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Thread: Hello all! Transitioning from DE to straight

  1. #1
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    Default 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.

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    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.

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

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    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.

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    face scraper bondpunk's Avatar
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    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

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    The Hurdy Gurdy Man thebigspendur's Avatar
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    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.
    cudarunner likes this.
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    By the way, what's the logic for switching hands vs doing it all with the dominant hand?

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    Senior Member jeffegg2's Avatar
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    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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    Quote Originally Posted by Hassouni View Post
    By the way, what's the logic for switching hands vs doing it all with the dominant hand?
    Quote Originally Posted by jeffegg2 View Post
    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!
    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!
    SirStropalot likes this.
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    Thanks guys, the razors arrived today, gonna do my first partial shave tomorrow - let's see how it goes!

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