Why so many guys are turned off by straight razors

Ohhh and I forgot....apparently I need a loupe as well

Pure zen..until the techno track kicks in.

Appears to me that he uses each of those 4 small rocks to create a slurry
of different grits on the base slab...for progressive levels of finishing.
So the real magic is in the small rocks then, not the slab he's honing on?

Can someone break down what is going on here?

Pure zen..until the techno track kicks in.

Appears to me that he uses each of those 4 small rocks to create a slurry
of different grits on the base slab...for progressive levels of finishing.
So the real magic is in the small rocks then, not the slab he's honing on?

Can someone break down what is going on here?

There’s entire websites devoted to what’s going on here. Here’s one:

http://www.tomonagura.com

I would recommend researching synthetic stones.

Pure zen..until the techno track kicks in.

Appears to me that he uses each of those 4 small rocks to create a slurry
of different grits on the base slab...for progressive levels of finishing.
So the real magic is in the small rocks then, not the slab he's honing on?

Can someone break down what is going on here?

Mikawa nagura are a way to get a sequence of coarser grits without buying separate coarse hones. They’re generally softer than the hone, so the slurry is almost all Mikawa nagura. When you’re done with the Mikawa, you final finish using a tomo nagura, a slurry stone that’s similar in hardness/fineness to the hone.

They’re generally slower than a set of synths, but fun to use. Hope this helps!

So...my first three shaves with a shavette were a catastrophe.
And it certainly made me want to stop immediately.

However the fourth and fifth shaves were excellent.

I was making some big mistakes previously....wrong angle, too much pressure, not
enough stretching. Badly messed up and inflamed lower neck.

After receiving a few tips and correcting course, Im now getting some quality shaves.
Still conditioning my left hand to make more confident strokes but Ive mapped out the
moves needed for my face. Since straights are said to be a bit easier, I think think things can
only get better.

I'm not turned off by straight razors at all. In fact, I'm intrigued by them. I bought a Gold Dollar that was reground and honed into a nice shave ready edge by a member from another forum. I used it twice and found it really took a lot of time and I could only do my cheeks. So with time limited I set it aside until I have more time and patience to properly learn how to use it. That time hasn't arrived yet. It will. And then I'll be buying razors again. I'm sure I will NEED at least 3 to 5 razors to make me happy.

I think that there are a few reasons why some folks choose not to use a straight:

1.  Fear - Some guys are afraid to cut themselves.

2.  Results - I think that many folks get more complete/total BBS shaves with a DE or SE safety razor.  Certainly I can get the proverbial DFS with a straight, but I have not yet been able to get the total 100% BBS in my most troubled spots.

3.  Time Management/Prioritization - When using a straight razor it takes a little bit more time compared to a safety razor, especially when first starting out, and learning.  When fully proficient/dialed in, and using a straight razor it still takes a little bit more time than when using a safety.  Gents prioritize their time according to what is important to them.

4.  Paradigms...in society we are told repeatedly that faster equals more efficient, and more efficient must be better.  We are largely taught to stay in our comfort zones, and as humans by and large folks like to stay in their comfort zones.  Also, in Western societies we are taught that old is somehow less, negative, less capable, less desired, etc etc.

5.  Skill Required - Some people just don’t have the skill to use a straight, and they do not care to develop it.  Even back when straight razors were the main tool for facial hair removal, often times men went to a barber to be clean shaven vice doing it themselves.

6.  Health issues - Some gents have conditions that cause them to have the shakes in their hands, or issues in their shoulders.

Those are the top six reasons that I can come up with as to why some people don’t find straight razors to be in their wheel house.

Vr

Matt

I’d say fear, learning curve, maintenance and upfront cost.

I started with a Shavette because I heard they were less forgiving. Once I got that down, I ordered some vintage beaters from the bay. Then went to lapping film. Once I was getting good results, I moved into stones.

For me it's the maintenance involved. Unless I get multiple stones I won't be able to hone it myself. I'd rather not have to deal with shipping it back and forth every couple of months.