{"id":116,"date":"2026-05-19T19:07:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:07:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=116"},"modified":"2026-05-19T19:07:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T19:07:27","slug":"close-shave","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=116","title":{"rendered":"Close shave"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The straight razor feels heavy in my hand, a proper tool for a mature gentleman. It looks timeless, just two lengths of polished steel attached by a narrow bolt that forms a basic hinge, with no branding or colorful markings. My reflection flashes across the polished handle: a blue eye, a receding hairline, a patch of stubble white with lather. <\/p>\n

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That is my target and I want it gone. I want a closer shave than I could ever get with my usual razor, the plasticky kind you can pick up at the grocery store. So I pinch at the blade and pull it open, revealing a long, perfect edge. <\/p>\n

A clean shave sends a signal. <\/p>\n

It says that a man is capable and ready for anything. It shows that he handles his business. It\u2019s a sign of honesty, showing the world that he has nothing to hide, that he can present himself openly, without hesitation or adornment. A smooth face exudes confidence and comfort in a man\u2019s own skin. <\/p>\n

I want to feel that fresh, to cut against the grain and leave not so much as a prickle. I\u2019ve done my research and found the right instrument for the job. A straight razor is a simple device. I\u2019ve never shaved with one, but it looks safe enough. <\/p>\n

I used to watch in the mirror as my barber finished off my haircuts in his tiny shop on State Street in downtown Salt Lake City: a dollop of warm shaving cream against my neck, a metallic flicker, the tug of cold steel and a clean wipe across smooth skin. <\/p>\n

There was something hypnotic, almost meditative, in his precise, methodical work. It always left me feeling like a better version of myself. But now I live across the country. My last barber left his razor on the shelf and those peevish whiskers intact. I guess it\u2019s up to me. <\/p>\n

Catching my breath, I press the blade against my cheek and slide it down. The edge crackles right through those little hairs, leaving a clean vertical stripe. So far, so good. But on the next pass, I misjudge the angle, and that\u2019s all it takes to derail the experience. <\/p>\n

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I nick the skin by my right ear, notch a slice near my lip and scramble for tissue paper to clean myself up. This undertaking requires more skill than I had accounted for, but I can\u2019t stop halfway. <\/p>\n

\u201cJust go for it,\u201d I keep telling myself as I inch along, chalking up new damage despite my caution. <\/p>\n

A splash of aftershave stings against every scrape and scratch, but it\u2019s a relief to be done. The razor leaves me with a parting gift as I snap it shut, a little taunting wink of a slice on my finger \u2014 a reward for my hubris. <\/p>\n

In the mirror, I see the same face, dotted with wads of paper, more cut than clean, somehow a little older and hopefully wiser. The wounds are temporary and I can see past that. I\u2019ve tried something new and learned a bit about myself. <\/p>\n

I\u2019m no technician, just a man with a clean shave. <\/p>\n

This story appears in the May 2026 issue of<\/i> Deseret Magazine<\/i>.<\/i> Learn more about how to subscribe<\/i>. <\/i><\/p>\n

Read more Deseret News archives: Jackie Kennedy Onassis personified dignity<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is a straight razor better than a disposable? Is a straight razor hard to use? Will a straight razor cut your face?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine"],"yoast_head":"\nClose shave - American Movers Hub<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=116\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Close shave - American Movers Hub\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Is a straight razor better than a disposable? 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