advantage of straight razor

[Slash McCoy]

Straights are kewl. Straights are green; nothing wasted consumed or discarded. Easier on the skin. More history. More fun stuff to do and more challenges and skills to develop, like honing and rescaling. More meditative and relaxing. Never run out of blades. Straights are uncommon. They set the user apart from the thundering herd. Straights can be works of art much more so than a DE. There is also a sort of elitist thing too, I think. Mostly I think it is the elegant simplicity of one piece of steel as a self contained monolithic tool that lasts for many generations.

[Doc226]

Not all of us. Film users don't care about a bunch of silly rocks.

See below

I am a bit of an anachronism. I have a great reverence for the past and the people who lived then.
I live in a house which has been in my family since 1874. The furnishings are from the 19th century.
Even my refrigerator is a restored 1939 Hotpoint which says Edison General Electric on the label (Running Sulphur Dioxide as a coolant). My daily driver is a 1958 MGA but I am also often seen loading groceries into a 1930 Model A Ford Tudor sedan or a 1948 Mercury. All restored to show quality.
So, it was natural when I befriended an elderly retired barber back in about 1984 for me to espouse straight razor shaving under his careful tutelage.

For me it's paying homage to the men who knew what the terms "gentleman" and "honor" meant and didn't abuse them.

Attachment 263167

Here I am arriving at my sisters house for dinner on Easter Sunday 2012 sporting an uncharacteristic beard.

Definition of Mojo

[duokun]

Thank you Duokun. I recently ran across a quote from Booker T. Washington who said "Excellence is doing common things in an uncommon way" and I suppose that sums up my philosophy. Furthermore, I can heartily endorse it. It's so much fun.

I think that is a great quote. And a wonderful philosophy to live by.

[rickboone1]

I am a bit of an anachronism. I have a great reverence for the past and the people who lived then.
I live in a house which has been in my family since 1874. The furnishings are from the 19th century.
Even my refrigerator is a restored 1939 Hotpoint which says Edison General Electric on the label (Running Sulphur Dioxide as a coolant). My daily driver is a 1958 MGA but I am also often seen loading groceries into a 1930 Model A Ford Tudor sedan or a 1948 Mercury. All restored to show quality.
So, it was natural when I befriended an elderly retired barber back in about 1984 for me to espouse straight razor shaving under his careful tutelage.

For me it's paying homage to the men who knew what the terms "gentleman" and "honor" meant and didn't abuse them.

Attachment 263167

Here I am arriving at my sisters house for dinner on Easter Sunday 2012 sporting an uncharacteristic beard.

I bet you read a lot.

[life2short1971]

I am a bit of an anachronism. I have a great reverence for the past and the people who lived then.
I live in a house which has been in my family since 1874. The furnishings are from the 19th century.
Even my refrigerator is a restored 1939 Hotpoint which says Edison General Electric on the label (Running Sulphur Dioxide as a coolant). My daily driver is a 1958 MGA but I am also often seen loading groceries into a 1930 Model A Ford Tudor sedan or a 1948 Mercury. All restored to show quality.
So, it was natural when I befriended an elderly retired barber back in about 1984 for me to espouse straight razor shaving under his careful tutelage.

For me it's paying homage to the men who knew what the terms "gentleman" and "honor" meant and didn't abuse them.

Attachment 263167

Here I am arriving at my sisters house for dinner on Easter Sunday 2012 sporting an uncharacteristic beard.

You know that the Merc and The Model "A" are screaming to be chopped and channelled with a powerplant upgrade. hehe

I shave with straights because they are gonna save me money when I stop buying big Belgian hones and 8/8 razors. Also they give me a closer more comfortable shave. I cold not shave atg with other razors without razor burn and ingrowns and now with shaves so smooth I hate to stop shaving I can't imagine going back to a disposable blade.

[rebos]

This thread has inspired me to purchase a straight. I'll be watching the B/S/T closely this month.

[Col Wilburforce Buckshot]

You know that the Merc and The Model "A" are screaming to be chopped and channelled with a powerplant upgrade. hehe.

To chop this merc would be a sin. It's a model 114X one of less than 300 produced in Canada in 1948 and the only example of it's kind known to still exist






47,000 original miles but the engine and transmission were rebuilt at 45,000 miles.

[Col Wilburforce Buckshot]

I bet you read a lot.

I always have and I encourage others to do so. At this very moment there is such a proliferation of truly great literature available that one lifetime is not enough to even scratch the surface.

[life2short1971]

To chop this merc would be a sin. It's a model 114X one of less than 300 produced in Canada in 1948 and the only example of it's kind known to still exist

47,000 original miles but the engine and transmission were rebuilt at 45,000 miles.

Ok I'll leave that one alone but lets get started on the Model "A"

[Costabro]

I personally have found that my skin bounces back better with my straight (only 6 shaves in) there's less irritation.

I would have to agree with most all of the comments about straights on this thread. They are cool. There is an 'elitist' bent to them. Guys I talk to stop, take a step back, and stand in awe of my manliness after hearing that I shave with straights. Yes, I do feel manlier after shaving. I have to take another shower after shaving to wash all the excess testosterone off that's seeping out my pores. But most of all, straights are the only thing I can use against the grain without ripping up my face. Having said all that, I love my collectible DEs and find they're the best tool for the job when it comes to shaving my head. The straight would require TOO many times back on the hone if I continued to use it on my head.

[Legion]

It is scientifically proven that using a straight razor makes you dance better, appear taller, makes the hair on your head regrow, and improves bedroom stamina.

YMMV, but I'll never go back.

[Legion]

I always have and I encourage others to do so. At this very moment there is such a proliferation of truly great literature available that one lifetime is not enough to even scratch the surface.

Are you talking about that 50 shades of grey thing?

[duokun]

To chop this merc would be a sin. It's a model 114X one of less than 300 produced in Canada in 1948 and the only example of it's kind known to still exist






47,000 original miles but the engine and transmission were rebuilt at 45,000 miles.

there really aren't words to describe how gorgeous that car is. I am in no way a "car guy." I don't know diddly squat about cars. But that does not stop me from being able to appreciate how beautiful classic cars are. but of course now you have opened the door, we need pictures of the other cars or we wont be able to sleep at night.

[BigBull]

Yep, this thread is HIGHJACKED! Buckshot...show us more photo's of these cars! Stunning.

[duokun]

This thread has inspired me to purchase a straight. I'll be watching the B/S/T closely this month.

I would also check out Larry over at Whipped Dog, his poor man bundle is a great way to get into straight razor shaving at an affordable price. His sight unseen deal is $55, and gets you a very usable straight razor and a basic, but perfectly usable strop. That way you can have a razor that is absolutely guaranteed to be shave ready when you get it and your cost isnt so much that you cry if you accidentally damage the razor by dropping it into the sink while trying to get used to how to hold a straight or if you accidentally knock it against the faucet while rinsing it off.

[Chicago]

I am a bit of an anachronism. I have a great reverence for the past and the people who lived then.
I live in a house which has been in my family since 1874. The furnishings are from the 19th century.
Even my refrigerator is a restored 1939 Hotpoint which says Edison General Electric on the label (Running Sulphur Dioxide as a coolant). My daily driver is a 1958 MGA but I am also often seen loading groceries into a 1930 Model A Ford Tudor sedan or a 1948 Mercury. All restored to show quality.
So, it was natural when I befriended an elderly retired barber back in about 1984 for me to espouse straight razor shaving under his careful tutelage.

For me it's paying homage to the men who knew what the terms "gentleman" and "honor" meant and didn't abuse them.

Attachment 263167

Here I am arriving at my sisters house for dinner on Easter Sunday 2012 sporting an uncharacteristic beard.

Holy hell...now THIS is what "cool" is all about.

Well played, sir, well played.

[Col Wilburforce Buckshot]

Yep, this thread is HIGHJACKED! Buckshot...show us more photo's of these cars! Stunning.

I apologize for hijacking the thread. It was certainly not intentional.
However, my previous posts are analogous to the subject because I feel that if you are going to do anything do it with some sort of style. This includes shaving. And that, gentlemen, is the premier advantage of straight razor shaving. It, like maintaining antique cars for use on the road, requires discipline and diligence which, in itself, sets one apart from most other men.