Thread: Rotating razors

I will have three straight razors. What approach would be best for making use of all three? To use each one for a specific period before switching to another. If so, how many days in succession before moving on to the next one?

Or is there a good reason for using a different one each day?

Or does it not matter at all?

Welcome to SRP
Do as you want.Personally I use different razor every day.There is a theory that the razor should have 24-48 hours rest between shaves, but I never found any proof for it.

I normally don't follow a set plan for the rotation. Basically I pick one without looking in the "shave ready" box, before going to bed. In the morning, I either select or pick randomly the brush and soap for the shave.

The only exception is when I have just honed a razor... it directly gets selected for the next morning shave.

some will agree others won't.
i would say give razor 48 hours before next use. Means if you have 3 razor's rotate them and try to shave every other day possible.

Do as you want is a good rule of thumb. Recently, I've been shaving daily for 3 days with the same razor, you get used to stropping and shaving with the same tool. I thnk it's improved my stropping. I think I'm getting close to MichaelP's 'method'.

I have between 5 to 7 in my rotation. I do keep a small notebook though. In it I keep track of what I shave with, my impressions of the shave and when each razor has been honed. I just list the date, the razor and rate how keen the edge feels and how comfortable the shave was on a scale of ten.

It might seem a bit of a P.I.T.A. but believe me- you won't remember after awhile of using several razors on a daily basis.

I do believe though that shaving everyday with same razor is no problem....Just boring.

Thanks for these comments. I have found with DE razors that extended use of each razor enables you to understand how to get the best out of each one. Changing frequently doesn't help my technique. Perhaps its different with straights?

Some people will call muscle memory other will say reflex. doesn't matter how you call as soon as you get learn(or you muscles ) you will not have a problem using striaght. Only trouble will be when you change size of the blade. example if you usually use 5/8 blade and next day you wanna try 8/8 blade in this case you should take your time a little. gl

Fido,

When I get a new razor, I shave with it for a week to get a feel for it.

If I think I would like to add it to my rotation, I shave with ir for another week to see if needs taken to a pasted strop etc.

After that, its whatever takes my fancy on the day

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by Fido

Perhaps its different with straights?

I doubt it. People rotate razors because they can and they want to.

Personally, I just pick one and go for it. I have 8 razors in my rotation and some of them get used much more frequently than others.