Tried straights, wondering if DE would be more my style?

Hey guys,
A quick question for you all. I've been using straights for a while now and have gotten fairly proficient at shaving without slicing my face up :). I do still have problems on my chin (Kirk Douglas cleft chin) but for the most part I can get satisfactory results. Unfortunately, I had a honing disaster that really makes me not want to send razors out anymore, plus a good straight shave takes more time than I can spare in the morning. Would I be better off using a DE? I'm guessing it's a little quicker than a straight and I would be able to replace blades vs sending my razor off to be honed. How long does the blade last in DE razors? I can get a couple of weeks out of the cheapy disposable cartridge shavers, would a DE blade last a similar amount of time? Thank you for your views on this, just trying to figure out a good compromise :)

Cheers,
Stew

DE's are great. Give them a go. You can always use your straights when you have more time.

No reason to choose. Your RAD will just have more options :) Get some of both and shave with whatever you fancy that day.

Thanks guys :). I went ahead and ordered a DE today, think I'll use that as my day to day shaver and use my straights for when I have more time. I'm sure I'll really like the DE as I enjoy wet shaving, I just don't seem to have the extra time in the morning for the straight. Plus, this gives me an excuse to buy more razors! :D

I started with straights and moved to DEs. They are great for a quicky or for cleaning up after using a straight. I have only purchased the older gillettes.

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Originally Posted by 650Stew

Thanks guys :). I went ahead and ordered a DE today, think I'll use that as my day to day shaver and use my straights for when I have more time. I'm sure I'll really like the DE as I enjoy wet shaving, I just don't seem to have the extra time in the morning for the straight. Plus, this gives me an excuse to buy more razors! :D

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Good call - this isn't an either/or situation!

I have a DE that I take when I travel, and a growing collection of straights that I use on a daily basis. I'm kind of the opposite of what you'd call a morning person, so 90% of the time I do an end-run around the time issue by shaving in the evening before going to bed. Apart from freeing up that time in the morning, I find it to be a nice, relaxing way to end the day.

Not a thing wrong with using a DE when pressed for time or you need the convenience when traveling. I use my straights at home on a daily basis having the time to enjoy the process being retired. I can still get a better shave from my Gillette Fat Boy than a straight but then I have had much more practice with a DE. I can get about a weeks worth of 3 pass shaves from a DE but everyone's beard is different.

Bob

PM sent
Paul

Thanks for the support guys, I'm hanging onto the straights I still have (minus the destroyed/lost one from honing) and will still use them. I think the DE will be an excellent supplement to them for when I don't have time to use the straights. Maybe shaving at night would be the answer, I'll have to give it a go :). Great people here, this forum is second to none :D.

I like evening shaves and rotate my 2 nice straights with my 4de and 1 se razor

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 650Stew

Hey guys,
a) Would I be better off using a DE? I'm guessing it's a little quicker than a straight and I would be able to replace blades vs sending my razor off to be honed.

b) How long does the blade last in DE razors? I can get a couple of weeks out of the cheapy disposable cartridge shavers, would a DE blade last a similar amount of time?

c) Thank you for your views on this, just trying to figure out a good compromise :)

Cheers,
Stew

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My opinions, for what they're worth:

a) If you want "quick", the DE wins. No stropping, no oiling, no fussing at all. Rinse it off, and when the blade dulls, put in a new one. And I find that a DE shave goes faster than a straight-razor shave, just because I have more confidence that I won't hurt myself.

b) Only you can decide what "dull" means. But it's going to happen after 2 - 5 shaves, in my experience. You won't get months of use out of a DE blade. [The Feather blades, on the high end of blade prices, cost about $0.50 each -- something like $0.10 per shave.]

The cost comparison is something like this (using Feather's as the DE blade) for 365 shaves per year:

Cost of DE blades: $36

Cost of annual honing
(including postage): $36 (roughly)

If you learn to hone your own razor, your annual honing cost goes down, but you'll have to buy one (or more) hones -- minimum cost about $20 for a barber hone. And you'll have a whole new hobby to deal with!<g>


c) You can buy a first-class DE razor (Edwin Jagger DE89, for example), new, for about $40 (plus postage). You can buy a Gillette Tech for anywhere from $5 (I got lucky!) to $20 at an antique shop. So it won't be horribly expensive to get started in DE shaving.

You'll either like it, or not. It's worth trying out.

Charles

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Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

My opinions, for what they're worth:

a) If you want "quick", the DE wins. No stropping, no oiling, no fussing at all. Rinse it off, and when the blade dulls, put in a new one. And I find that a DE shave goes faster than a straight-razor shave, just because I have more confidence that I won't hurt myself.

b) Only you can decide what "dull" means. But it's going to happen after 2 - 5 shaves, in my experience. You won't get months of use out of a DE blade. [The Feather blades, on the high end of blade prices, cost about $0.50 each -- something like $0.10 per shave.]

The cost comparison is something like this (using Feather's as the DE blade) for 365 shaves per year:

Cost of DE blades: $36

Cost of annual honing
(including postage): $36 (roughly)

If you learn to hone your own razor, your annual honing cost goes down, but you'll have to buy one (or more) hones -- minimum cost about $20 for a barber hone. And you'll have a whole new hobby to deal with!<g>


c) You can buy a first-class DE razor (Edwin Jagger DE89, for example), new, for about $40 (plus postage). You can buy a Gillette Tech for anywhere from $5 (I got lucky!) to $20 at an antique shop. So it won't be horribly expensive to get started in DE shaving.

You'll either like it, or not. It's worth trying out.

Charles

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That's an excellent breakdown, I hadn't thought of it in dollars like that :). My honing charges would probably be a little higher since Canada Post pretty much hoses you on small parcels shipping, and I'm guessing 2 hones per year would be pretty much the norm? I'm excited to try the DE razors out, I remember my pa having one when I was young. Not sure what ever happened to it though. It'll be nice to mix it up between the straights and the DE, variety is the spice of life they say! Thank you all for the insightful replies, I'll let you know how my foray into the DE world goes :)

I would wager that most of the SR guys on this forum own at least one DE.

For most of us there is no faster way to get a great shave.

Many of the blade brands are excellent.

However, my preference is still Feather.

Good luck and enjoy.

I shave with a Straight daily, but on those days where my mind is just not focused, or I'm in a huge rush, i pull out one of my de's from my collection.

I wouldn't factor in the cost of honing unless you are the type that factors in shoelaces with running or air freshener with the cost of a car.

Most should learn to hone on their own.

Like you, I stared with a DE then I progressed to a staight and don't look back. I actually cut myself more with a DE. The straight is much nicer and with a little experience, you will learn that a straight is just as fast once you get good. I do all my stropping after work the day before so the morning shave goes fast. I wouldn't think of going back to a DE now.