Straight razor story Via Salon

[fallingwickets]

Down with beard culture: An argument for old-fashioned shaving
Using a straight razor was a lesson in attention, care and self-knowledge. Of course, blood also ran down my face

at:
http://www.salon.com/2015/03/01/down_wi ... d_shaving/


clive

[Squire]

Good link Clive, well worth the reading.

[drmoss_ca]

During my recent avoidance of sharp cutting edges, I had to use an electric razor a few times. "Change the blades every six months"? If it weren't anathema, I could tell how I sharpened my rotary blades on the back of a set of Naniwa hones. Boy, does that work!

Chris

[EL Alamein]

Clive, great article!

A main subtext I detected was the facing (no pun intended) of truth. The hard stop that truth imparts is liberating. In this article the straight shave is a metaphor for truth - which our civilization hungers for amidst everything else that is fed to us.

Chris

[CMur12]

It was a good description of the author's experience learning to shave with a straight.

His comments about beards, however, were biased, judgmental, and bordered on bigotry.

I've worn a beard for 43 years, though I keep it neatly trimmed, shave my neck, and shape it at the cheeks.

The beard has been a natural part of manhood for a long time - much longer than the clean-shaven face - and I feel that some whiskers should be left to grow in recognition of this bit of masculine reality. (Note that I say this is how I feel about the matter. I'm not telling anyone else what they should or shouldn't do. The author of the article shouldn't, either.)

- Murray

[fallingwickets]

how I sharpened my rotary blades on the back of a set of Naniwa hones. Boy, does that work!

It would only be a surprise to me if you didnt sharpen the blades.......Im shocked they weren't stropped

clive
these shaving geeks never fail to amaze

[fallingwickets]

P.S......Sorry, I couldnt resist posting after Murrays beard comments......FYI....totally off topic (sort of...see 1.09)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_HGqPGp9iY
Portlandia - Dream of the 1890s

[brothers]

Murray, the comments about beard-wearers were a bit strong.

[CMur12]

Clive, no problems here with you posting the article - interesting website, by the way - and the Portlandia video was so ... Portland.

Then again, I'm a Washingtonian, and while we have our own identity in this state we have more in common with Oregon than any other state in the union. (Note that this is Washington. Our most dysfunctional federal government is in Washington DC!)

- Murray

[Squire]

Good one Clive.

[fallingwickets]

Glad you gents got a bit of a laugh.

clive