Thread: Skin prone to nicks: full or 1/2 hollow?

I can see that this is a bit confusing
First off: I have never been able to notice any difference in the various grinds ability to take a good sharp edge. A good quality razor, regardless of grind, will do that!

The gliding part is a good description of the half hollow and how it mows thru whiskers.
However, the more silent and mute cutting feedback doesn't necessary indicate better cutting. Only more muted.
I for one prefer the more hollow blades exactly because of the feedback from it. Both the audio when cutting and the flex of the blade.

My experience is that both grinds can take edges you wouldn't believe and that both will shave like champions.

CoffeeAddict,

I tend to agree with my fellow SRP member Birnando here. I think that somebody who is starting out as a straight razor shaver would benefit the most from a full hollow blade because of the feedback one gets while shaving.

This won't completely eliminate the possibility of nicks, but it does help the shaver adjust their shaving technique to get maximum performance as well as shaving comfort from the blade.

Thank you guys. I think that a full hollow would be my best bet. I don't want to fall in RAD.

Originally Posted by CoffeeAddict

Thank you guys. I think that a full hollow would be my best bet. I don't want to fall in RAD.

If you manage to avoid developing RAD, write a book about it and I will buy it.

Hi CoffeeAddict and welcome to the forums.
I don't feel qualified to advise you as I have only been using a straight for a few months, however, I was reading the other day an opinion from a more experienced shaver who maintained that the full hollow develops your technique due to the flex of the blade while the 1/4 hollow is more forgiving.
I used a full hollow yesterday and realise that my techique needs work.
Enjoy which ever way you go.
Cheers,
Geoff

Gentlement,

I bought a Dovo Astrale which is a half-hollow. And already planning my next purchase (not RAD yet haha): a Wacker 5/8 full hollow.

Thank you all for the advices and help.

Best regards

-Coffee Addict

Congrats! welcome to the big leagues. Watch out for your earlobe

When you really learn to shave it will not matter which you use. The half hollow will give you more less feedback than a full hollow as mentioned above, thus you will more than likely learn quicker from a 5/8 or 6/8 full hollow...which is typically why we would recommend a full hollow for a first razor.

if your prone to nicks on your neck and going against the grain, is it not more likely that the finer blades are catching on tough hair and turning in?

I have 1/4 hollows, extra hollows and full hollows, near wedges etc. I find the wedge and fuller grinds good for going ATG with no nicks, but i find the more hollow grinds good for getting detail work in just under the jawline and the chin, especially XTG

A real razor is much different than a shavette, yes the shavettes are sharper (harsher some might say) but a real straight reacts differently. I would go with the half hollow, i think it's probably the best compromise between comfort and feedback. don't base what your real straight experience will be like on what your shavette experience was like.

I started with a shavette, and am three months into shaving with a straight, and tbh i've only really started to appreciate the difference in feel between grinds.