Thread: Safety razor first?

I would go for the SR if you're interested in it. What you are seeing is likely a more a factor of the number of guys who use safety razors, but think a straight is crazy. If you want to use a straight, there is no reason not to-- not much steeper a learning curve than a DE, if you've been using a cartridge or electric razor.

I can't think of a reason to use a safety razor first if you're interested in straights. I wish I could have back all those years of mediocre shaves from safety and electric razors. Think of all the guys who learned with a straight before there were other options. They just simply learned with what was available - no "training period". You'll find some threads here where some of our truly senior members say their dad just handed them a razor and a strop and said "here, son, you need to shave" with little or no instruction. You'll not be doing that because there is a wealth of information on this website that will make your journey into wet shaving with a straight razor a smooth ride.

Jump on in, the water's fine

Greg

Nothing wrong with having both. However, it should be noted that your straight razor shaving will only improve with practice and safety razors at this point might detract from adequate practice of straight razor skills. The bottom line is the only way to get good with a straight razor is to use one. Sure, there's a learning curve involved but if you dedicate yourself to converting to straights and shave with them every day, the learning curve is probably far shorter than you think.

I myself started out as a safety razor shaver. After some brief "basic training" with a shavette I converted to straights no problem. Now, there's nothing wrong with safety razors, I've gotten some world class shaves with Gem Lather Catchers, various SE razors and a host of Gillettes BUT when it comes to way cool, maximum fun, safety razors are Honda Civics and straights are the 429 Shelby Cobra. My experience was that as I got better with straight razors, I just wanted to shave with them alot more than I did safety razors. These days, safety razors are used just about exclusively on my head. For face shaves however, 95% of the time I use a straight. If you want to shave with a straight razor, pay no attention to the alarmists, just dive in and get after it. You may have a rough week or so but after that you'll probably wonder where these things have been your whole life. Once you've mastered straights a safety razor or two for days when you sleep late (or if you're simply curious) wouldn't be a bad thing.

I would say that starting with a DE and moving gradually into straights is fine. Anything you do that facilitates using a straight, whether it be transitioning from a DE or using the DE every now and then when pressed for time, is acceptable. There's really no wrong way and a lot of right ways.