shaving has become take a look at razor prices on EBay or the amount of online vendors. Add to that Gillette has a double edge razor in commercials.

 

[AshleyC]

As far as hobbies, I've seen far weirder. We installed a basement bathroom for a customer a few years ago. He was a strange man and one of the annoying customers who stands behind you, saying nothing while you work.

I had to run water lines in from another room. In that room were two dozen dirty construction boots, almost like waders a fly fisherman would use. All with mud on them. These were lined up on shelves.

A asked him if he was perhaps a civil engineer. No. Turns out he likes to collect muddy construction boots that had been worn by other people. I managed to smile and say, "Well, there's a hobby I hadn't heard of before."

But I think what I was seeing was more of a fetish. I was glad to be done with that project.

 

[cranewarrior]

A asked him if he was perhaps a civil engineer. No. Turns out he likes to collect muddy construction boots that had been worn by other people. I managed to smile and say, "Well, there's a hobby I hadn't heard of before."

But I think what I was seeing was more of a fetish. I was glad to be done with that project.

 

[blethenstrom]

As far as hobbies, I've seen far weirder. We installed a basement bathroom for a customer a few years ago. He was a strange man and one of the annoying customers who stands behind you, saying nothing while you work.

I had to run water lines in from another room. In that room were two dozen dirty construction boots, almost like waders a fly fisherman would use. All with mud on them. These were lined up on shelves.

A asked him if he was perhaps a civil engineer. No. Turns out he likes to collect muddy construction boots that had been worn by other people. I managed to smile and say, "Well, there's a hobby I hadn't heard of before."

But I think what I was seeing was more of a fetish. I was glad to be done with that project.

That sounds a bit concerning to me.....

 

[Mojo88]

As far as hobbies, I've seen far weirder. We installed a basement bathroom for a customer a few years ago. He was a strange man and one of the annoying customers who stands behind you, saying nothing while you work.

I had to run water lines in from another room. In that room were two dozen dirty construction boots, almost like waders a fly fisherman would use. All with mud on them. These were lined up on shelves.

A asked him if he was perhaps a civil engineer. No. Turns out he likes to collect muddy construction boots that had been worn by other people. I managed to smile and say, "Well, there's a hobby I hadn't heard of before."

But I think what I was seeing was more of a fetish. I was glad to be done with that project.

That tops the weird category. I was in an office where we were doing some work and noticed one cube had a stack of banana peels a foot high. I asked security what the deal was and he told me the worker eats a banana a day and saves the peels. Coworkers complained but he said the peels were going to be used for compost for office plants. They took it to HR and he won.

 

[ExtremelyDanger]

Yeah I showed my latest find (fatboy) to my sister and she rolled her eyes. Oh come on, can't you even appreciate the vintage-ness of it?!
That's really why I started using and collecting them, I think they're neat, well-built and functional works of art.
But nobody gets it. *sigh*

 

[AshleyC]

That sounds a bit concerning to me.....

I just did a search of "muddy boots fetish".

Yeah...that's actually a thing. There's pictures.

 

[ExtremelyDanger]

I just did a search of "muddy boots fetish".

Yeah...that's actually a thing. There's pictures.

That was a brave move...

 

[AshleyC]

Yeah I showed my latest find (fatboy) to my sister and she rolled her eyes. Oh come on, can't you even appreciate the vintage-ness of it?!
That's really why I started using and collecting them, I think they're neat, well-built and functional works of art.
But nobody gets it. *sigh*

I think it is probably better for all of us if women are kept in the dark about this thing...this Sicilian thing of ours.

Because if they figure out these babies will cleave through leg hair like a royal executioner's axe and the blade won't get clogged like those plastic disposables they leave on the edge of the tub, it just makes things harder for us.

They are already IN the antiques malls looking at "country crafts" like big wreaths made out of intertwined sticks and homemade candles. I do NOT need them scoring a Gillette Toggle before I even get to the parking lot.

Then they'll find out about Razorbladesclub.com. And the first rule of Razorbladesclub is you don't talk about Razorbladesclub.

Demand will outstrip Supply.

 

[Lane101]

As the title says, are you mocked, teased, kidded, ridiculed because of your decision to use and perhaps (probably) collect DE blades and safety razors, soaps and creams and brushes?
I'm about 6 months into this journey and I'm surprised that if I mention my newest passion to friends or relatives, they give me a thousand-yard stare and sort of mutter, "Mmmmm. Well, okay."
I've added a birth year and other vintage Gillettes to my little razor arsenal and you would think people would at least appreciate the historical aspects of it. But noooooo! They kind of clear their throats and switch the subject to sports or something.
Even my wife, who isn't retired yet or have any real hobbies, rolls her eyes when I bring up a new purchase.
"That's nice, dear."
I mean, I'm only being half serious here. I don't really care all that much what people think. I got over that years ago, when I was in my youth. But nonetheless, I'm a little surprised that more people, particularly men, don't express at least some interest in me choosing safety razors over cartridges or electric shavers after all these years. I'm the naturally curious type, so had I been engaged in a conversation with someone about the subject years ago, I would have been all ears.
So here I am being curious again, wondering if any of you guys find that your friends have zero interest in this hobby/pursuit/interest or if you've been joined in brotherhood with a friend or two or if you just reached the conclusion years ago that we're all anomalies in this modern age of plastic razors and left it at that.

I've a home advantage in that I shaved with DE razors when I first met my wife who gave my my first electric razor as a gift. She just sees it as a willingness to put in some extra effort for the closer shaves realized when we first knew each other while in school and is not surprised that I turned to the tool I originally used.

Otherwise she has no interest in the details of this as a hobby. Same for most everyone else I interact with. My son prefers electrics and has no desire to spend the time on a closer shave. My nephew, to whom I gifted a DE set, played with it a little bit but now uses an electric for the stubble look so many of his generation now prefer.

 

[SalS]

I get mocked because I have one razor, a Henson, and one tube of Jack Black, while guys have thousands of dollars worth of garbage they don’t use.

 

[ExtremelyDanger]

I get mocked because I have one razor, a Henson, and one tube of Jack Black, while guys have thousands of dollars worth of garbage they don’t use.

Easy now, it isn't garbage!

I also only have a few razors and one brush and cream so far but I may very well succumb to the pressures if I hang around here enough haha.

 

[SalS]

Easy now, it isn't garbage!

I also only have a few razors and one brush and cream so far but I may very well succumb to the pressures if I hang around here enough haha.

Please don’t

 

[AshleyC]

I get mocked because I have one razor, a Henson, and one tube of Jack Black, while guys have thousands of dollars worth of garbage they don’t use.

Someone here has mocked you for this? I would be greatly surprised by that.

Every now and then we get guys on here who are from Asia or whatever who just have a clone of a Tech. I never saw any such behavior.

 

[horizon]

Yes, it often makes for some teasing.
I was recently asked what century I live in...

 

[Mojo88]

Yes, it often makes for some teasing.
I was recently asked what century I live in...

I would tell them you are a renaissance man. You live in the present but appreciate the finer things from the past. In the case of shaving old methods are better.

 

[BabyBudaNedly]

Interesting thread. I got into this because of Henson Razors Facebook ads. Purchased one after a month of researching and then went down this rabbit hole. My intention was to save money. I now have a Henson, Henson Medium, Rockwell 6C, and a new Fatip Gentile. A spreadsheet with 20 or so blades to try and a few soaps. Although I will stop buying because my intent was to save money. I wont consider it a hobby. I have much time invested with forums. I have gotten that look when I mentioned it to a few people. I love the community this is. I love the conversations on this and Reddit. I love the reviews.

My wife just looks at me and said I am crazy in a joking way. You know what folks. It’s shaving. It’s guys appreciating the fine craftsmanship of some of these tools. Whether it is this or as someone said collecting kitchen knives. Know what this isn’t? Hurting anyone. No illegal drugs, porn addiction, or some sort of gateway to a behavior that hurts someone or yourself. If someone wants to think you’re re weird for this so be it. It s all 100% innocent. So excuse me while I go appreciate the craftsmanship of my new Fatip. I wish you all happiness and enjoyment in this weather it is your hobby or like me a new obsession.