Thread: should i get rid of the straight for a de?

i used to shave every couple of days for my job, which is the reason the straight appealed to me, but i dont need to anymore. i hardly shave once a week now.

shaving with cartridges always irritates and leaves a rash/bumps so i bought a straight, hanging strop, and paddle strop. soon after getting it i got a new job and didnt need to shave as much so i didnt. there in lies the problem. since i dont shave much i dont get much practice with the straight or stropping so progress has been super slow. cant seem to get a smooth shave that doesnt pull, and also doesnt take forever, with a 2, 3, 4 week beard and my wife doesnt want me to shave everyday, she likes the beard.

since i shave so little should i sell my straight stuff and get a quality de and blades? id like to have a nice shave with non irritated skin afterwards but i really dont feel like putting in the time it takes to use a straight and perfect technique. it is intriguing, as a man i guess, to use something dangerous to shave with but cant say its worth my time right now.

also i have pretty thick individual hairs, kinda rectangular in shape, and a thick beard which doesnt help.

so what do you guys think? am i just doing everything wrong or is my shave schedule and impatience a good enough reason to switch to de?

thanks.

equipment:
dovo 5/8" stainless steel half hollow razor from the superior shave
http://www.shaverhut.com.au/media/ca...-white-5_1.jpg

3" big daddy leather strop from star shaving
3" "Bid Daddy" Leather Strop

3" 2 sided paddle strop from star shaving
2 Sided Paddle Strop, Balsa/Felt

Seeing as this is the Straight Razor Place, I am not really sure what kind of an answer you are looking for.
Then again, straight razors are not for everyone.

I hear what you're saying, but you've got a nice little setup there, that you'd probably take a good hit on if you sold it.

I've seen new DE set's for under $50 new if you look around. I'd keep the straight set-up, you never know when you'll want to pull it out again, and you don't know if you'll like the DE shaving experience, it's different than a straight and a cartridge, and has it's own learning curve depending on the razor.

Good luck either way!!

Cheers!

the only reason to sell the straight is because im on a budget, otherwise id just buy a de.

do people buy des based on hair structure? i need something thatll tackle my thick hairs without killing my face.

I use both. Once you master the straight, that will solve most of your shave problems. As far as convenience, a straight shave can be done in under 15 minutes. Don't shoot for BBS but comfortable.

One advantage a straight has over the DE is that a straight never clogs up with hair

I am not too sure if a DE clogs up like cartridge razors but I remember shaving a week old beard with a cartridge was a chior having to go at it with a pair of clippers 1st to thin it down then I could shave.

I have shaved week old beards with out any issue with straights.

Just my 2 cents

maybe i just cant get my straight sharp because it always tugs at one point or another on my beard, mainly on my sideburns when im making a straight line and also next to my lips and chin on the sides. stropping hasnt helped much either.

thats another thing. id rather not have to strop and maintain the edge, since i apparently suck at it, popping out a dull blade for a sharp one in a more familiar type of shaver sounds more appealing.

Go to the classified section & trade your straight razor equipment to someone, for some DE equipment in return.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Go to the classified section & trade your straight razor equipment to someone, for some DE equipment in return.

Doh! Excellent idea Hirlau!!!

Send me a PM and I will send you a DE and SE if you are interested.