10 BIGGEST Straight Razor Shaving Myths and Why a Beginner Should Try a Straight Razor
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- Опубликовано: 13 июл 2024
- I’m Matt Pisarcik, founder of Razor Emporium, welcome to our channel!
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I will say, the cool factor is no joke. I had more confidence when i learned to use this and that confidence was with me all the time. My wife would walk in and from the corner of my eye I'd see her looking. I'd just smirk to myself. There is something inherently masculine about it. No guard, safety bar or protection of any kind. Its like a motorcycle.
Very true, I can jump higher, run faster and make love twice as long.
But seriously, if you’re a man that feels you need more manly things in your life, the cool factor is real. Fix something in your house or on your vehicle, learn to shine your own boots, care for your leather, they’re all very rewarding for the soul.
👍
I absolutely love straight razors, unfortunately through the years (I'm over 60)my hands have begun to shake, I've transitioned to the rex ambassador and love them equally as well. I find using a straight razor to be more of a zen experience because you definitely don't rush and you concentrate at the task at hand and everything else for a short period of time gets blocked out. Hopefully this helps.
It takes someone with great wisdom to equate shaving with a straight edge with zen meditation. I really enjoyed your comment, thank you!
It's true, it's more of a nice experience than it is entirely practical. There's just something about the whole process that is so unique, engaging and satisfying. From lathering up your own shaving cream in a bowl with a brush, to applying it with the brush, to stropping, to honing with a wet stone and obviously the shave itself of a singular cold sharp blade easily cutting through your hair but smoothly gliding across the skin, and then my favorite part of soaking my hands in a nice aftershave and giving my skin a good rub to moisturize it and, if I want to do the opposite, get an amazing slight burn before the skin feels cool, smooth and I have no other word to describe it other than "new".
Every man needs basic skills in the manly arts, like straight razor shaving, making a martini, grilling a steak or tying a bow tie.
So true!! I’ll add, chop wood, talk construction, negotiate car purchases.
And cutting and lighting a cigar
Great video. I taught myself how to use a straight a few years ago and it has morphed into a passion of mine. I started collecting vintage and modern razors and now have 20 in my collection. Love taking the time to lather up and shave the old fashion way. Sometimes I do a single pass and when I really want to get serious I’ll do a second and third pass. Thanks again for sharing.
All very well said Matt! After eight months I converted to japanese Kamisoris, do my own honing and have made my own strop and shaving oil. Long story short: You´re right - it can be done!
#5 is not a myth, lol. Once you start getting into classic wet shaving it's over, you will keep buying new razors, new soaps, new brushes and so on, but that's what hobbies are for, right?)
I started off WetShaving with a Shavette so using that on and off over the years really made the transition that much easier. Still a learning curve though. I still needed to learn everything there is to know about straight razors. I had to lean to hone and everything. After a year my straight shaving and honing skills REALLY improved! I can put an edge on anything! Give me something dull and my Naniwa SuperStones will bring it back to life!!!!
💈😁🤙🏻💈
_Mike 🌹
Grandpa's ashes are in the mail!
T
Yeah I absolutely hate when ppl try to jump right into it when they don’t even know how to strop: they buy some razor online that doesn’t even have an edge on it, and they wonder why it’s not working!! I watched videos for months until I knew I was ready! I watched every video out there about the different parts of the razor, the different types, the history of straight razors, so many honing videos, different types of stones and how they’re different. I did all this….then kept watching them and asking questions to people who’ve had years of experience like Anthony and Dr Matt. Glen on the SRP group helped me out a lot too.
The most expensive thing about shaving with a straight razor is not the razor but the sharpening stones to maintain it. But it is worth it. There is just something cool about sharpening your own razor and the entire process of the shave.
I thought old-fashioned safety razor shaving was masculine until I started using a shavette. It is the ultimate in manliness!
To age myself, my first shave was a safety razor ( surprised there’s a 🪒 built in!) and I can’t guess how much money I have saved! Now that I’m retired from the military and retired from industry as well, and I don’t have to shave, I enjoy a shave! The sound, the closeness,… and, as long as I don’t think about my ex-wife, it’s even safe to shave m throat!😂 Ciao!
I'd shaved with a DE for several years and someone sent me a pack of 100 SE blades and a shavette, so I tried it. Like I told CBD, I looked like Ric Flair after a cage match when I was done. But, instead of giving up, I ordered a decent straight, and gave it another shot. Not even a weeper, and a pretty good shave. I was hooked! Still looking for that BBS shave, and I'm over 100, but now it's that enjoyment of shaving that keeps me at it. As for the cool factor, I don't know, I've always been one of the "uncool", so how would I know? Great list Matt!
I shaved with a multi blade cartridge razor for decades before switching to a DE then a shavette a few months ago. I was forever suffering with grown hairs when using the cartridge but have not had one since switching. Recently purchased a Dovo straight razor and yes, there was a bit of a learning curve but it does an amazing job on my face and neck. Still using a DE on my head (like my scalp attached thanks). Yes, it’s going to need a hone from time to time but I was a tool and die maker for over 30 years and as for the English car analogy, I also own an old MGB😉
Great video. So much good info here. I've been SR shaving for about 6 years now and I still can't get BBS all over my face. Cheeks yes, the rest, not so much. I usually do a 2 pass WTG and XTG. One area I can't go ATG with a SR is my upper lip. Geo Fat Boy calls it "The Fools Pass." And yes, I sometimes use a DE or a cart for light buffing and touch-up. No shame in this as everyone's beard, skin type and facial contours are unique.
Thank you for the information I didn't know that! 🙂
The upkeep was what got me interested in straight razors in the first place!
#10 is absolutely true. Experiencing all that was mentioned at this moment in time!
They effectively do last forever. They don't necessarily need to be maintained to last forever, just to be used consistently forever. I bought a straight razor from the 1850s (for 25 bucks) which hadn't been used in a very long time. I honed it up, hit it with a strop, and it shaves just as well as it would have 175 years ago. If it can be used after 175 years of neglect following a little honing, then I'd say it effectively lasts forever.
Also I'd say that the fact that you can grab antique straight razors for 25 bucks lends even more credence to the fact that it's inexpensive. No need to buy an expensive one. You're going to need sharpening stones and a strop anyway, so grab a cool antique straight razor, a strop, and some sharpening stones, and restore it. All that will cost around just as much as a modern decent quality straight razor alone. Plus you'll have a razor older than your grandparents.
Thank you for saying this..
I have been using a shavette for a few weeks now ..
I'm still not proficient with it yet as I want to be and yes I use a single edge razor or de safety razor to clean up..
I think I just don't want to hone and be stropping a blade,so I reached for shavettes and am happy so far..
I'm using gels and brushless cream for now..
I love that the third paragraph on the "Why straight razor?" article on the local shaving webshop is:
"It's fun, and your wife or partner will think you're crazy. "
😂
Which to be fair is probably true
I have a collection of Dovo Straight Razors that cost in excess of £150 each and I learnt everything I know from The Razor Emporium thank you Guys
Great tips Matt!
I have been using straight razor for 2 years. I found a new old stock stone made In maybe 1920 for touch up on the straight razor. It really works for me.
The maintenance is legit the toughest part for me. Have a straight but haven't committed yet due to the honing aspect. I really want to learn honing but it's a real commitment I can't make yet.
It's not like they need to be honed every 5 minutes. i know people that get about 60 shaves with just stropping between shaves and if you have a couple of razors - one in use and one not, then that's months or years of shaving. Unless you drop the blade or bang it on a faucet and damage the edge, then you're golden!
When you finally do have to touch it to a stone, you only have to give it a refresh, so an 8k and 12k - say 15 laps on each will restore it - takes no time.
Buy two strops, because the first one will suffer some abuse as you learn. Or a cheap one and a better one. Stropping your razor is vital to it's survival more than your honing skills.
T
"Faceturbateing" made my day because that's what I do more often than I should.
Great, well executed video.
Nice Vid Matt!
I think "Skyfall" has been for straight razor shaving, what "The Queens Gambit" has been for playing chess.
It really is true that traditional safety razors are much cheaper than the overpriced patented multiblade razors, and a straight razor that you can maintain with no extra cost after the initial investment is even cheaper.
But there is a real risk, because the comfort and quality of the shave is so much better and much more fun; that you will turn shaving into a hobby and spend a lot more on fancy soaps, brushes, stands for the razors (plural because they all look cool), and your youtube feed will be full of shaving videos like this... 😅
(But even if it becomes an expensive hobby; at least you're not creating tons of unrecyclable waste like multi blade cartridges does.)
Loved this video. It had me laughing all through it mainly because it's all true.
Awesome company and awesome videos.
Never liked electric shavers tried them once and gave it to my brother always liked double edge razors and the straight edge razor where you can change one into 1/2 blade but this is a good video thanx
Hey Matt👍 Pretty much spot on I'd say, I gave up Straight Razor use because of the exact things you talk about. Maintenance and time being the two biggies. Cost of the razor is subjective of course but it's all about the romance bro... Thanks Matt. Enjoy!
Excellent video probably further away from buying a straight razor now in the short run but in the long run, probably more likely. good business model to get people to invest in something that’s difficult.
Great vid Matt! One suggestion- All you need is an 8k and 12k stone to maintain your edge once the bevel is set professionally. Heck, I just maintain my razors on a 75$ Coticule. I think you misspoke saying you will spend thousands on stones haha.
I completely agree. But if you're just a little like me and end up quite enjoying the honing you're likely going to go down the rabbit hole and indeed spend a lot on stones.
A strop and paste is more than enough, and really better than stones for maintaining the factory geometry as you aren't taking as much material away.
If nothing else, owning a straight razor will teach you “a lot “ about sharpening steel implements. Once you can successfully sharpen your straight razor well enough to shave with, sharpening a pocket knife will seem like child's play. Your wife will ban you from sharpening the kitchen knives out of fear..lol. I once honed up a Buck knife out of curiosity ( and I don’t recommend you try this..) and then was able to give myself a fair shave with it…carefully! Great 👍 video for those of us who love our straights. Cheers from Nova Scotia.
i was really impressed with how easy removing chippings from some razors was.
trying to remove chippings from unknown kitchen or outdoor knives seem like a major pain, fixing up regularly used kitchen knives isn't hard though.
This is really something of a hobby for those who as he said want to master it or for a professional, not so much for convenience. I understand why the saftey razor was born, it gives you the best of both worlds. Still very cool.
i know a straight razor isn't for me with the stropping every use and honing as well, but i am seriously looking into using a shavette, i've been wet shaving all my adult life (i'm 51) and using DE razors the last 2, i have a nice collection of merkurs and edwin jaggers which i take very good care of, love your channel matt
The stropping (and especially the honing) is what keeps me from investing in straight razors. I love shaving with a DE though. Using a Rex Ambassador as my to go to razor.
I love the 6/8" Dovo "2 Bismarck" Pearl Full Hollow Straight razor I bought from Razor Emporium! There are some old school technologies that will always be popular with people. Straight razors are beautiful tools, and the craftsmanship is admirable.
Number 9 just saved me over $300, thanks! DE and/or shavette for me.
Yes, #10 is, true, good, awsome, fantastic.
Never done it till now and I can say it wasn't bad at all!! Also sharping is easy but started sharping knives at 10 years old I'm 37 now!
lapping film on flat glass changed the game, for $30 I can get them near perfect as a human can get
My daughter and son just got me a straight razor. The razor it's self was 310.00. thanks for the info. I want to learn before I start using it.
Nice explanation, but I'd like to know if you can get comparable results XTG on the neck with a straight razor as with a safety razor (or even a cartridge).
It took me 3 times less time to learn to use a straight razor than an open-comb DE razor. I believe I didn't cut myself the first time I tried it. There were buckets of blood with my R41, Yaqis or my Fatips the first month of use. That being said, I prefer the shavette: less maintenance, lighter, easier to maneuver and reach places and finally, it is sharper.
I used to work in a cutlery store and I would sell straight razors to marines to take out into the field because a disposable bic razors would give a rough shave when shaving dry that was back in the 90's.
I'm approaching my 1,000th daily SR shave, still love every minute of it and have over 50 SRs. Do you know a decent rehab for me?
im 18 and i still dont shave but i want to start off with one of these. seems cool
Thanks Matt, nice one! thinking maybe trying a shavette to get an idea of what it is like. Love the Double Edge Safety razors but heck, nothing
ventured, nothing gained.
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I use a Shavette type, but not the standard double-edge blades. It has a disposable blade that is about as long as the arm. What I love about it, aside from the really close shave, it cleans thoroughly and quickly. If you're using an expensive handle razor like a "Gillette Skin Guard", or something similar, hair is clogging between the tiny blades, and it's a bitch to clean, which you have to do to keep shaving. With a straight razor, you run it under hot water, or wipe it with toilet paper...its completely clean and ready to work. Those disposable handle-style blade refills are expensive...especially if you have to shave every day.
Love your videos and products. Check out the Glasgow Razor Gangs/ Penny Gangs. They used straight razors frequently.
Great video!! Finally, all the myths in one place and debunked! While straight razor shaving isn’t for everyone, for those who want to learn, it’s not an overly difficult skill. It does take time, patience, and you will draw some blood - but, hey, chicks dig scars!!
In my case I found it easier to use a straight razor over a shavette. The weight and size of the blade had a better balance than my parker sr1.
The cool argument had me laughing. Funny 'cause it's true!
Your beard lines will be so much sharper than using just the machine.
like the #10!!! 😊
For years i'm using a safety razor and a shavette for my moustache :)
Here to let people know if the saying of thousands of dollars on stones is alittle high unless you are buying ceramic stones for all levels you won’t approach thousands of dollars. For great results get a bundled kit of stones for 1000, 3000, 6000, 8000. Then a good thing from there get a flattened piece of glass and then get special sandpaper that goes into the 10,000 and up. Very cost effective and works excellent.
great suggestion
What about a mini Japanese Samurai shaver? How good is the feeling
Does the height of the hollow grind make a difference in performance. ? I have a 5/8ths” and a smaller 1/2”. I’m about to start using / learning to use them and was just wondering.
May make it more or less hard to maneuver
13:15 not going to lie but learning how to code is fun if you love how code works
Excellent video Matt, I think the Gillette cartridge could be used as a spear😆the way it shot from the handle.😁
Purchased a shavette and it gives a close shave. Not much closer than a DE. I can't see the practicality of using it other than getting nicks and weepers. I mean it is cool but my Konsul shaves almost as close and I don't get the cuts under my nose and such. However, the shavette is top notch on my neck. Skin there is sensitive to anything I use. Will be using the shavette for my neck only. It's good to have multiple tools in your arsenal.
Omg I drive a stick and a motorcycle and I straight razor shave….. is this a lifestyle some people choose and others just stay far away from?? I never thought of it like that!! 😆
Will you make a video about the aftercare you need to do to your razor after you have shaved with it? The type of oil, the strop and anything else you need to do.
ruclips.net/video/eof9eSyfr4Y/видео.html
10. You’ll be cool hahaha 🤣 well, it’s not often that shaving habits are a topic. But, I was at the airport Paris Charles de Gaulle. I had my shavette in the cabin luggage. Already in the liquid bag as I know chances are high that it will be checkt for blades. But this time the security was kind of clueless. Asking another security guy. They all kind of like kids seeing that for the first time. One of them “what is that” and I am like “ my razor but there is no blade in it” him “but how…” and I “like a knife, but with a remove able razor blade” … clearly that was a show. And other people stared too. If I was cool - I don’t know. But it was a show indeed.
Ha I love the British car comparison. And yes, wet shaving in general is very much like driving a stick shift.
#10 is true. I got a straight razor and less than a week later I got promoted 😉
Corn Pop had a straight razor, and he was a bad dude.
🤣
the original musical of demon barber of fleet street is actually pretty great
I was all in till the end. I can't really afford to get any cooler😆
Lol 😅
Great video Matt! However, I have to take exception to your spending thousands of dollars on honing stones. I refresh and hone my razors using lapping films. I can get a full progression with 25 sheets per micron grit for under 100 dollars and it will last me for decades. I get great edges and I laugh at all the straight shavers that use stones. It's unfortunate that lapping films are not encouraged to sharpen razors because it it were, then maybe more shavers would get into straight shaving.
i largely agree with you on the lapping film and it's rarely mentioned in shaving videos and the same thing goes for pasted balsa strops which are also great for upkeep and cheap. i have a few stones, but they are convexed in two directions, which you cannot do with lapping film, but you can with balsa.
T
Hi Matt. Have you ever heard the Japanese Super Doll razor? I came across one on eBay but I can’t find much information. Thanks
Nope
Just wondering, would a #11 (whether true or not lol) be if you are good at sharping knives (such as have the patience to do it right) you
will do fine honing a straight razor (at least eventually?)? Thanks!
setting up a razor would involve progressing from medium to super fine stones and maybe finishing of with stropping compounds
while you could get a knife sharp with a coarse or coarse+medium stone which wouldn't require much progression.
straights also relies on their spine to get an angle on the edge and it probably should maintain that ratio or it'd might get a higher or lower angle.
i think it's surprisingly quite different.
feel like my past experiences with knife sharpening might not have helped all that much, but it didn't take too much to get going.
Good video! I'm experimenting with a shavette. Everyone says you will cut yourself the first time and you definitely will. There's way more technique involved than I originally thought, you need time and patience (which is true with a de as well), but that's part of the fun of learning.. I abandoned trying to do multiple passes, I'm just trying to get one wtg pass down and finish up with a de, there's no shaving gods judging me.. One barber gave seemingly good advice, just try to do a small area at a time, one square centimeter after another, there's no need to do one long stroke with the full blade width while learning (or maybe ever, I dunno yet)
Shavettes will cut you much more than a proper straight razor. The reason being that they are a) actually much thinner and sharper and b) have much less flex compared to a proper full hollow razor.
A good hollow/extra hollow will be much smoother and more forgiving with the right technique as the flex lets the edge follow the contours of your skin more.
When I go to the barbershop, he is still using disposable blade straight razor around my ear and my neck. He has a good control on his hands and blades . It requires certain age factor.
I've been using a shavette fo the past 30 years. Been wanting to get a straight razor but am hesitant due not knowing how the blade would feel. In a shavette if I don't like the blade feel, I just try another brand of blade, but in a straight that's not an option. I try to avoid blades that feel jagged and rough. What is the difference in smoothness between the two?
think some steels are easier to sharpen and gets a smoother edge, but how smooth it is also depends on how you sharpen it.
i doubt the average DE blade would be all that smooth. they tend to be used with safety razors that probably protects skin a bit from the blade and the blades are disposable.
no clue about feather shavettes though. they seem to have a small variation in blades and they are made for shavettes.
i don't have experience with shavettes though, but safety razors could feel better, maybe i just haven't found my blades yet.
Nice...
Great video but I disagree on price of stones and strops quality uncut leather can be bought and cut diy and lapping film is a vary affordable option for committed newbies and a shapton pro collection can be bought for $240 with 1k- 12k on amazon
9. it could probably be one of the most affordable alternatives in the long run.
but with a dozen of whetstone and half a dozen of straight razors i don't really know.
As far as the maintenance my SR takes, what can I do about the dark spots the blade picked up when I first started using it?
Our polishing cloth.
@@RazorEmporium the cloth came in yesterday and worked even better than expected. I didn't realize quite how dirty my razor was. How would you recommend cleaning around the hinge?
GREAT video, and a much needed primer on using a straight razor. You almost lost me (and the rest of us) at 1:10, where you casually mention that "...chances are you won't need STITCHES..."
Whoa bud, I'm just looking for a hobby, not an excuse to visit my local EMERGENCY room! 😲🤕😄🤣😂✌
First time i see this video! One word: Well done! A man should always shave himself with a straight razor, these tips are very truth…as anything else in lives it takes time for mastery but it is worth.
QUESTION! I just got my first Stainless Steel straight last week. A J.A Henckel 72 checkered Friodur and someone on one of the groups told me not to oil it cause the imprint could “fall right off”. And “the oil can get underneath the design”.
Fact or myth?
Not sure
I have used a DE razor for about 10 years and the transition to a SR was actually extremely smooth, but that little tingle in my gut, the fear and excitement the first time i attempted the shave was like no other. Now i collect razors and always wonder what took me so long to start
I was waiting for Sweeney Todd the whole time, not disappointed
Tip:instead of spending 150$ on a straight razor get a turkish style shavette cost only like 2.50$ and you can see if you enjoy using that
What an amusing video! I really enjoyed it. Just a little hint: [7:18] The name of the company you mentioned is pronounced "Böker" instead of "Boker". 🙂
Thanks for the info!
@@RazorEmporium 😊😊😊
which shiavette would u recommend for a low price and as safe ass possible?
The ones we sell
Does the weight of a razor make any difference in the performance ?
How is it that you sell the merkur case but not the merkur progress short handle?
Back ordered waiting for delivery
I have a straight razor finally, but man it's intimidating to actually be standing there in the mirror looking at yourself with a razor sharp razor & put that razor on your face & start working.
I tried it a little bit once & I couldn't complete the little trial run I was doing. I have a definite mental block with doing this.:'q#ßq
I can't get over pulling the straight razor down on my face! I'm nervous about the angle, is it right? I'm nervous about the pressure, is it too much?
Owning a British car😂😂😂😂 awesome Matt 👍👍👍👍👍👍
I want to make the jump. Tried to use it, but not managed to actually cut the beard.
...you convinced me....
I'll stick to my DEs 🤣🤣🤣
Hello Dear Matt! ...
Thank you for your useful and efficient efforts.
Just a suggestion/request:
Will you talk about the "A.P. Donovan" Brand too (do you have any knowledge about their Straight Razors), and also Review the British (from England) Brand "Truefitt & Hill" [EST. 1805] - which has a Royal Warrant of Appointment -?
Thank you again. Keep up the good work.
Donovan is private label gold dollar.
Will carry truefitt and hill some day and will review it yes.
@@RazorEmporium I didn't know much about this - A.P. Donovan - brand and thought they might be one of the good brands I didn't know. Thank you for letting me know about them.
I look forward to watching your review of "Truefitt & Hill".
100 shaves, and you will be on your way!!
I use a shavet, mostly because I don't have the proper stones, as well as an old school safety, and even mug and brush, our small town had an actual Barbershop. He actually used a shaper without a gard, not a true shavet. Shavete's are a very cheap way to get into the game. Mine, and others I got, were only $5, NOS, at a thrift shop that had a whole jar of them, just gathering dust.
P.S. I have no idea the proper way to spell it, sorry to any that get upset over bad grammar.😔
Been using a shavette for the last 10 years or so and thinking about making the switch to a straight razor. I'm a local Phoenix boy, when can I come down?
M-Sat 9-430