Thread: Safety razors

I know this forum is mostly for straight razors but I just started out with my first DE, and I don't think I have fully mastered it yet ..but is the shave radically different (closer)when you start with a straight ?
I am using a Parker 111w and happy with it but I have not really tried going against the grain with it ..would you guys just shave with the grain using DE?
I did try and go against the direction of the hair but it seem to Be catching so I stopped.

Getting a good close shave with any type of razor depends on having good shaving technique, a sharp blade and a good lather made with a shave brush and soap/cream. If you have problems in any/all of those areas you will get a sub par shave. Considering this is your first DE it is hard to say what is wrong but you can pretty well dismiss the blade sharpness issue as most DE blades are sharp enough. That is unless you are trying to use the same blade for too long a time. With a DE you should be able to do a 3 pass shave, WTG, XTG and ATG, with no trouble.

I think you would have as much trouble with a straight razor, if not more, considering the more forgiving DE is causing you grief. I would get the DE shaving working well before contemplating switching to a straight razor.

Bob

I took the opposite route to wet shaving and used/learned the straight first. After I was vetting good shaves with a straight in 3 full passes I thought I'd try a DE. While the learning curve is not as steep, you are still going to re-learn how to shave and your face will take some time to get to know.

Beard prep, skin stretching (especially across and against the grain), and a good lather are essential to a close shave. DE blades should be sharp enough. Your skin needs to adjust to your new methods. Once you can get a good shave with the grain, add a pass across the grain. As across the grain gets more comfortable add against the grain. All will come with time if you stay with it.

The 3 main variables apply across all fixed blade shaving techniques. They are stretching, angle and pressure. Getting those right just take practice. If you're blade is good then it is likely stretching or angle. Good luck

All great advice above. To directly answer your questions, I just started about a month ago after 2 years of DE shaving. When I use a safety razor I always shave against the grain in my final pass to get as close as I like. I am able to do this with total comfort and zero irritation, so after some practice and time you should be able to do the same.

About a month in and about 20 straight razor shaves I'm starting to get the hang of it. It is a very different experience. I haven't figured out how to go against the grain with the straight yet so I have just been doing WTG and XTG. My across the grain pass has started to be so good that I *almost* don't feel the need for an against the grain pass. Shaving across the grain with a straight gives me much closer results than doing the same with a DE. So it is definitely different in my experience. Good luck with the journey, it's a fun one!

I have a heavy, coarse beard and have been shaving with a variety of "tools" for 50 years. With a SR, I think many of us, without regard to how how beard might compare to someone else's on the forum, work hard at getting the magical BBS...which we never had with DE back in the day, an injector, a Trac II, electric(s) or a Mach XXXXX or whatever the most recent is.

I had a desk job, where I need to look well-shaven for 12 hours. In those 50 years of working I never shaved against the grain, nor did I see a need to. My shaves were fine.

Now I'm using a SR about 80% of the time and a DE the other 20%. I still don't go against the grain, and I get great 2 pass shaves with either tool, the SR ones being slightly closer, but both are good for 16-18 hours.

My advice: lather well, shave comfortably using passes that don't make you uncomfortable, during or after your pass, and move ahead slowly. There is a LOT to be learned about each razor and the techniques that work with them FOR YOU. It is all about you having fun with your shave and getting satisfaction from learning, not emulating someone on the forum who says they shave so closely they can go three or four days before shaving again. For all we know, they haven't gone through puberty yet and are shaving peach fuzz.

End of advice (and rant). Enjoy, you're doing great!!

Thanks for the advise it's cool to hear from a fifty year shaver! I also work in an office setting right now so I like to keep it pretty short mostly accept in November !
I can tell you one thing I actually find shaving relaxing now not a chore anymore like it use to be
Now I need a cool chrome holder for my razor and brush so they are glorified in the bathroom haha

I have just started stretching the skin and using a lot more lather and let that lather sit for a good min or so seems to be helping a lot
I almost don't mind a day or 2 growth a tiny bit of stubble is good in my mind

When I started back with a DE I had to relearn the angle to hold the razor at, or I would get catching going against the grain. So it might just be your angle of attack. It took me about 10 shaves to finally get it perfect. Also, don't pivot wrist like you do with a cartridge razor - keep your wrist locked.

A strange thing happened to me when I swithced from DE to straights. I would get irritation on my neck with DE shaving every now and than. It usually happened when I was in a rush or not paying attention to the angle. Nothing serious ... just that annoying rawness. When I use a straight I have an easier time seeing the angle and holding it. Irritation is a thing of the past.