Thread: Hello all! Transitioning from DE to straight

I've just made the same transition that you're about to embark upon (also with gear from Larry). Definitely take it slow, and start with just a small portion of your face to begin with. I habitually dive into things head first, and in this situation it bit me in the a$$ for sure. I'm almost a month and a half in and things are going great now, but it took longer to get to this point that it should have.

One thing that I always found to be misleading is that in videos on YouTube everyone says that they start with a WTG pass, and then proceed to do a straight north-to-south pass across their face and neck. For me WTG and north-to-south are two entirely different things. WTG for me is north-to-south on my face, but south-to-north for the majority of my neck. Don't let what you've seen on the 'Tube cause you to try to do a WTG pass any differently than with the DE. Remember those lessons you learned while perfecting your DE technique, and apply those to straight shaving. Some may disagree with me, but this is what I've found works best for me.

Yep, most of my neck is bottom-top WTG. Chin is mostly side to side....

I guess I could make a video of how I shave if you'd like to see it. It would be a few days though... probably Saturday before I could get it done.

yea, take it slow. If you can shave with a DE you are probably familiar with the way the hair grows on your face. If you're not check the wiki to read up on face mapping. MY face is as easy as it gets top to bottom WTG neck gets a lil crazy it fans out and in some places WTG is east to west. I dove in and like many others had to pay the price. after tons of reading and help from the members here I am extremely comfortable with my shaving, rarely get a nick or cut, and after I stopped fretting about BBS on my neck never get razor burn. If you have a problem area search the wiki and if you can't find your answer done be afraid to ask. Good Luck and congrats

I'm not sure going from a DE to a straight is what I would call transition because it's a totally different animal. The pre-shave part is the same so you'll be up to speed on that and yes you will have a good idea how your beard grows but from personal experience when I went from a Dovo DE to a straight I was in for a big shock. You seem to already know what needs to be looked at. Just go slow and watch the pressure and angles and your strokes. It's just a matter of practice and sticking with it if the first few shaves turn out to be a let down.

By the way, what's the logic for switching hands vs doing it all with the dominant hand?

I currently shave with just the one hand. I shave my neck from top to bottom, not exactly WTG more like ATG.
I was a DE user for about 15 years before finding SRP and learning to use a straight. You are in for a treat!!

Just take it slow like they said. The biggest thing for you to learn also is stropping. Makes your razor nice and smooth to shave. Once you learn you'll never go back!!

Already two razors on the way? Do I see another aquisition disorder in the works? haha!

Enjoy! If it does not feel good, you are doing it wrong!