Thread: touching up and days off

would i better off getting a d/e to do touching up? i,m only doing cheeks at the mo with a str8 (got my first cut this morning looks good!)so have been finishing off with a mach 3,i,ve sent my str8s off to be honed so will be without them for a week or so,
i thought perhaps a d/e would keep me focused on being careful and keep my skin used to a blade. what do you think?

I stuck with the straight all the way when I was learning. that way was keeping my learning curves isolated to one tool. I didn't even use a brush when I started.

X

Go exclusively straight to avoid crutching and confusion. Once you learn, picking up the DE will be a lot easier.

Go fully straight! And stop the 'Carry On' style titles

I use a DE to clean up, for those times when I'm in a big hurry, or if I've had even one frosty adult beverage. Funny, I never had a DE before I started using a straight. Yet another AD to overcome.

I agree with our two resident blabbermouth Canadians.

If you want to use a DE, stick with it for at least six weeks or so. There's a learning curve with a DE, although it's not as steep as with a straight.

Sometimes I think it would be a good idea for guys to learn to use a DE first, although it's not necessary. You do learn a lot about pressure, beard prep, lather, direction of beard growth, multiple passes... That stuff comes into play with a straight, too.

I took a break from my straights to learn a DE at the outset because the Mach 3 was mauling my face so badly... I was getting worse razor burn from the Mach 3 than from the straight, so I was in a downward spiral. The DE was my way out.

Josh

Originally Posted by Bradford Si

Go fully straight! And stop the 'Carry On' style titles

ooooohh matron!! i,m going straight

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

Sometimes I think it would be a good idea for guys to learn to use a DE first...

Josh

That's exactly how I started down this road. Began with a DE for about 3 months before trying out a str8, and it was worth it. As Josh mentioned, I learned a lot about pressure, and blade angle and mapped my beard growth. Sure all of this can be learned without a DE but there is a steeper learning curve. And, I still use my DEs for touch-ups or if I'm in a hurry. Or just when I want a slight change.

I did it like xman. Straight all the way, from the very first shave. No Mach 3 touch-ups. I wanted to learn the same way men did before Gillette invented the disposable machine-made blade. First 10 shaves weren't all that great, but they were pure-straight, no cuts (a little razor burn, though). However, the first few shaves took more than an hour because I was being very careful, and didn't know which strokes to use on my face. Now, it takes about 20-25 minutes. So for me, it's either a straight shave or no shave if I don't have time. My family, friends and co-workers have gotten used to seeing me stubbly three or four times a month.

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I agree with our two resident blabbermouth Canadians.

...<stuff snipped>..

Sometimes I think it would be a good idea for guys to learn to use a DE first, although it's not necessary. You do learn a lot about pressure, beard prep, lather, direction of beard growth, multiple passes... That stuff comes into play with a straight, too.

....<stuff snipped>

Josh

+1
I was DE shaving for a few months before going to a straight. It was never my intent to try a straight razor since I didn't think I would be into the maintenance side of it. The more I shaved, the more I enjoyed the razors where i could feel the blade on my face (Merkur Slant or a Fatboy set to 9).

Anyway...this blabber mouthed Canadian was well served by not having to deal with the soap/cream/lather/pre/post/yada yada yada stuff learning curve. I could tell right away if my prep was poor. Now I just know it's my technique and my-improving-but-still-have-a-long-way-to-go honing skills.

If I start with a shave with a straight, I finish with a straight. The only time I'll finish with a DE is if I'm dealing with my sucktastic edge.