Hello all! Transitioning from DE to straight

Hi SRP fellows,

I've been wet shaving for about 7 years now, since I was 20 or so. I've had a lot more success with my Merkur DE, TOBS soap and badger brush than previously with Mach 3s and *gasp* electrics. I figure it's time to move up to a straight, something I've wanted to do for a while, but one of my buddies (member Aeon on SRP) raving about the straight razor experience pushed me into committing.

Thanks to numerous threads here, I contacted Larry at Whipped Dog, and am awaiting a Crown & Sword 1720 and poor man's strop kit. Thanks to my love of ducks (the animal) I just snagged a DD Goldedge on eBay. Seemed pretty much immaculate, and the seller says it'll be honed and stropped before it gets to me. This was about 3x what Larry's C&S razor cost, but about half of what most BIN good condition Goldedges go for. I figure I'm in this for the long haul, so might as well seize an opportunity if it presents itself!

So here I am, waiting for what I gather are two excellent razors to show up in the mail. I was just wondering, what's the biggest thing to keep in mind shifting from a DE? I'm good on beard prep, lather, and all that, and I already know generally how to go with and against and across the grain. I'm planning, as Lynn recommends, to start with a bit of the face only and slowly increase with each shave.

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!

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Originally Posted by Hassouni

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

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Originally Posted by jeffegg2

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!

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Using both hands to shave makes a world of difference. Originally I resisted thinking I was looking for trouble using both hands AND learning to shave with a straight at the same time.

When I finally make the leap to using both hands my shaves were closer and I actually Got LESS nicks!

If you try both hands when you are still fairly new it starts to grow naturally. That's because you are going slower and being very carefull to begin with. Using your off hand becomes part of the learning process. Also you won't have to unlearn any bad habits.

Tryit and you'll like it. I guarantee it! :tu

Thanks guys, the razors arrived today, gonna do my first partial shave tomorrow - let's see how it goes!

Well today was the day...

After showering, soaked my brush in hot water in the bowl for a few minutes, whipped up some foam with my Taylor's lavender soap, and did a pass pretty much all around WTG with the Crown & Sword, using both hands. I told myself I'd just do a cheek, but oh well.

No nicks, except in my finger, which I didn't even feel (just saw the blood), and the only razor burn was on my upper lip. I just did WTG all around, plus some XTG on the sides of my face. Finished off with my DE.

Overall, a very different experience, and I'm definitely need to get used to the various grips in both hands, but I think I had a pretty good result for the first time!

PS, for guys that have heavy, black whiskers, is it possible to ever shave down to where it's not visible? The closest DE shaves I've done still look a bit shadow-y even when they feel smooth.

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Originally Posted by Hassouni

PS, for guys that have heavy, black whiskers, is it possible to ever shave down to where it's not visible? The closest DE shaves I've done still look a bit shadow-y even when they feel smooth.

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No , that's just the way it is. Rich dark hair will always contrast to your skin.

btw where are the razor pics. :)

It is good to go wtg and finish with the DE for a while! Sounds like you are off to a good start! I have never been able to switch hands, a righty all the way. Not a problem, though!

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

No , that's just the way it is. Rich dark hair will always contrast to your skin.

btw where are the razor pics. :)

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Here you go:
Attachment 90754

Attachment 90755

Just had the second shave with the C&S (yeah I tend to shave at night). Did WTG all over and XTG on the right side - left hand is still kind of awkward. Pretty darn smooth on the right side, about as good as I could get WTG with the DE (I only did WTG with the DE). Left was still pretty ragged, and overall the motions and grips still need getting used to, but it's starting to make sense....

No real cuts though, but there was some razor burn. Nothing my AS balm didn't help though.