To straight razor or not to?

So I'm a 30 year old man, who hates shaving. I have tried Mach 3 / Mach 3 turbo razors in the distant past, and am currently using a Braun Activator electric shaver. The shaving quality is pretty good (for an electric razor), but we all know that electric shavers suck. Currently I am only shaving once or twice a week (at best) because the shaver hurts my face.

I'm coming here because I am ready to try something new in my life, I also seem to enjoy a lot of the classic and more natural ways of day to day living, and figure this would flow right with my lifestyle.

Where should I start? Is this a wise idea? What are your thoughts?

Thanks all!

Welcome !
I was a 50 year old that hated shaving, now I love it.
Start with the "Library" section above, take your time & Enjoy the Ride.

I think this is a very wise choice for you, mostly because we all asked ourselves the same thing, ended up here and are now in it for the long haul :). The best place to start would be checking out the wiki/library, searching through the thousands of threads and asking as many questions as you want. The best part of the SRP community is that we believe in giving back to beginners the same knowledge that was imparted to us when we didn't know any better.

Take care and have fun.

The "library" has all sorts of good info. I've only been using a Straight for about 4 months but I can tell you how I "prepared" for using a Straight. I started with my old DE razors, so i could "unlearn" what i had learned using those 3-5 blade razors.

I started shaving using DE razors but knew nothing about shave prep so i hated it, tore up my face. After years of that i switched to 3 blade razors and while the shaves were more comfortable i developed the bad habit of pressing down really hard while shaving. So when I was thinking about getting a straight I knew I needed a real light touch. I dug up my old DE and cranked it up to 9. That will teach you how to get a light touch real fast! :D So after a lot of cuts and razor rash I started to develop a light touch again. When I could shave with a DE without tearing up my face i then bought my first straight. Then the cuts returned... so much for my "light touch". So after a lot of cuts and razor rash, again, I can now shave without tearing up my face. I now love shaving, I never thought i would but I sort of look forward to it now.

Similar story for me as well... Early 40's, hated shaving even the one time a week I was doing it. Started out by just switching to brush/soap to decrrase the trash I was creating and found it really fun. Watched some videos and stumbled onto this site and lurked for awhile then gave it a try and have had a blast! Now I look forward to shaving 3 times a week and use it as a 'Chill' routine before bed. I have been collecting some scuttles, mugs, brushes and random gear and recently starting to do light restoration.

This is a Hobby that makes a previously dull task a blast and gives avenues to go as deep or wide as you could possibly want.

Definitely do it... You won't regret it and the feeling you get from your first successfuk shave (.. even with some errors..) is similar to the first time you stuck the landing after jumping out of a swing when you were a kid!

Distinguish between DE ("double-edge" = old-fashioned "safety razors") and straight-razor shaving.

IMHO, _anyone_ can use a DE razor without much effort. They give good shaves, without irritation (for most of us), at reasonable cost. You can get a new razor, some blades, a brush, and some soap from whippeddog.com for about $40. That's all you need. [If you scrounge antique stores and eBay, you _might_ be able to do better, but you're a beginner, and wouldn't know what you were buying.]

Within a few weeks, you'll know if it works for you, or not. Don't be shy about asking questions here. There are some common problems, and ways to get around them.

Shaving with a straight razor demands more skill, and has a longer learning curve -- there are more things that can interfere with a good shave. It's more expensive, and has become a hobby (obsession?) with many of us. Some people say it gives a better shave; I'm not sure, myself.

Either way beats an electric razor, if your skin is reasonably smooth.

Have fun --

. Charles

I would have to agree with everything else that has been said. I hated shaving. My wife and kids gave me my first 'straight razor shaving set' for Fathers Day from 'Straight Razor Design' There is a bit of a learning curve, you'll actually have to learn how to shave correctly, something we have lost in our modern fast paced world. Straight razor shaving allows you slow down and relax, turn shaving from something that was a chore into something that is pleasurable. And you will have bad shaves as you're learning, but it's an art that has to be mastered, so don't get discouraged.

I really agree with everything Charles said in his post, #6. Stick your toe in with a DE to see if you like that first. Get good with a DE and then decide on trying a straight. It is never too late to learn, I started straight shaving at 59.

Bob

I'm 44 and I have just begun using a straight a few weeks ago. It's fun.

3 years ago I was using an electric and I switched to a DE. It was also fun.

I also recommend getting started with the DE first. You learn alot more about how to shave with a DE, the soaps/creams, and post-shave treatments. I'm glad I started out that way because I actually enjoy both. I know that using a straight well is going to take a very long time but that doesn't bother me since I know I can pull out the DE if I need a super close shave.

danifunker, it is certainly a good idea to start straight razor shaving. I have not regretted my decision to do so ever.

It is pure fun and opened a whole new perspective for me. Don't hesitate, just go for it.

The voyage to a fine shave is learn by trying and worthwile.

Alright, why do you hate shaving? Have you introduced the most basic of things to improve your shave with a mach 3? I'm talking about a nice shave cream/soap (Take your pick Cella, Proraso, Taylors, Truefitt and Hill etc etc) and a shaving brush. Use of good pre-shave prep might make all the difference to your shaves with a mach 3 and your outlay is just for a brush and a nice shave cream or shave soap to use with it. If you're ready to just dive on in, and are properly aware of the learning curve, then by all means get straight into using a cut-throat. If you want to just ease into it. start off with a brush and soap, later introduce a DE and try a few blades to find what works for you there, and then when you want to up skill again, move into the real deal then. Just my thoughts fo ryou.


Mick

Thanks for all of your responses! After much thought (especially after reading Bobh's and Charles' comments), and consulting with my girlfriend, I decided to go for a DE razor.

Some of the reasons I really hate shaving is for the waste it creates (foam and plastic cartridges) or with the electric, I find it pretty painful (no matter what the length of my hair is), loud (so I want to get it over with as soon as I can). I think the DE route will be a good starting place for me, I've ordered a mug, stand, brush and Merkur Futur razor, as well as an assorted blades package. Right now I'm only shaving once a week because it hurts so bad (I used to only shave once every two weeks). I'm sure all of this preparation will help.

What's a good natural soap I should start with?

Hi

Welcome to SRP.

Your question is a lot like joining a wine forum, and ask if you should drink wine.
What do you think the answer will be?

Anyway - welcome and enjoy straight razor shaving.

Soaps and creams are as complex and the "how to shave" question in the first place. I personally would go with Proraso cream in a tube which has a very light sandalwood scent. I'm sure you'll get a lot more opinions here and it's hard to go completely wrong. I think the creams give a superior lather with a little less variability. You will need to decide, eventually, between creams and soaps and scents. Or, you can have several of each!

I think you'll enjoy the DE experience. Really, it's the entire shaving experience that makes this approach so enjoyable. I am 65 and have been shaving full time w/ a straight for 4 months after several, aborted trials over the past 30 years. This site made it possible to be successful this time and I can't recommend reading it and taking the advice strongly enough. I never "hated" shaving -- used an electric for most of my 50 years of shaving. It was just a chore to do along with brushing my teeth. Since going to a straight I look forward to the the adventure every day. I have a couple of DEs that I bought for those days when I just can't make the straight razor do the job but, to tell the truth, I have yet to use one of them for a full shave. Just haven't needed to although there is sure nothing wrong with the DE and I know I'll get around to it at some point.

Enjoy! You do need to be willing to take your time because the prep is half the battle -- and the fun.

Razo rock makes great soft soaps (croaps). They lather easy, and are less expensive than alot of the others, and come in its own container. Remember to use almost no pressure at all with the DE, and short strokes, don't try to mow down your whiskers in one fell swoop like a Mach 3, if you do it's gonna look like a zombie movie in your bathroom!

Awesome, thanks. I think I'm going to watch a video or how-to on using a DE. Also, it turns out that they sell Geo F. Trumper, so I'm going to see if they have the coconut shaving cream (not soap).

I'm not really sure if this is a good starting point, but it's easily available for me :) is there anything I should know about this ?

Excellent choice! I have a tube of the Geo F. Trumper coconut cream and really like it. It lathers well and I am partial to the scent. One of the first creams I tried as well.

You'll see in the Wiki on lathering that you start (as I recall) with very little water and add some later. I soak my brush in the bowl I later use to whip up the lather. I dump out the water and start developing the lather after putting a stripe of cream on the brush. I tried creating the lather without adding more water later and found it to be dry and sparse. I especially noted this with the GFT coconut. Next time around I added a few drops (about a teaspoon) of water mid-process and got GREAT lather with the coconut.

You're gonna have a blast!

I was 50 and I can't even recall shaving before then other than reaching for an old blue plastic razor from a drawer and scraping whiskers off my face for the last 35 years. Other than that it was very uneventful and somewhat of a nuisance if I recall. Then I found a shaving forum. Being quite nostalgic myself, it didn't take long for me to start researching and buying my first DE. Then another and another and so on. The soaps, creames and blades were collected in the same fashion. At 53 I started lurking on the SRP sight and sort of fell into the river, if you hang out long enough here you will also fall in... Bought my first straight razor this year and just recently bought a new Dovo Bismark from SRD. I love it! For the past 3 years I feel like I am stealing time back from the "man" whoever that might be and spending time on myself which is a good thing. There's nothing like putting hot towels on your face and relaxing. Good luck on your adventure. Studying and learning is the best part of the shaving scene. I would have never have thought that I could look at a DE and tell you in most cases its make and year. I have turned into a shaving nerd. Best of luck on your journey.

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Originally Posted by danifunker

Thanks for all of your responses! After much thought (especially after reading Bobh's and Charles' comments), and consulting with my girlfriend, I decided to go for a DE razor.

Some of the reasons I really hate shaving is for the waste it creates (foam and plastic cartridges) or with the electric, I find it pretty painful (no matter what the length of my hair is), loud (so I want to get it over with as soon as I can). I think the DE route will be a good starting place for me, I've ordered a mug, stand, brush and Merkur Futur razor, as well as an assorted blades package. Right now I'm only shaving once a week because it hurts so bad (I used to only shave once every two weeks). I'm sure all of this preparation will help.
. . .

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The Futur is an aggressive razor -- lots of blade exposure. Start with the _minimum_ setting -- 0 or 1 -- and use a very light touch, much lighter than you're used to. Adjust the razor up from there, slowly, if you want to. A suggestion:

. . . It's more comfortable to take more passes at a lower setting, than to take fewer passes at a higher setting.

Razor burn is _not_ your friend!

Some other people have said that the minimum setting on the Futur is more aggresssive than an EJ DE89, which is my normal DE razor.

I don't know what a "natural" soap is. I started with Proraso, and now rotate between:

. . . Proraso cream
. . . Proraso soap
. . . Mitchell's Wool Fat
. . . Tabac
. . . Truefitt and Hill soap (a new favorite).

Any of those will make good lather. The MWF and Tabac are (I think) old formulations, without strong scents. Choice of soap is very individual.

. Charles

I've learned this with many things in life... if your hesitant, or HOPE you wont mess up... you'll make the mistake.. if you believe in your ability and arent shaky handed, i'm sure you can do it :)

If your not sure an easy way to start ( many here would differ) is with a good Shavette. A Parker or similar design. It uses 1/2 blades. You can either buy the 1/2 blades or cut the DE's in half.
The easiest and least costly way to go. But, a great shave.
If you enjoy it. Next would be the Feather Artist Series with a Proguard blade. More money but a great open experience. Then on to the Straights.

ya know, I started with a shavette about a year ago and I swore I would never use a straight again. I butchered my face pretty bad. I find the blade to be ALOT sharper and less forgiving than a real straight. Took me a year and I decided to pick up a real one - not pretty but a decent blade. So I not saying not to try a shavette but if you have bad results, do consider that it shaves pretty differently from a "real" straight.

I think it's one of those things that once you learn how to shave, the shavette is fine. But to try and learn, I personally feel like the real straight was much more pleasant for me.

Hi I looked at geofatboy on you tube, he has some great videos on shaving, IMO I learn a lot from geo.:rock: