why and how to use a straight razor
Other than regular safety razor-shaving, which is more like a hygiene-procedure you want to go threw as fast as possible,
shaving with a straight razor is more like a ritual.
But first,
let us go back in time a little:
the history of shaving:
- the first documented use of a straight razor, also called cut-throat razor (what an awesome name :D) can be traced back to the Middle Bronze Age, the 16th century B.C.
That is way back in time, and only the rich and aristocrats could afford to get a proper straight razor shave. - In the roman empire, shaving has been a custom as far back as 300 B.C. but it was not a part of daily routine body-care.
-In the 14th century A.C. shaving the barber became well established, and shaving became widespread, affordable for more and more people.
-In the mid. 18th century, hard cast steel became a quantum leap in the manufacture of quality straight razors.
In the 19th century, straight razors became more and more popular, razors from Solingen in Germany and Sheffield in England were dominating the market.
-Finally in the 20th century, razors with replaceable blades (safety razors) and the invention of the electric shaver pushed the classical straight razor off the market.
a 21st century high-quality straight-razor:
So we see, using straight razors was common all threw the last millennias, and it is a very new trend to use electrical or one-way razors.
Sure, using a one-way razor or electrical razor has advantages like:
- it is fast
- it is easy
- it is cheap
a regular one-way razor:
But on the other hand, there are a lot of disadvantages too, for example:
- the lifespan of the razors is very short
- the old razor is unrecyclable
- the shave is not very clean (a lot of space between the blade and the skin)
- very hard to shave contours
The million dollar question is : WHY use a straight razor?
Well, the major reasons are:
- by far, the cleanest shave possible
- very durable and long-lasting (with proper care the straight-razor will live longer than you will :D )
- easy to shave contours
- keeps you aware that you are alive (a sharp blade on your aorta makes you feel alive every time)
- it is a good training for eye-hand-coordination
- it is more a ritual for own well-being than an act of hygiene you have to do anyway
left: high-quality straight razor for home / right: cheap one with replaceable blade for travel
in a nutshell
In the modern word, everything has to be fast, short-living and replaceable, but there is no reliability in all of it.
So is the modern one-way or electrical razor.
Back in the days of our ancestors, thinks have been done with patience, soulful and reliable, but there has never been a rush.
So is the classical straight razor.
So, ask yourself:
Do you have the 20 minutes for a nice clean shave with a straight razor,
if you could do a rough shave in 5 minutes with a one-way-razor?
This question you have to answer by your own.
Oh and I have made a video about how to use it, but it sucks pretty bad, so i make a new one and will upload it next week when I shave again ;)
I hope you liked my article,
feel free to leave a comment, thanks for reading :)