Restoring vintage razors showed me disposable blades aren't the only clean option

I know most barbers today use disposable blades because they think it's more hygienic. But I've been collecting and fixing old straight razors as a side project, and I disagree. With proper cleaning in an autoclave, these razors are just as safe. This hobby lets me cut down on waste and honor the craft's history. Sure, it takes more effort, but the shaves are incredibly close and smooth. Why not give traditional tools a chance with the right care? I've found clients appreciate the personal touch it adds to their visit.

4 comments

4 Comments

flores.lisa1mo ago

You know you're in deep when your shaving routine needs hospital grade sterilization equipment. All that fuss over a blade just to avoid buying a pack of Bics at the drugstore. I guess some people really need that ten step process of stropping and autoclaving to feel like a proper barber from 1892.

terrylee1mo ago

Man, you're totally right about the feel too. That solid weight and the specific sound it makes on the strop is something no disposable can ever match.

emeryj661mo agoMost Upvoted

When I first started with a straight razor, the heft surprised me. My grandad's old Wade and Butcher has this dense bone handle that sits just right in my palm. Pulling it across the linen then leather makes a crisp hiss, totally different from any plastic razor scrape. That weight does the work, so I don't press down, which means less irritation on my neck. Disposables feel like toys in comparison, no feedback at all. Took a while to get the angle right, but now it's the only way I shave.

the_max21d ago

Yeah, that sound on the strop is half the ritual, right? Makes the whole thing feel real.