Settling down?

I'm settling down with my straight razor. But I wonder if I really want to give up including the use of a DE razor to tidy up. My upper lip and chin area are really a no go for my straight. I have trouble avoiding skin imperfections such as awkward moles with my DE. And some against the grain areas are virtually impossible to tackle with the straight. So I am making two passes with the straight and a relaxing final session with my DE. A fabulous feeling afterwards, nice and smooth. The best of all worlds? Or am I just a wimp? Am I bothered?

Any thoughts anyone?

It's down to what's working for you really. I think i'd find it too much of a chore to use both, but then i try to avoid shaving as far as BBS. It just causes me problems!

You have to do what is right for you, if thats ,making you happy go with it.

:beer2:

dont feel bad i use both as well i go WTG and XTG with my straight i get my jaw line outside area of my neck and around the middle about halfway down with the straight
i have to get under the nose, chin and the center of my neck with the DE stupid hair grows in 900 different directions even pulls and jerks on my skin with a DE

Fido,

I am glad that things are coming together with your straight shaves :)

WRT to the DE use, whatever gives you the best shave and makes you happy is the thing to do !

Best regards

Russ

I'm really grateful for these replies. I'm not a quitter but I am a perfectionist in some things. Like hating any any little bits of bristle left after a shave! However hard I might try, I don't see myself conquering my tricky areas with a straight. I'll gradually extend the areas that I can get to but will certainly continue to finish what's left with my DE.

There is no doubt that the use of a straight razor is giving me a more pleasing and comfortable shave than I was getting with my DE alone. My skin feels so much softer.

So I guess that's real progress. And since I'm retired, I get plenty of opportunity to take my time over a shave.

I wouldn't be so sure that you'll never get those tricky areas with a straight razor. After a few months I found myself going ATG under my nose and I would never have believed I'd be able to do that at one point. Still, if you're getting the best shaves by using both methods then more power to you. It's not like it's that much of a chore to put down one razor and pick up another.

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Originally Posted by dannywonderful

I wouldn't be so sure that you'll never get those tricky areas with a straight razor. After a few months I found myself going ATG under my nose and I would never have believed I'd be able to do that at one point. Still, if you're getting the best shaves by using both methods then more power to you. It's not like it's that much of a chore to put down one razor and pick up another.

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+1. You may be surprised at how long the learning curve is, Fido. Nearly two years in and I'm still learning.

One month on and shaves continue to improve. I looked again at Lynn's DVD and made some adjustments in technique. Still tidying up with my DE. And it works for me.

Best wishes to everyone from an icy New Forest.

Hi Fido

I wouldnt give up on the straight just yet, every time I shave I learn a little bit more. It took me over 6 months to go ATG on the top lip now I do it without even thinking. However I can shave with a DE and get a bbs shave every time but I still shave with the straights every shave even if some of the shaves arent perfect. Thats why I love them they are a challange every time.

Exile

Hi Fido

I'm not much further ahead of you on this journey, but I'm going to have to voice my opinion. You should put down the DE as soon as you reasonably can.

I did the same as you. I started out using the straight on the "easy" parts of my face. Each shave I did a little more area and/or passes with the straight. For example, the first shave I probably only did one pass on the cheeks and the easy parts of the chin and neck. Then did a couple passes with the DE to get a good shave. Each shave I would shave more and more with the straight. Eventually it got to where I was only using the DE for the mustache. Keep in mind, I am growing a goatee now (partially to remove a difficult area, but also because the wife likes it and I wanted something to have to shave around. Makes it more fun hehe), so the chin is not a problem area for me :p

There was a point (4 or 5 shaves) where I didn't even touch the upper lip with the straight. I felt it was a waste of time knowing I would be coming back with the DE. I soon realized that I would never learn how to shave my upper lip with a straight unless I started shaving my upper lip with a straight. Funny how that works, huh? :rofl2:

I've come to the conclusion that straight shaving is all about experience and learning. We all have to learn to shave our face, and they are all a little different. What works for one guy may not work for another.

You're gonna cut yourself occasionally, but I bet you learn something everytime you break out the styptic! ;)

I realize I'm still a beginner myself, but I am much better at shaving my mustache area than I was a few weeks ago. That wouldn't be true if I was still using my DE to clean up the difficult areas.

Long story short, use the DE if you have to, but the sooner you let go, the sooner you will learn how to handle those hard parts.

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Originally Posted by crushnbugs

You have to do what is right for you, if thats ,making you happy go with it.

:beer2:

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+1

If you think like a carpenter would you have only one hammer?
The key is what ever works -- works. For parts of my face a
DE simplifies some hectic mornings.