Got my first straight; get a safety razor for back up and/or emergency shaves?

Hey everyone, quick question.

I'm new to straight razor shaving and SRP as well; just did my first shave last night, and very much enjoyed it. My question is this - I seem to see a lot of guys having both straights and safeties, such that the safety razor is used as a sort of back up when you need a fast shave, or when you're traveling. I thought about starting with a DE, but went right for the straight because I knew that's where I wanted to be eventually, and I wanted to start getting experience/working on my technique sooner rather than waiting to get accustomed to the DE for a few months and then switching.

In my line of work I can get away with not shaving for about 2 days, which is perfect for learning on the straight. If I have a bad shave one day I can always just let it heal up for a couple days and then go at it again. I know there are times when I'm in a hurry and have a good bit of stubble to knock down with a quick shave, however, and am wondering if it's worth my while to pick up a DE and keep it in reserve for that purpose?

What do you guys do when you're in a hurry? Single pass with a straight or some similar abbreviated straight razor shave, or do you fall back on a 'faster' method, like the DE or even a cartridge/electric? I'm very much in the honeymoon stage with all of this, and at this point the idea of keeping a cartridge razor around, even for 'emergencies', feels somewhat like ditching the honeymoon suite for the red-light district :rofl2:

I'm very much aware, however, that I'll probably need a quick and dirty shave before I'm experienced enough to get one safely with a straight, so I'm curious as to what you guys do/did in this situation.

Cheers!

I followed the exact path you're now on. Went directly to a str8. I'm now to the point where it only takes me about 20 min to complete a 2 pass shave WTG & ATG (ATG in specific areas only like chin and neck). Generally this is quick enough but if I find myself needing to shave in a 5 to 10 minute time frame I'd just pick up a bic and get hacking. I wouldn't invest in a whole new kit.

Des can be hazardous if not handled properly. I used one when I was learning. I would say get another straight or a disposable straight. But its your choice.

My fall back was what I used prior to a cut-throat; A twin blade cart head. I only used that a few times before deciding to concentrate solely on getting the job done properly with the CT. It took me all of about three or four weeks of shaving (can't remember exactly anymore) to be getting a decent shave in a respectable, but still too long a time.
These days I can get a shave of the same quality as back then, in about five minutes. Ten buys me a better shave, and one I am happy to go with most days. I now keep a DE on hand just because I like variety, and I also have one in my toiletry bag permanently so I don' have to worry about packing a CT. I won't keep one of those in the bag permanently as it could well be a damp environment for a few days on the road.


Mick

I rotate daily between 2 straights. If I had to send one off for sharpening or repair I would just use the single SR until the 2nd came back.

I began much as Lynn recommends in the beginner's guide here. So for my first few weeks I used a DE to get the more difficult spots, and gradually increased my straight razor field of use. The chin and a couple of areas on the neck, were the last to yield to the straight. So I would say a DE is a darn good idea if you want to go that way. I began shaving with a DE in the 1960s so it was kind of neat to return to it a couple of years before I went straight. :gl:

I started with carts then to DE and then SR then back to DE and now moving back to SR. Honestly DE's can be fast since I have used them for so long and am very comfortable with my setup. The problem is finding the best blades and best razor for your beard type. I realize that there are tons of different steel for SR's and manufactures which I am sure effect the shave. However IMHO and lack of only shaving with a golden arrow SR I can say it may take a long time to find a good DE setup. If you are used to using carts and are comfortable with it, I would say stick with the cart. Picking up a DE may prove to take as long to learn as an SR can. (Can't believe I just said to use a cart over a DE?!?! ) but honestly if your looking for an easy mix between shaves and your already comfortable with a cart, it maybe the best route instead of starting back at the beginning with DE's and learning how to shave all over again since you are still learning SR.

I shave my head so still use a Dorco 3-Blade for that as shaving backwards in the mirror with one hand using a SR while holding a mirror with the other hand just does not sound like a great idea... Yet. ;)

So, I did the same as others have mentioned... Used a SR progressively then re-lather and finish the complete shave with a 3-blade. Have often considered switching to DE but, like g60madman mentioned, I figured it would take my learning in a completely different direction and I wanted to stick with SR realizing I'd likely always use cartridge for my head.

I've never traveled with a SR as, when I'm on vacation, I don't mind getting all shaggy and my shaves usually last 3 days before I start to 'really' notice it's time to shave... I typically only shave 2-3 times/week... I have monstrous hair growth and if I shave every day it will be a blink before I have to wake up in the middle of the night to shave again... So, 2-3/week has been plenty and on vacation I just relax and focus on the stoked feeling I will get when I make my first pass through all that cabbage and see how my SR really performs upon returning home. :)

Shawn
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I have 2 3 blade cartridge razors, still with a few cartridges for each, I keep them in reserve for the quick shaves, I don't see a lot of point buying another razor to replace them until the cartridges run out. I have used them once or twice in 3 months.
I also have an electric that lives in my car, that hasn't been used for a lot longer, but its there if I need it.
When the cartridges run out I might think about getting a D/E but conversely I might just buy a big bag of yellow bic disposables for a couple of dollars.

Let me add to the range of solutions to your question. I have, and use, the following:
4 straight razors in rotation (adding more for a longer rotation)
1 DE for use when my sensitive skin rebels more than usual and I need a softer shave for a day or two or I'm in a big hurry
Several 3-blade throwaways, not for face but for werewolf like growth of hair on my ears (the older I get the more gravity shifts my hair to other lower parts of my body)
Quality small scissors for trimming my goatee and moustache

What ever rocks your boat is they way you should go. Be a purist, be a puritan, be a free-wheeler, what ever and ENJOY THE RIDE!

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Originally Posted by lumberjack89

What do you guys do when you're in a hurry? Single pass with a straight or some similar abbreviated straight razor shave...?

I'm very much aware, however, that I'll probably need a quick and dirty shave before I'm experienced enough to get one safely with a straight, so I'm curious as to what you guys do/did in this situation.

Cheers!

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Nice thing about shaving is, backsliding is not a punishable offense. While a morning double pass can be quick and usually gets me past 5:00pm, the Braun is still plugged up. I can't see a "straight razor" and a "hurry" in the same mirror. Keep what you have/know for back up and then be surprised how seldom you use it. Of course, I'm married and am not obligated to look all that good at a moments notice. :)

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Originally Posted by MisterMoo

Nice thing about shaving is, backsliding is not a punishable offense. While a morning double pass can be quick and usually gets me past 5:00pm, the Braun is still plugged up. I can't see a "straight razor" and a "hurry" in the same mirror. Keep what you have/know for back up and then be surprised how seldom you use it. Of course, I'm married and am not obligated to look all that good at a moments notice. :)

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My wife unfortunately doesn't feel that way, I think she thinks I was false advertising when I was young, slim, cool (well that's subjective) and stylish.11 years down, no nearly 12 years down the track standards slipped somewhat.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

My wife unfortunately doesn't feel that way... ...12 years down the track standards slipped somewhat.

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Lumberjack is not as yet forthcoming with personal details on his profile. He could be a young, slim, cool and stylish (and single) urbane stocks and securities analyst - or not so much. He might be an uber-scragglyfaced lumberjack operating 100-miles outside of Yellowknife and, when the outbound helicopter is arriving, he needs a shave and he needs it now! At the moment there is no telling what kind of time- and quality pressure his shaves are under. Operating with insufficient information, we can only speculate.

On the other hand, where facts are known, my sympathies to Mrs edhewitt. :rofl2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MisterMoo

Lumberjack is not as yet forthcoming with personal details on his profile. He could be a young, slim, cool and stylish (and single) urbane stocks and securities analyst - or not so much. He might be an uber-scragglyfaced lumberjack operating 100-miles outside of Yellowknife and, when the outbound helicopter is arriving, he needs a shave and he needs it now! At the moment there is no telling what kind of time- and quality pressure his shaves are under. Operating with insufficient information, we can only speculate.

On the other hand, where facts are known, my sympathies to Mrs edhewitt. :rofl2:

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Well stated! I'm in my mid-20s, not usually pressed to be well-shaved in a hurry, am not a lumberjack (somehow that turned into the name I use for all the forums I join), am spoken for, and though I once cared to be considered cool and stylish, those concerns have since fallen to the wayside. I've got a handful of cartridges left for a 3-blade, and given my somewhat relaxed "need" to be clean shaven, I don't imagine there ever being a real issue...I'll probably just keep the 3-blades and use them if needed, though I doubt the day will come, and eventually, once I've refined a decent bit of technique on the SR, I'll think about a DE if I'm still running into the occasional need for a speedy shave and the cartridges are all used up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MisterMoo

Lumberjack is not as yet forthcoming with personal details on his profile. He could be a young, slim, cool and stylish (and single) urbane stocks and securities analyst - or not so much. He might be an uber-scragglyfaced lumberjack operating 100-miles outside of Yellowknife and, when the outbound helicopter is arriving, he needs a shave and he needs it now! At the moment there is no telling what kind of time- and quality pressure his shaves are under. Operating with insufficient information, we can only speculate.

On the other hand, where facts are known, my sympathies to Mrs edhewitt. :rofl2:

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I am feeling a slow movement in the undercurrents of style, i can feel a renaissance happening, albeit at glacial pace.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

My wife unfortunately doesn't feel that way, I think she thinks I was false advertising when I was young, slim, cool (well that's subjective) and stylish.11 years down, no nearly 12 years down the track standards slipped somewhat.

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I laughed at this, before I thought about it. When I was younger, I was a tall strapping lad, V shaped and muscular when I met my wife. Mostly that's still the same, but I'm now older, strapping has moved more to flabbing, and the V shape has moved to more of a cross between Isosceles and Equilateral triangular shape with the base firmly planted on the ground! ;)


Mick

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Originally Posted by MickR

I laughed at this, before I thought about it. When I was younger, I was a tall strapping lad, V shaped and muscular when I met my wife. Mostly that's still the same, but I'm now older, strapping has moved more to flabbing, and the V shape has moved to more of a cross between Isosceles and Equilateral triangular shape with the base firmly planted on the ground! ;)


Mick

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Stand on your hands then :)

Well, I moved from electric and cartridges to DE. So for me, since I know how to shave with the DE reasonably well, it's definitely going to be my backup. One nice thing about DE is that you can get a very excellent one for around 40 bucks (Edwin Jagger DE89, for instance). So not a ton of money and an excellent shaver for travel and for the non-SE times.

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Stand on your hands then :)

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What part of "base firmly planted on the ground" did you not understand?! :p


Mick

Probably all of it then :)