Thread: The leap of faith.

Hey, I'm also a newbie. I started with DEs too, about six months ago, and straights about a week back!

My sheffield WB spike point has never cut me once on the upper lip -- unlike all my DEs (My favorite DE blade is a feather in a Merkur HD). There is a tough spot where the hairs kind of cluster together on my upper lip. The only blade that gets that is a feather, and even then, it's patchy. With a straight, that area is mowed down almost to BBS.

Plus, the spike point has never missed the hard to reach hairs just below the nose. In trying for these with my DE I have cut myself quite badly in the nostril. That bugger bleeds!

Although Lynn has said somewhere (somewhat dismissively) that DE users are only in search of the BBS shave and keep talking about it, it is my experience that a straight shave is more BBS, more zen like, and I believe I can do both in the same amount of time (although I dislike rushing my straight shaves).

I respectfully submit that until I used a straight I didn't know what BBS was (and I still have a way to go, being no'but a greenhorn yet).

I wish you great shaves ahead. Send that Puma to Lynn and get started with one of the best razors (as declared by the cognoscenti -- see the reviews on B&B) -- you won't look back. Dismiss the thought of the feather, if you'd mentioned the Puma first, no-one would have brought up the shavette! It looks like you have all the prep tools, so perhaps the Lynn DVD and the Tony Miller paddle is all you need (plus strop, if you want).

Hello Nicchel,

I think we had the same sort of problems since the upper lip was a bit of an obstacle for me as well. I started with the dastardly cartridge things and then switched to the DE which was an entirely different experience.

However, the upper lip area was still something to be desired and so here we are!

The vintage Pumas seems to be highly regarded; and I'll be sure to get a strop, perhaps a hanging one since those seem to be more practical for a beginner. I'll get a hone soon as well.

I can't say anything in the way of hanging vs. paddle, sense I have only used a hanging strop. I personaly like the hanging because it is was you would always see in a baber shop, though I am sure they used padles as well. I got all my stuff from Tony Miller at thewellshavedgentleman.com, and I am happy with the strop. I would highly recomend getting one from him, as he is also an active member here. Very nice fellow.