Who shaves with a straight?

[FLYBYU44]

I'm an occasional straight razor shaver. In other words I only shave with it when I have time as it takes at least 15 mins to do a good shave without cutting myself up. It shaves way better then anything else out there, but it is an investment in time and equipment. I have a Norton 4000/8000 hone, an old leather strop, and a 5/8 Henckels Friodur which is an awesome razor and stainless steel to boot. I intially bought a few other razors at the same time as the Henckels, but I've sold them all now. The Henckels is just very smooth and easy to use. Most work days I don't have time to straight shave, so I use an electric, but I get razor burns and it won't work as well for me as the straight, faster though.

[vampyrewolf]

Nah, grow a beard... there's a challenge :p

I've got everywhere from clean shaven to a full beard in the last 6 years, currently on the 4th full beard in that time. I grow one for 6 months or so, get bored and shave it all off. Just use clippers on my neck once a week.

[FLYBYU44]

I'm required to shave everyday because of work, now I don't mind so I usually shave everyday of my days off too.

[rcbalt2]

I've wanted to use a straight razor but have yet to take the plunge. I'll have to give it a try at some point.

[gandalfe]

I own a straight razor but am terrified to try it.

[urbnspyd]

I was getting a haircut awile back and the guy pulled out a straight razor to clean up the back up my neck. Things were going fine until he made a small slice in my left ear. It wasn't my doing, but no straight razors for me! My mach III works great.

[FLYBYU44]

I own a straight razor but am terrified to try it.

I admit that my first time trying it I was shaking so hard I could barely hold the razor let alone shave with it. Something about holding 3.5" of the sharpest steel imaginable up to your throat, makes you a little nervous. :) I also came out of my first shave looking like the losing participant in a knife fight. But the slashes healed up and I gave it a second go after figuring out what went wrong the first time. With my Henckels, it is so smooth and shaves so well I've never even nicked myself with it.

[JD Spydo]

I have heard that those stainless Henckels are probably the best straight razor available on the planet. I know that they were still making them as recent as 4 years ago and I assume they are still making them as we speak.

I have heard that Boker made some really decent straight razors as well. There were a couple of YOUTUBE videos on Bladeforums a while back which gave great instructions on using them and sharpening them.

It's like the good brother says though... you do not want to be in a hurry when you use them. You could literally fillet your face if you're not careful.

I noticed whenever I've used the one I have that they do shave you closer than a modern disposable insert type razor will.

There are a few barbers who still use them but I doubt if even 1% of the American men or women still use them. Albeit they might make a comeback someday because those disposable blades just keep getting more costly all the time.

[Shenmue728]

IMy mach III works great.

I like my mach 3 too but i have be wondering about the straight. I was even contemplating starting a thread :p I only shave about one a week so in a hurry wouldn't be an issue for me.

[FLYBYU44]

If you take your time shaving with a straight is pretty easy. For me the hardest part is the chin, because it isn't flat and you really have to take your time with it. I love shaving with a straight in the summer, I usually get horrible razor burn with my electric in the summer, but the straight eliminates that.

[GoMeR]

I have a Fromm from Solinger, Germany and i use it on occasion. It does take a lot longer to use and requires some caution. Most of the time i use an old gillete slant bar razor on my face. It takes the old double edge razor blades, which are getting harder to find except online. Both give a much closer shave then any of the disposable razors out there!

I also shave my head daily and for that i use a gillette fusion. Any of the straight razors are just to dangerous for that IMO.

Straight razors have a pretty large following on the internet and there are tons of how to sites with good tips. For anyone who is interested in trying one, get one with a rounded outer corner(like the one pictured above). Easier to learn on and much safer then one with a sharp 90 degree corner.

[JT]

I've been using straights for a while on/off too, and they just give you the smoothest shave there is, period. It is a leap of faith though, for the first time:D
Make sure to get an "aluna" stick too. Its handy for sealing off the little nicks..
I don't know what ist called in english.Potassium Alum?

If someone is thinking of trying it out, make sure to get a good razor. Stay off those Paki blades. Solingen made is good, Eskilstuna, and of course Henckels.
There's plenty of others too. Just make sure to stay off of those cheapest crappy "no name" ones, usually Pakistani made.You'll cut yourself with them. Even if you buy a "name-brand", they're usually not so expensive.
Like Gomer said, there's a tons of info on the net.

[Shike]

Many years ago I used a straight razor 'cause I thought it was a cool thing to do. I quickly realized that I hated shaving and I didn't want to spend anymore time than needed in doing so. So I went back to the safety razors;)
Nowadays, I shave my head also so a straight is out of the question. I do have to admit that once your face gets conditioned to the straight nothing shaves as close.

Shike

[FLYBYU44]

For anyone who is interested in trying one, get one with a rounded outer corner(like the one pictured above). Easier to learn on and much safer then one with a sharp 90 degree corner.

Amen to that, my first razor before the Henckels was a spike point, which is a sharp 90 degree end on it. It was prefect for trimming around sideburns and stuff but I cut myself horribly with it several times because I forgot where the tip was going and it hit my nose or ear or something and made some nasty cuts. My Henckels is like shaving with a regular razor, I just have to go a little slower and be careful.