Avoided expense and buy a disposable?

Hello all. I just signed up today, and am so excited to find so many people with some experience in the world of straight razor shaving.

I wasn't sure if straight razors were for me, or if I'd even know how to shave with one, so I purchased a razor which uses replaceable blades, much like the one my barber uses. I figured $10 was a reasonable investment to figure out if this was something I should invest more in.

I've shaved with it three or four times now, and each time I seem to be doing less damage to my face and getting a closer shave. However I'm left with two questions.

1.) Is there a natural learning curve to this? Do most people suck at first and get better with practice? The first shave didn't seem to cut hair at all, so I changed blades. The second shave seemed to cut my face plenty, but left a bit to be desired in the shave department. The third shave was much less painful, and seemed to be a bit smoother.

2.) are replaceable blade razors recommended? Would a non replaceable blade straight razor give a better shave or be easier to learn with?

Thanks in advance for any answers or advice you might have.

Being a fellow noob, I don't think that a shave with a replaceable, thin, flimsy blade could compare with a quality straight razor. They take more time to maintain, but the shave that a quality straight gives me is far superior to a five thin bladed razor.

Yes, there is a learning curve. It took me about 4 shaves to get comfortable with shaving with a straight. I think the key is that what ever razor you buy, make sure that is properly honed before shaving. There are many excellent honmeisters here that also sell staights.

I would recommend ordering Lynn's straight razor dvd. I wish that I had made that my first purchase now. It answered many questions for me.

My last little bit of advice has been given to me by many folks here.......have fun with it. It is a hobby for most of us. I sometimes forget that, and worry about miniscule things. After watching a youtube video titled, "World's fastest straight razor shave" in which a semi-drunk fellow shaves about a weeks worth of growth off in 3 minutes with two small cuts, I think we can all shave decently and have a nice time doing it.

Just my .02 worth.

Regards,

Cutter

well a real straight is probably a bit easyer to learn
personally i had 2 days growth after my first straight shave so yes its a lot to learn

for de blades theres only one i know so far that will guarantee no cuts(no shaving either it seems)shogun that was included with my shavette

in my experiense a shavette will work well at a almost flat angle
actually with the spine less then one spinewidth from the face

i suppose your using enough time to prep too
you do really need shaving soap or cream to get results

Thanks for the tips, I will certainly look into that dvd. The replaceable razor I was talking about was the straight razor I bought to learn with. It's the kind you often see in a barber shop, takes a single replaceable blade. I've seen other videos of people shaving with, and my barber does a heck of a good job, I was just wondering if it's going to make learning more difficult using a cheapo straight as opposed to a standard non replaceable straight.

I certainly aim to have fun with it. My first few shaves were not the best experience, but I like the control and the little bit of extra attention require when using an open edge blade.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by janivar123

well a real straight is probably a bit easyer to learn
personally i had 2 days growth after my first straight shave so yes its a lot to learn

for de blades theres only one i know so far that will guarantee no cuts(no shaving either it seems)shogun that was included with my shavette

in my experiense a shavette will work well at a almost flat angle
actually with the spine less then one spinewidth from the face

i suppose your using enough time to prep too
you do really need shaving soap or cream to get results

---

I'm using barnasol from a can. The first few strokes work well, but It seems that by the time I get to the other side of my face, the razor doesn't seem to move smoothly over the skin.

I don't know if it's because the cream is drying out, or if I'm applying too much pressure or the wrong angle on the blade

the first you need is a soap and a brush
it really makes a world of difference and it dont have to cost a lot
if you have to shave before you can get that try shampoo or shower soap

Great advice. I'm beginning to get the hang of it with the shavette, but I had a feeling that the technique required with that straight would be different from using a regular straight razor.

I'm working on getting a brush and soap. The tip about the shower gel is great, thanks for the suggestion.

I learned with disposable straight razors in order to test the water of straight shaving in a fiscally conservative way. When I was proficient in getting BBS results, then I bought my first fixed straight razor and strop.

Yes, there is a learning curve. My benefit of starting with disposable straights is that when I bought my first fixed straight razor, I could focus on the stropping and keeping the edge sharp and performing well, while knowing the details of what I was trying to achieve. How sharp is sharp enough?, what does a good straight shave feel like? I quickly figured out that a 4 sided pasted strop would help me keep the edge sharp and performing well.

I have spent a few hundered bucks collecting straight razors, soaps, brushes,..etc. and I am very happy with my investment. It will be about 3 years before I come out ahead financially and I already have 1.2 years in.

It was my choice to go after premium products which pushed my cost up, but that is my preference and I always have a long term outlook. The M3 was causing too many ugly issues and I was also being charged for it. All those problems went away with straight shaving, so I benefitted greatly from this decision personally (immediately) and financially (long term).

I still have my disposables and they get used when I travel or want to skip stropping. No knock on them and I know what to expect in their performance.

Good Luck and welcome to Straight Shaving and SRP!

Pabster

In my mind if you are going to do it do it right. Get a handfull of antiques in various styles and sizes, buy one shave ready. They will be quality blades. Try and be smart about the other things I bought a T. Miller strop with the practice strop too I'm only the practice strop only. Save some money and get the cheap soap, brush,and dish set from Wally World.

If it doesn't work out restore the blades & sell them, sell the strop, and throw away the cheap brush set. Make a couple of hundred dollars.

At least that's what I'm doing. But I think I'm gonna love this hobby. So as time passes I will buy a nice brush (or a few) a Scuttle etc.

When I started I bought one of the Fromm disposable things and had much of the same issues that you are having. Now to your question yes there is a learning curve it takes time and patience but its well worth the effort, Now in my opinion the disposable DO NOY compare to an actual blade

Saving money is probably not realistic. Look at all the ADs here and you quickly come to the conclusion that saving the landfills and environment is a better rationalization. Personally, my straights give me a much better shave than my twin Merkur ever did! That's the best reason... :rofl2:

I have a cheap disposable bladed straight which I started with and still often use when in a rush. IME it only enforces good things, like confidence in applying the blade to your face and using a super light touch due to the ferrociousness of the edge.
The angle thing is a bit of a non-issue as the angle always varies depending on which bit of your face you are shaving and the direction of the hair growth. It's not so much learning fixed correct angles as it is learning how to find the correct angle and adjust during the stroke.

Just my thoughts on it. Feel free to shoot me down if you disagree.:gwh: ";"

I think once you get the hang of it you can get equally good shaves from both a straight and a disposable. The difference to me is a disposable is for someone who wants the straight experience without having to learn honing and stropping and general razor care. In exchange though a disposable is not a straight and the feel is very different and it is way less forgiving of bad technique.

Feather makes some disposables that are made to feel more like a straight scale wise and look more substantial.

My feeling is if you want to get on a carnival ride you buy your ticket and take the full ride. You don't stand up half way through and ask to get off.

Pabster, what does BBS mean? I'm sure it's a newb question, but if you don't ask, you don't learn.

As mentioned, the disposable blades are pretty unforgiving of bad form. I've gotten some good nicks and razor burn so far. However, I'm beginning to get the technique. So far I've managed to get a pretty good shave on the right side of my face (I'm right handed) and the left side is following close behind. Today I also managed to take steps in the right direction as far as the chin is concerned. The chin area is not as smooth as I would like, but it's an improvement from when I started.

Does anyone know of some websites which offer quality products, and a reasonable price. I'm in New York City; the land of the over priced, and disposable pic razors, so I'm having trouble finding anything locally.

BBS= Baby's Butt Smooth

I'm currently doing a whirlwind tour of shavettes. Working my way into taking the plunge into str8's thus far I've tried a Magic, a Dovo, and a Diane (all double edge blades). While eventually I've gotten to where I can get a great shave with any of the above, the DE blades seem to be REALLY squirrely and very quick to draw blood without much provovation. I found the Fromm Hair Shaper (available in any beauty or barber supply store, I got mine from Sally's) far superior to any of the DE blade shavettes. The longer blade which looks like a wide skinny single edge blade, has a bit more rigidity, is far more aggressive and is not nearly as squirrely as the DE blades. I will undoubtedly reach for the Fromm occassionally even when I transition to "real straights" probably early summer.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by 1OldGI

BBS= Baby's Butt Smooth

I'm currently doing a whirlwind tour of shavettes. Working my way into taking the plunge into str8's thus far I've tried a Magic, a Dovo, and a Diane (all double edge blades). While eventually I've gotten to where I can get a great shave with any of the above, the DE blades seem to be REALLY squirrely and very quick to draw blood without much provovation. I found the Fromm Hair Shaper (available in any beauty or barber supply store, I got mine from Sally's) far superior to any of the DE blade shavettes. The longer blade which looks like a wide skinny single edge blade, has a bit more rigidity, is far more aggressive and is not nearly as squirrely as the DE blades. I will undoubtedly reach for the Fromm occassionally even when I transition to "real straights" probably early summer.

---

I'm using a Diane which came with the double edge blade, but what I found through some research is that it isn't really meant to use a traditional double edged blade. For the most stability it uses a blade which looks like a double edge split down the middle length wise.

Due to the face that I couldn't find any of those, I bought some injector replacement blades from a CVS and have had more success using those. The blades are a little more rigid, and are easier to seat. They also sit lower in the holder, so you don't get as much side to side flex while shaving.

It's actually a regular DE blade cut in half (I use my moustache scissors for this since doing it by hand kinda makes me skiddish) The From blade is like a supersized injector blade or SE blade.

Welcome to SRP!

I'm kinda surprised no one's said it yet (unless I just missed it) but go read through the Beginner's Guide in the Wiki. As in - click the link. I'll wait.... :w

To your first question - of course there is a learning curve. A very long curve that will only steepen if you read up, think about how you're going to shave, carefully shave using the advice you pick up and have a lot of patience. Sure, you might not be nervous after 4 shaves, but I'd expect it to take some time before you start being "good." It's not about getting there - it's the journey, so have some fun along the way. :) Just focus on doing your best and getting comfortable shaves. Lynn's article Anticipation is a great read for a newbie, so check that out too. Of course, you might just be a natural and get it on your first shot. :shrug:

Starting with a disposable is a fine idea, and beats the chance of ruining a $50 razor by dinging it on the sink. :gaah: You can also wait on the strop for now since you'll just toss the blades. However, you don't want to skimp on the other products. You'll want a brush and some good shave soap. Tweezerman makes a brush for about $10-15 or get a boar bristle brush which will be about the same price. Try online to find them. The brush will vastly improve the shaving experience and even if you go back to your 18-bladed mechanical wonder, you'll still be using the brush and quality soaps. I promise. I think you can pick up Vander Haggan soap and brush kits at Walmart and they've gotten pretty good marks from other newbies. IMO, canned goop should be avoided like the plague. When the time comes, there are plenty of less expensive options for your first razor.

About closeness with a disposable vs a real straight: I've never used a disposable but I've gotten a "straight razor shave" with one from a barber. They certainly can do the job. But I think the biggest variable is going to be your technique. Don't worry about getting BBS for now, just try to take off hair and keep on skin. (Sounds easier than it is.) The skill will come with time and practice.

I hope some of this info helps and encourages you to keep learning. Have fun out there and good luck! :gl:

Is there a learning curve? Absolutely!

Are the replacable blade razors the way to go? Maybe.

It will definitely take some time to get used to shaving with any kind of straight razor, disposible or not. I almost went with a disposible when I first started, and realized it wasn't that much cheaper when you consider the blades. So, I just went for it.

The only advantage I can see to disposibles is you never have to strop or have the blade sharpened. That said, the quality of a good straight razor will last more than a lifetime, and proper stropping will keep the edge sharp for months. You will also start to see shaving as more of an artform than a chore, and like others here you may find your shave to be very relaxing and just a "nice" experience.

If I'm not mistaken, disposibles are a result of health dept. regulations and barbers not wanting to use the same razor on clients.

I bought a cheap disposable razor. From my short experience of two days of using it, buy the real thing. The blades just don't keep an edge for very long and don't cut as well as I would like them to.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

.....
Feather makes some disposables that are made to feel more like a straight scale wise and look more substantial.
....

---

I am an occasional Feather user...

Feather Razor "Artist Club RG" Solid Brass...

For the same amount of starting money you can get a shave ready quality
razor.... But then add a strop and hone set and other stuff and the Feather
can be a less expensive way to start and discover the 'art' of
open blade shaving.

It does feel very different from a full hollow singing blade, perhaps
more like a heavy half hollow. It is sharp, no compromise sharp... and
since Feather now has three different blades it is possible to "tune"
your shave.

Try as I might I can not yet get any of my str8s as sharp as Feather
gets their blades. I keep going back to it to remind myself
of the goal :) when honing and stropping.

Since I have a Feather... I have to ask myself why I just bought
four fixer upper str8s today to add to my kit. Well some days
is is more than just shaving and some days it is just shaving.

Yesterday, I tried my disposable straight again, together with my Clauss, shaving with one, then the other. The disposable has one advantage - I know full well that the blade is sharp, and my Clauss is definitely not quite that sharp. I'm beginning to wonder if my Clauss is sharp enough, I don't know enough, at this stage, to be able to tell.

The disposable has one disadvantage - I still cut myself with it.

I too started with a Feather disposable, but mine was actually designed with a "safety" blade. Then a purchased a Dovo best and can say that I really wish I had just jumped in and bought the Dovo first. There was nothing wrong with the feather, but it is verrry sharp and did not seem IMHO to be as agile of a shaver as what the Dovo has been.