Thread: Help manage my expectations...

I have been wet shaving for years and have prep and lather production under control.

Like wise, I have been using a Feather AC Dx non-folding for months (Kai Milds) and now have zero problems with getting a full BBS shave. Takes a little longer than DE, but the results are worth it. Not having scales to battle with made a HUGE difference and allowed me to concentrate elsewhere. Over time, I have found my angle to be closer to 20-30 degrees than the almost 0 degree Feather suggests.

I tried a few shavette's.. not with the intention of using one often, but to reintroduce the scales into the equation. No problem, though shavette's aren't for me.

Now, my first traditional straight shave will be either tonight or tomorrow morning. I have a well honed and stropped 6/8's ready to go. I don't hold a lot of weight in the HHT, but my left arm has a few shorter hairs than my right.

My plan is to mimic what I do with the Feather.. Shower for prep, Undecided on software, but always a CWS.. Zero pressure for WTG & XTG, then a last clean-up that is sort of diagonal.. no ATG needed.

One known variable is the quality of the edge on my straight.. that aside, what should I expect to be different between the traditional and the Feather? I'll figure out the angle, but how about the end result? Should I expect the straight shave to be as close as the Feather?

By nearly all accounts, the Feather system blades are reportedly sharper than even the best traditional straight.

You're right about the sharpness. The traditional will not be as sharp but with the practice you have in already, you will actually find yourself using just a wee bit of pressure compared to the feather; however, for me my straights were much smoother than my feather ever was. For me it was 2 or 3 shaves with a new blade for it to get comfortable; with the traditional it was sharp and smooth right off the bat or one shave later. As far as how the shave will go...well, that's more technique guided than hardware the majority of the time. I think you will see it's actually easier with the traditional and a bit quicker than with the super sharp feather blades.

Once I perfected the angle differential and a few tweaks to my technique my shave are identical as far as BBS.

I personally find the overall shave from the true straight to be more comfortable,
and although I did not get any real irritation from the shavett the burn of the aftershave told me the story.

It did take me a little over a week to really start to get the angle difference down but I am glad I moved on to real steel.

Thanks Gents..

I truly hope the shave proves to be as close and more comfortable would be a bonus. There are such limited options with the Feather / Kais and it almost doesn't seem worth having more than one.

Yes, it does take the a few shaves to tame the Feather / Kai blades, though lately I have been giving them a single cork pass which helps.

Good news is that I am neither nervous nor tentative, which has been the only time I have gotten in trouble in the past. Or, it might be EXACTLY what GETS me in trouble..

Just watch the pressure, the feel is different enough I wanted to apply more than needed.
You will not regret the switch.

Call it a success without a hitch