shavThe modern-day battery powered shaver might seem like the perfect way to rid yourself of stubble but it’s not exactly environmentally friendly since the whole kit and caboodle will eventually end up in the landfill. May we suggest time traveling back to the days of Sweeney Todd (minus the East End gnarliness) and try a straight razor, also known as a cut-throat, instead? Providing you take care of it, it should last you a lifetime and no more will you be at the mercy of manufacturers’ costly marketing gimmicks. Plus you’ll get a damn good shave.

Back in those bygone days a straight razor was the only tool a man had to help him achieve a smooth chin. Patience, skill and dedication were shaving prerequisites. Like double-edge razors, the straight razor is now having a resurgence in modern barbering thanks to it achieving the closest shave possible and taking care of those niggly bits under the nose and around the neck.

“Following the release of the Bond film Skyfall – which famously featured a cut-throat shaving scene – there was a huge rise in sales of straight razors,” says Daniel Davies, general manager of Pall Mall Barbers in London, explaining the resurgence in their popularity.

Yes, you can visit an old-school barbershop to get the experience, but if you master the basics you can also do it without leaving the comfort of your own bathroom.

What You Need To Get Started

At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, the first thing you are going to need is a razor. Cut-throat razors can vary in price enormously, so it pays to know which brands are the best to go to.

Bear in mind you’ll also need to invest in a strop (the leather or canvas strap you swipe the razor’s blade along to polish and straighten it) to get the best shave possible. It’s also a good idea to use a strop paste like Dovo of Solingen Mild Sharpening Strop Paste to optimize the process.