Thread: DE vs SR

I think the progression from DE to SR makes alot of sense. The learnings carry over and it's precisely what I did. I agree that the learning curve for SR is much higher than a DE but it's also much more rewarding imo. With a DE, you learn a lot about angles, hair growth directions, skin stretching, making a good lather, how to use a brush. SR takes many of these skills to the next level but you build on it. I am still under the 100 shave mark with my SR but it also takes me longer to shave with a SR without a doubt - especially when you include the "maintenance time" of stropping, applying oil, etc.

If I was ready to teach my son how to shave (he is only 10) I will start him with a DE and then he can progress to a SR later if he chooses to.

Man!! A DE's learning curve to me is/was WAY less than a straights. Way less... especially if I wasn't looking for super close shaves.

The straight for me only takes marginally less time now to shave with. Actually really not that much at all. Sure at first it took longer, but not anymore. Maybe marginally, when you take into account stropping.

Once I got competent with my DE though - the closeness of shave wasn't that far behind my straight. Not far at all. As in very, very, little.

I enjoy both shaves, but I find I can leave my straight for a while, and come back to it and get great shaves - where that's not the case with my DE's. I haven't built the muscle memory with either of the DE handles I have (yet). Hence - if I focus sometimes it takes longer to shave with it than a straight shave... for me.

My DE is great for when I am feeling lazy and it rocks in that the consistency of blade is clearly second to none. I am not the best honer in the world, and sometimes I don't do the best job at it, so I'll get a bad shave now and again. Sometimes I have to "calm-down" my straight too! That never really happens to me with my DE - at least not on the scale it does on my straights.

That's all to say if you like a little bit of challenge and to keep it sporting - a straight is awesome! Just awesome. I still use my straight 97% of the time, but now and again I'll throw the ole DE to my face... those days I am feeling lazy. Or those days when the night before I may have drank a few to many and my hands are shaking like mad lol.

They are both great tools - each does the job very well!! Get em both lol!!

There is no need for a DE, even when traveling. I strop my straight before I hit the road, and if I'm gone for more than one night, well, I take a razor for each day, stropped before I leave. If I fly, then I check my luggage. Not that big a deal. I did get a DE after using straights, and I gave it to my 16yr old son, who loves it.

In my shaving lifetime I have progressed from disposable razors, to cartridge razors (Mach 3 was the last one I used), to DE razor, to shavette, and finally a SR (I started last year). I only used the shavette for 2 months, just to get me warmed up for the SR; I would recommend skipping the shavette and starting on an inexpensive SR. I still use the DE to shave ATG, since I am still learning that technique on the SR. I also use the DE for traveling and quick shaves.

Switching from cartridge razors to a DE was a learning curve on its own. I learned to apply little pressure and control the shave angle with the DE. With the cartridge razor, it was just push it against your face and shave. It didn't go well with my face.

The DE gives me a great shave when used with the right blade. The SR gives me a slightly smoother shave and better control. However, learning to shave with the SR was harder for me than learning to shave with the DE.

Unless you're concerned with saving shave time, travel, and shaving ATG, then I would stick with a SR.

Started with a Str8 and been using it for couple of years now.
Just brought my first DE (an old Gillette) for $5
Tried it on my face just to get the feel of how it works and definitely much simpler than a straight.
Loving it for the purpose I purchased it though... much easier than a straight for head shaving as it's easier to go in multiple directions for a smooth shave. Way better than my old Mach3.

Good prep & good lather will make a world of difference in your wet shaving journey.
ENJOY!

I only use a straight. Even when traveling. For me if I travel, wether for business or vacation, I find it a part of my daily routine on business, and a pleasure on vacation. I do however, if I am flying, have a straight that I am not worried about losing/getting taken from me

a de for me is to use when you can barely keep your eyes open.


i keep a shavete for traveling which is the best of both worlds when traveling.


not as much feedback as from a straight but i can live with that for a couple days on holiday

I have no intention of futzing around with a DE. To me, it's still buying blades instead of making my blades what I want them to be. Never owned one, and never got that bad of a shave with my Atra Plus. I still have 100 cartridges stockpiled for it, so I will use those on my next six-month deployment. After I retire in 2015, I hope to never have occasion to enter an airport and deal with those TSA NAZI's ever again. I prefer to drive, and if I'm driving, I'm bringing my favorite stuff.

Until very recently I felt like a
traitor if I used a DE instead of
a straight, it was almost blasphemous.

The one day I realized that even though
I had used a DE I was still part of a small
and select minority (at least in the US )
and has turned a mundane "git r done"
task into something really cool.

Of course a couple of badger brushes and
a selection of soaps and creams help.

Oh and not to forget the bay rum.


Terry

Originally Posted by wvbias

Until very recently I felt like a
traitor if I used a DE instead of
a straight, it was almost blasphemous.

The one day I realized that even though
I had used a DE I was still part of a small
and select minority (at least in the US )
and has turned a mundane "git r done"
task into something really cool.

Of course a couple of badger brushes and
a selection of soaps and creams help.

Oh and not to forget the bay rum.


Terry

Gotta love the sting of that bay rum! Really wakes you up in the morning!