Thread: Warning: This is likely a one-way trip

I have been playing with a straight for about 4 mo now. I pretty much went cold turkey and just jumped in. Prior to that I had been a DE shaver. I learned everything I could from the mantic videos (that guy should get an award or something) and I truly loved my DE. I figured out that I was one of those guys who truly appreciated taking my time with the process. I loved my Merkur Futur DE but if I was not careful I would nick myself pretty good.

Then, I found this site...

4 months ago I switched to a straight and I have REALLY been enjoying it. Well, two days ago I needed a quick shave so I pulled out my DE again. Man, I cut myself up so bad! After that experience, I find my love for my Futur just a little less This morning I went back to my Dovo and awesome shave!

So I fear that trying a straight razor has likely become a one way trip for me. Be aware for all beginners!!!

I have not been at this as long as you have just a few weeks for me. But I
Have tossed all of my multi-blade razors and cream in the trash.

You're on to something there, ESL. I learned on a DE - before cartidges & multiblades blighted the landscape - shortly after the collision of the tectonic plates. Since taking up the str8, I'm grumpy if I have to use anything else. I've used a DE 3x since the str8, and its alot more colorful (bloody). I'm sure I could get used to the technique and do fine - but who'd want to?

You're right, it's a one-way trip. I've shaved with a straight razor for around 3 years now. Last week, for the first time since I took this path, I shaved with a regular gillette razor. Man, was that awful! It left me with a lot of razor burn and got some ingrowns as well.

Shaving with a straight razor is so much better, in my opinion. It's not just about having less irritation and a closer shave. It's also about relaxing and doing a manly thing (no matter how pretentious that sounds). Just the prepping, applying the lather... it's great.

In my lifetime I've run the full gamut, in this order SR, SE-injector, DE, just about every Multi-Edge on the market to-date, DE, SR. I now usually shave with a SR but quite often use a DE. I don't nick myself any more with one than the other and enjoy both shaves.

So I wouldn't say it is exactly a one way shave, at least in my case it was more circular in nature

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I also ran the gamut on shaving soap/foam. I started with a brush and an Old Spice mug, moved back and forth through quite a few various and different canned products, and am now back to brush and mug. The canned products were quick and easy to use with virtually no clean-up, but some left me with a rash. I even shaved sans foam using just water for a few years between trying all the different canned products that I have used in my life.

I had forgotten how much I had missed the brush and foam wet shave until I returned to SR and DE shaving a few months ago, or what a better shave it is and can't imagine going back to canned products.

SO far I shave with my Dovo every chance I get however due to time with work and everything I have to switch back to my DE every once in a while. I still get a better shave with my DE than my straight its just not as much fun. I would say 2 out of 5 shaves a week are still me DE. I have noticed that my DE shave has gotten WAY better from the control that the straight has taught me.

Due to life I will always have to flip between the two. However aslong as I never have to use another cartridge and canned crap I will be happy.

I'm in the same place Ziander is. Sometimes I need the speed of the DE. I get great shaves from it, I just enjoy the straight more and always try to make time for it.

Interesting... I also used to grab a DE for a quick shave. Now it's faster to use a straight. I can take off more per stroke than I can with a DE. The other day I shaved with my face still wet from the shower but without using any soap. Start to finish it only took about a minute and a half.
I'm not sure if it's technique or if the skin changes over time. I know I couldn't have done that when I started.

Yesterday I was going to shave but ended up pulling a 13.5 hour day so instead of trying to rush I waited till today. I refuse to go back. I am kind of hardheaded that way.

I haven't used a cartridge since just after Christmas until this week. On Monday, I was late out of bed and needed to iron a shirt so pulled out old King of Shaves cartridge routine. 2 minutes in shower. On Tuesday, I wanted to cycle to work and, again, because of the added time used the cartridge. Both perfectly reasonable shaves. In fact, jawline was a lot better than I usually get with my straight. I got my 'me time' on Tuesday on my bike instead of in front of the sink. It was lovely to get the straight out and go with the full routine for the rest of the week though. And I'm already planning my (straight) shave for tomorrow now.