Why Wetshave?

WHY ON EARTH WOULD....

If you aren't already a straight razor or DE safety razor user, you might be wondering what the benefits could possibly be to shaving with these "old-fashioned" tools. I mean, gee... the commercials on TV say that the cartridge razors with all the blades that vibrate are the key not only to a good shave, but a better life with more confidence with the fairer sex, better performance on the ice and off... What reason could I possibly have to use these tools that don't even take batteries or have indicator strips?

BETTER FOR THE PLANET
Yes, you read that right. Shaving with a safety razor is better for the environment, and a straight razor even more so. If you are environmentally conscious you'll feel better about shaving if you're not tossing plastic cartridges into the garbage can to go to the landfill all the time.  If you shave with a safety razor, all you have to deal with is the razor blade, and there are better ways to dispose of them than putting them into the garbage. If you prefer a straight razor, as I do, you'll also enjoy the fact that your shave is completely waste free.

SAVE MONEY
You might not immediately think that buying a straight razor for over $100.00 is a money saver, but do some math! Say you buy a straight razor for $160.00... over ten years how much is that straight razor going to cost you per shave? How much are your disposable cartridge razor systems costing you per shave right now? Even if you make the switch to a DE safety razor you'll enjoy considerable savings over time. If you spend $2.00 on a pack of DE blades and get 5 shaves per blade you've got almost a month of shaves for $2.00! Traditional shaving soaps and creams last a long time too! My puck of Pre de Provence shaving soap gets nearly daily use, and barely looks touched. I highly doubt that I'll use it up within a year.

BETTER FOR YOU?
There are a lot of gentlemen who will swear that they get fewer ingrown hairs using safety razors or straight razors. I can't make that promise, so I won't. But if you frequently get ingrown hairs and they're causing problems for you, you should give the traditional safety razor and the shaving brush route a try. It could mean a huge improvement for you.

Personally, the lift and cut technology of the modern cartridge razor had negative effects for me. Every shave made my neck look like the victim of a cheese grater. Now that I shave (primarily) with a straight razor, I don't have that problem anymore. Even using a traditional safety razor resulted in noticeable improvements for me.

ENJOY SHAVING!
Yes, your regular monotonous chore of scraping whickers off your face and neck can actually be something you enjoy. My daily shave is a quiet and relaxing experience now. I look forward to my shave. It is 10 minutes of quality time for me to prepare for my day.

OK, BUT HOW?
A DE safety razor or a straight razor will take a bit of learning to use properly. There are some great resources available online for you.

Badger & Blade is an online forum with a large and active user base. Straight Razor Place is another active resource full of useful information. I don't recommend one over the other, both forums have their strong points. There are other online forums devoted to shaving as well. I've chosen to list these two due to the fact that I believe them to be the largest. If your first language is French, or you are learning and looking for a place to practice, try Coupe Chou Club.