Thread: Still not as good as a mach 3

At only a couple weeks in, you're not likely to beat a M3...I didn't. Give it a good 3-4 months and you'll be sailing along in style.

I would rather deal with the gnashing of teeth than suffer the indignity of shaving with a Mach3!

Originally Posted by Library Guy

Hey P,

Every shave teaches me something new but I don’t always learn it.

Semper circa,
LG Roy

That right there sums it up. Every shave is unique and is taken by itself. You build upon all things learned from the previous shaves. You hit that perfect shave, and I'll be damned if I can do it again the next morning.

But that my friends is why this is so appealing.

David

i posted in another thread how i've decided to go back to my mach3 after using an artist club razor for a few months.. and i'll say this.. one pass with an artist club is way closer than one pass with a mach3.. both art good shaves.. and both look equally as stubble free.. but you can feel much more closeness with my feather...

i dove in head first with the feather and just started using it.. i threw everything else away and just went with a full on sink or swim approach.. it took me about 3 weeks with the artist club before i was getting good shaves.. i guess i'm faster with the mach3.. but it's prolly because i'm just rushing through it and not enjoying it as much as i do my artist club.

It does take time to develp this skill. I can get as close a shave with a new diposable but by 5:00 p.m. I've got the proverbial shadow. Not so with my straight. Besides, why pay for more disposables when the straight is free forever and you have something to hand down to your son and grandson?

Rich

“If man could be crossed with a cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.” – Mark Twain

I can get a BBS without irritation from a DE razor, I can get a BBS from a multi-blade cartridge but I do get irritation, and ingrowing hairs. I'm new to straight shaving but I feel that its as much to do with the ritual and satisfaction of shaving with traditional tools than just about getting a smooth shave.

I won't return to a cartridge and a can of foam, but I will probably switch between a str8 and DE, when time is limited its most likely going to be the DE that I use unless I can get a str8 shave in <10 minutes sorted.

Well, thepaulson;

In order to beat the moch 3 you only need two things:
Patience and Perfect Practice.

Originally Posted by Jeltz

I can get a BBS without irritation from a DE razor, I can get a BBS from a multi-blade cartridge but I do get irritation, and ingrowing hairs. I'm new to straight shaving but I feel that its as much to do with the ritual and satisfaction of shaving with traditional tools than just about getting a smooth shave.

I won't return to a cartridge and a can of foam, but I will probably switch between a str8 and DE, when time is limited its most likely going to be the DE that I use unless I can get a str8 shave in <10 minutes sorted.

I think a lot of people here do just that. And I did as well. But recently, when everything came together, I gave up the DE altogether and just use my straight. I accept whatever shave level I have time for, and I don't need it any longer for touch up.

So, give it some time, you may change your mind as your proficiency increases. JMHO.

I've used Mach 3's, 5's and 10's. They all give great shaves, and IMHO a better shave than a STR8 with far less prep. A good DE will shave parts of your face better than a STR8 with less prep. But, that's not the point.

I don't think we shave with STR8 razors because it's easy or even gives us a better shave. Probably, most of us will give you a different reason for doing it, but there's something very satisfying about the tools, the prep and the shave. There's also something very satisfying about getting over the learning curve and finally getting that BBS shave, at least once.

One day you'll put your head in a gizmo that lasers the hairs off your face, and it will be the best shave, ever. But, it still won't be the same as shaving with a STR8, and won't be as satisfying, even if it's not perfect.

ThePaulson,

Check out Jimmy HAD's advice again. That was a great post. He's absolutely correct with the notion of stubble reduction, not removal. This took me months to learn. Some days, I felt as though I was taking skin off with my first pass, trying to get all the hair! He posted this thought in another thread a while back, and since then, all of my shaves have become just spectacular.

Make sure that....
1. A nice bit of prep....soft and supple skin.
2. Hot lather...keep that skin moist and warm while you're shaving.
3. Pull...pull, and keep pulling. Stretching is imperative.
4. Reduce the beard on the WTG, catch all the stranglers on the X or WTG.

5. Throw out your Mach 3. (It's like an ex girlfriend....stop talking to it, and it will eventually dissapear.)

You can always check out the classifieds too. Josh Earl has a bunch of older DE's for excellent prices. You could shave with your straight, and touch up with a DE if you like.

Good Luck,
Maxi