Thread: Do you veteran straight razor shavers continue to use DEs at all?

Hi, I'm a 3 year+ DE shaver that is curious about straights.
For the straight razor users that have been doing it for awhile, have you quit using or got rid of your DEs? Or, do you still have some old fave DEs in rotation? Maybe you've kept a couple around for emergency? (Or, are experienced and confident enough w/straights that you can pull off a quick one pass WTG-SAS when needed?)

Started with DE razors about 7 months ago, quickly progressed to straights, i get less irritation than a DE now, although i still collect them and give them to friends and family.

Yes, I have four DE's. One is lent out to a mate and two others are in my rotation. The fourth isn't in my rotation, but has been. I have seven cut-throats. One is out of service, two are on loan to friends and four are in my rotation. I also have, and use, a Rolls on occassion. I like to switch around a bit, but I find that the cut-throat can get into tighter spots than any of the others can. I sport a goatee and moe that requires the odd stray hair to be felled to keep the clearings looking tidy.

Speed with the shave is about on a par. The clean up of the CT is where I lose five minutes.


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

Yes, I have four DE's. One is lent out to a mate and two others are in my rotation. The fourth isn't in my rotation, but has been. I have seven cut-throats. One is out of service, two are on loan to friends and four are in my rotation. I also have, and use, a Rolls on occassion. I like to switch around a bit, but I find that the cut-throat can get into tighter spots than any of the others can. I sport a goatee and moe that requires the odd stray hair to be felled to keep the clearings looking tidy.

Speed with the shave is about on a par. The clean up of the CT is where I lose five minutes.


Mick

Hey Mick, what do you think of the Rolls? I have picked up a couple but haven't had a go yet, certainly a cool looking piece of kit.

I like it mate. It makes a nice change occassionally. I had to do some piecing together of a couple of Rolls to make one complete set though, and the only real draw back I feel in using it, is the assembly/disassembly on top of keeping it dry and oiled. It's only due to being slightly more time consuming (as much as I hate to admit that time would ever be a factor in my shaves) that it doesn't get used more often.


Mick

I recently went on a cruise and was told I couldn't have my cut-throat on board the ship so I took my 1956 Gillette flair tip.

Glad I did really as we were chased around by a cyclone

Originally Posted by Grazor

Hey Mick, what do you think of the Rolls? I have picked up a couple but haven't had a go yet, certainly a cool looking piece of kit.

I usually use a straight but like to test out interesting other razors. I honed up a Rolls and it was the worst shave I have ever had. Mostly my technique for sure. I think that the learning curve for them would be much larger than a straight.

I almost always shave with a straight because I prefer it. I have a small collection of DEs and once in awhile I break out a Merkur slant, Barbasol, Gillette Big Fellow or a 1940s Aristocrat. If I am running really late and have to shave it would be the Merkur Slant.

I am a geezer and wet shaved all my shaving life. I awaken a bit shaky some AMs and like to enjoy a refreshing shave so I often get on a DE or SE instead of a straight.
I like to try different methods of removing facial hair. My DEs go to the early 20th century, My SEs go back to 1880s, and straights to about 1810.
On any given day I grab what appeals to me and enjoy the best shave I can get from whatever the razor is.
The idea, I think is to take the time to enjoy a shave and get one's self into a proper mood for the day to follow. The shave not the tool is what counts! YIdeasMV
~Richard

I'm still relatively new to the straight razor world. Been at it about 6 months and have acquired a couple DE's along the way. What I can say, is that I do prefer the straight razor shave over DE's for a few reasons. One, it's a chance to slow your day down and relax. Two, theres something about using primitive methods for certain things that I find appealing. Three, knowing that I put that edge on the razor and shaved with it is rewarding in itself. Four, I'm always learning from my mistakes and getting better. Five, awesome shaves!! Six, the sheer bad-a**-ism of shaving with a straight razor!

I don't consider it rocket science. Like anything, it takes practice, time, and willingness to learn. I'd say that people all have their own particular reasons for enjoying straight razor shaves, a lot of it is personal preference after all.

Back to your question, yes I still do shave occasionally with a double edge. I wouldn't consider DE's in my normal rotation, but I do use them from time to time. I don't know if I would try a "quick" WTG pass tho, sometimes I'll do two passes (WTG/ATG) others I just do a single WTG shave (unless I need to be extra fresh). I just wanted to have a DE or two on hand because I had a slight interest in them, but always have had more of an interest in straight razors. You could always keep your DE's in rotation though! If you shave before work or something then save the straights for evening/weekends or whatever you desire. I hope my novice experience helps!

Now that you bring up DE's I'll have to try out my newest addition to my DE arsenal that I picked up about a month ago and cleaned up.