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Yes, you can get a great inexpensive de .. Vintage a great starter one is a Gillette Super speed there all over the place to buy check eBay inexpensive around 15-25 bucks just make sure the twist to open works and it has all its plating. If u google how to clean her up it will look and work like new. Then u have to find a de blade u like ... Good luck...
Today I was in a hurry, forgot to shave, was going to be late at work, so I packed the DE, soap and a synthetic brush, Pinaud Lime Sec AS, and shaved at work. There's no hot water so I heated a cup in the nuker, and applied with the brush. As has been mentioned before when in a hurry, SWMBO requirements, and similar circumstances of life, take a DE and avoid possibly posting in the "Cut of the day" thread.
You definitely need a DE. I felt like a traitor when I used on after taking The Vow, but I now feel it's 'valid'.
I generally use a DE on Saturdays, using a straight other days. I chose Saturday because that's when I normally do manly stuff like mowing lawns. My dad used to use a DE and lawn mowing on Saturdays and shaving in the afternoon and the smell of Old Spice (though I don't use Old Spice) always reminds me of childhood days. I find shaving with a DE very easy; certainly not as challenging or interesting as with a straight, yet I do like it.
I only have one DE, a Mühle R 89. It's very forgiving and excellent with Astra blades. I normally use a cream with the DE rather than a soap.
I also find it's so manoeuvrable I can actually get a better shave with a DE than with a straight; at least for the short term. I can get up against every single hair absolutely fully against the grain; and I can't do that with a straight on my neck. The smoothness doesn't last as LONG as with a straight, but initially it's smoother.
my respect to all the gentlemen with skills sufficient enough to use a DE in a rush. sadly, the same does not go for me. i find the DE to be much more unforgiving than a straight and has a smaller blade in relation to a straight. also, the ability to manipulate the angle is much greater in a straight which improves shave efficiency. so for me, even in a rush a straight seems to be more reasonable since it can be easily controlled and has a smoother and wider blade for a more comfortable and quicker shave. this is just MY experience, and i know for a fact that it is quite a twisted one..
You can use a de when in a rush, or anytime.
They are great fun and for me they give an almost perfect shave. I'm still amazed at what I can achieve with my merkur and a derby blade.
If I'm doing one pass the de is the better choice. I get a good shave with very little touch up required. That said I can do a one pass shave with a straight in about the same time.
Michael
Just a caution. It may take some time and experimentation to find a razor and blade combo that works for you face. Some DEs are very aggressive and cannot be moved over the face with any less concentration than a straight (actually, I think many DEs are much more dangerous than a straight). Make sure you get a combination that is forgiving otherwise you may look like a badly peeled red plum. :mad: