Shaving

I’ve often thought about looking into getting a straight razor for shaving. I know it’s expensive but so are regular razors over the long run and a straight edge is supposed to be a much better shave. Besides, I think it would be fun to try something different with a task that I have to do anyway.

Presently, my shaving routine is simple. I only shave two or three times per week, just before the itchy stage. I do not use aerosol shaving cream, rather a shaving brush and shaving soap. One dish of shaving soap will last me almost a full year -- not bad for just under four dollars! I go with the cheapest razors too, four or five dollars for a fifteen pack of blades and I get two or three shaves with each blade. I can get as good of a shave with cheap blades as expensive ones by my method of shaving. The trick is I shave twice. I get a wet cloth as hot as I can stand and hold it on my face for a moment, then I lather up and shave my face with the grain. I then lather up again and shave against the grain. A little cold water splash, pat dry and some after shave lotion. This is actually a better shave than once with an expensive blade. The best advantage of shaving like this is that I get no ingrown hairs on my neck.

The other day I went into a small shop which sells straight razors and inquired about getting a blade. He told me straight out that I don’t want one. He explained that it’s very dangerous and also a very difficult thing to do. It’s much easier to shave someone else with a straight edge than to shave one’s self. I then asked him what he shaved with and he showed me a razor with a disposable flat blade. I remember my Dad had one which looked very much the same. He told me that it would give me as good of a shave as a straight razor with more ease and much less cost. In fact he told me that if I went to a barber to get a shave, he would use a straight edge with the same disposable blades inserted into the blade arm.

I’m glad I spoke with someone who knows what they’re talking about before diving into a project unprepared and wasting a lot of money. A couple of years ago I went into a knife shop asking about straight razors and the guy was ready to sell me one on the spot, explaining that it’s what he uses. I highly doubt that, he was just trying to make a sale.

My mind is off of the straight edge and I can move onto other things. For now, I’m happy with my shaving routine and quite satisfied with the information I received. One day I might go and get one of those other razor’s the store owner showed me, the one like my Dad’s old razor.