Straight razor production eventually fell behind that of the
Lack of exposure. Lack of mass marketing. Less ease and convenience. The need to actually learn and practice a skill instead of just drag a blue plastic thing over your face. The massive amount of disinformation spread by well meaning but clueless people regarding razor maintenance.
Why did safety razors lose popularity? Safety razors lost popularity in the late 20th century when cartridge razors became widely available. Marketing was a key factor in the popularity of cartridge razor systems over safety razors.
Modern razors boast more blades and promise smooth shaves, but the old-school approach to shaving is returning to barbershops and at home. That said, recently the old school approach to shaving, which is traditional straight razor shaving, is officially making a comeback both in barbershops as well as within the home.
Although straight razor shaving continued to be the preferred method of shaving for barbers and shaving enthusiasts as a luxury, it's never regained the ubiquity that it once had in the 1700s.
After their introduction in 1680, straight razors became the principal method of manual shaving for more than two hundred years, and remained in common use until the mid-20th century. Electric razors have also cut into the straight razor's market share, especially since the 1950s.
Many wet shaving enthusiasts swear by the fact that straight razors are superior to other kinds of razors. However, it does have disadvantages. It can be hard to learn, and there is rigorous blade maintenance to keep the blades sharp and functional.
However, the modern straight razor as we know it today was first developed in Sheffield, England, during the 18th century. The first known maker of straight razors in Sheffield was Benjamin Huntsman, a cutler who developed a new method of producing high-quality steel known as crucible steel.
In fact, the only state we have confirmed explicitly prohibits use of conventional straight razors is Rhode Island!
According to this statistic, 85.62 million Americans used electric and battery shavers in 2020. This figure is projected to increase to 91.37 million in 2024.
Double-edge safety razors are often the better choice when it comes to getting a close shave. The single, sharp blade allows for a clean cut, leaving you with a smooth finish.
If you have a hard time maneuvering around the knees, or want to just remove small areas of hair–like, say, the bikini line–then a straight razor is perfect for you. Secondly, straight razors are a great option for people with sensitive skin who are prone to ingrown hairs and razor burn.
Sharp tools made of flint or obsidian were also used to scrape off the hair. 3000 years ago in the Bronze Age, the first metal razors occurred and were used for shaving. The style-conscious Egyptian used ax-like razor made of copper or gold to fight their facial hair. Shaving was also common in ancient Rome.
A straight razor can last a lifetime. In fact, the many vintage razors still around show that they can last far longer than a lifetime. But they need to be kept sharp and they need to be cared for.
Straight razors are handmade
The reality is that it requires a lot of skill not only to know how to shape a blade but also how to put a very fine edge on it. This also takes a lot of time. On the other hand, multi-blade razors are made by mass production methods. This means they are faster and cheaper to produce.
A dull straight razor can cause skin irritation, slow down the shaving process, and may result in nicks and cuts. The feel of the shave will inform you when it's time to hone. If you're shaving regularly you can expect to hone 3 or 4 times a year.
A Straight Razor has a sharpened blade integrated into the handle, this blade is kept sharp by stropping & honing the blade after use and so no replacement is required. There is no doubt that straight razors give the closest possible shave. Until you have tried wet shaving it is hard to believe the difference.
Connoisseurs in the fine art of male grooming swear that using a straight razor gives you a near-perfect shave. The long blade, when handled and cleaned correctly, covers more area per stroke, lessening incidents of razor bumps. It also helps exfoliate the skin, scraping away dead skin cells.
1: Straight Shaving is Good For Your Skin.
Gentle exfoliation, like the kind you get from straight shaving and using a shaving brush, can be great for skin health.
Better Shaving Results
You'll probably experience less irritation, too. A straight razor, for example, delivers an ultra-close shave that can leave skin feeling smooth for longer. A safety razor, on the other hand, will give you a gentle and easy shave with a lower risk of nicks.
The butterfly safety razor utilizes a twist-to-open mechanism head to make changing the blade easy and convenient.
Especially with weekly shaving, even the highest-end cut throat razors get beat up and dull. Honing tools are meant to be used to sharpen and refine the blades' edges, they aren't meant to be used daily or weekly. However, hanging strops and paddle strops are.
Some good quality brands to look for are Waterville, Wester Bros, Imperial, Anchor, Case (W.R. Case & Sons), Winchester, Sta-Sharp, Dorko, Dubl Duck, Dovo, Boker, and Theirs-Issard.