Becoming a priestess of the Ancient Greek Oracle at Delphi was a lot of work. It was also a racket: only the Oracle could commune with the divine and give you an answer.

Alright, enough of the history, economics, environmental science, and all that superfluous stuff that only academics really care about. Let's talk shaving for the beginner.

Why should I even care about shaving with a straight razor?

Clearly, I won't be the first or even the thousandth person to pose and answer this question online. I'll offer you my take on the question.

Introduction

By way of introduction and background, I had been shaving with a brush and "real" shaving cream since Valentine's Day, 2007 (thanks to my wife). I received my first double-edge, disposable-blade (hereinafter DE) razor on Christmas, 2007. It came with the mediocre Merkur blades, but the shave was excellent. I quickly abandoned my Mach III cartridges, patting myself on the back for never having purchased an M3 Power or a Fusion.