The Straight Razor

[Ash]

I was looking at straight razors online recently and was thinking of buying one.
Not for use as a weapon, but to shave with.



I've heard that they can be quite dangerous to shave with in unskilled hands.
Supposedly, it's very easy to cut yourself with one.

Straight razors have also made plenty of appearences in movies.
Such as in this scene from The Matrix Reloaded:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwhWws4tPaY

Or the scene in The Color Purple when Whoopie Goldberg's character has to shave Danny Glover's character with a straight razor and he says to her, "You cut me & I'll kill ya."

What about you?
Have you ever used a straight razor and/or do you own one now?
Know of any other movies where a straight razor is used as either a weapon or to shave with?

[trekgeezer]

I go to a barber shop sometimes where they still trim around your ears with one and will give you a shave with one if desired.

[Ash]

I go to a barber shop sometimes where they still trim around your ears with one and will give you a shave with one if desired.

I've heard that it's illegal in some states for barbers to use straight razors. 
Not sure if that's a rumor or fact.
Have any of you heard that too?

[Trevor]

Ash, you've reminded me of a short I saw many years ago: I think it was called "Just Lather" where a rebellion leader who has massacred most of a town's inhabitants comes to the barber for a shave and haircut.

The barber has him at his mercy: one flick of the straight razor and the troubles are over. The leader gets his shave and haircut and walks out: the barber says to himself, "All I want on my hands is lather. Nothing else."

I googled it: the film is called "Just Lather, That's All" 

[Jack]

I remember an old episode of The Saint where Roger Moore shaves with a straight razor.  One whisk up the right side, one up the left, he's pretty much done.  Not sure if it was completely realistic 

[asimpson2006]

I've used a straight razor before but not on my face.  It was a challenge but I enjoyed it though when I tried it.  My mom is a barber and she is extremely skilled with a straight razor.  I haven't had my face shaved with a straight razor yet, so I couldn't say how it feels.  I usually get my neck shaved when I get my hair cut and I enjoy that since it feels so good.

If you know someone who is a barber or is skilled with straight razor I would ask them if they can teach you how to use it.

[Andrew]

Ash, you've reminded me of a short I saw many years ago: I think it was called "Just Lather" where a rebellion leader who has massacred most of a town's inhabitants comes to the barber for a shave and haircut.

The barber has him at his mercy: one flick of the straight razor and the troubles are over. The leader gets his shave and haircut and walks out: the barber says to himself, "All I want on my hands is lather. Nothing else."

I googled it: the film is called "Just Lather, That's All" 

I've never seen the film, but have read the short story.

Ash, straight razors take some practice.  I've used one before and you will cut yourself.  I don't use one anymore.  The skill is keeping the blade at the right angles and the right pressures as you move around. 

The reason everybody uses disposable razors is that the blades are kept at the correct angles.  You really don't have to pay as much attention.  Just put the safety razor on your face, press a little, and go.

You will also need to learn how to sharpen, and how to strop a blade.  That is also an art.  If you get a straight razor, put a convex edge on it.  It will stay sharp a little longer and a convex edge should make it a tiny bit harder to cut yourself.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I have always wanted to use one, but I'm scared.  Shaving before I have had my full compliment of coffee is dangerous enough.  I always use a blade though, I hate the type of shave you get from an electric.

-Ed

[RCMerchant]

I'm an alki. Me ...shaving with a straight razor? Not a good idea.

As far as movies...the TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE....when they pick up Hitch...?

"I GOT THIS KNIFE! It's a good knife...!"

The very second that creepy inbred pulled a razor...I'd be stopping the van, and grabbin' a tire iron.

[Derf]

I bought one, but I've never had the nerve to actually use it. I don't think it's sharp enough for one, and I don't have the skill to sharpen and strop it. Like some others, I've seen them used in baber shops, but the one I used to go to around here used a modified version: The handle looked like a straight razor, but the "blade" was a holder for a regular razor blade. They said it was for sanitary reasons that they switched to that style, which makes some sense. I have no idea where they found them, though.

[Dennis]

When I was a young man and curiosity got the better of me I had the barber I'd been going to since I was a boy give me a haircut and a shave, he used a straight razor, while I was nervous while he was doing it I must say it was the closest cleanest shave I've ever had. I wouldn't care to try it on myself though.

[JJ80]

The only time I've sen one of these was in a barbers shop in 2002. An older barber used one to shave the back of my neck. They seem to have completely vanished otherwise.