Walked into an old shop last week and saw four straight razors in a drawer

I was helping an older barber clean out his shop. He had this beat up wooden drawer under his station. Inside were four vintage straight razors he'd used since the 80s. He told me he switched to disposable blades about 15 years ago because clients got nervous. The razors were still sharp. That got me thinking. How many of you still use straights on the regular, or are they pretty much gone from most chairs?

2 comments

2 Comments

lee_ward541mo ago

That there's something special about tools that have lasted" is exactly right. Those razors have probably seen thousands of haircuts. I bet the steel is way better than what you get in a disposable. I know a guy who still uses a straight on his regulars, the old timers who don't care about the whole safety thing. He says he gets a closer line on the neck and the hair grows back slower. Plus there's just something about the ritual, the leather strop, the hot lather, the whole experience. It's almost like a lost art form.

christophermorgan1mo ago

The key is keeping that straight razor properly honed, you have to strop it before every single use or you'll feel the difference. I've seen guys switch to the Feather Artist Club for travel because it uses replaceable blades but still gives that same precise line on the neck. The hot towel prep makes a bigger difference than people realize, it softens the hair enough that you get that clean shave without extra passes.