Thread: Should I also buy a DE?

I'm new to straight shaving, and I've never used a safety razor either. I'm definitely in the stage where I have to use something else to "clean up" after using my straight, and I've been using my old multi-blade razor. Since I'm sure I will be using something for clean up for a while, should I go ahead and by a DE or SE? I'm sure that I will be interested in trying safety razors in the future anyway, perhaps when I'm short on time or taking a quick trip out of town. My only concern is the fact that I've never used one, and I'm not sure I should add any variables as I learn to use a straight razor- I certainly wouldn't want to hinder/lengthen this process!

Opinions?

I know exactly where you are at! I was debating the exact same thing earlier this week!

Here is what I decided to do (just my opinion, that I got to with some help from other members), I orded a DE, brush, soap, and blades to start for a few reasons:

1. I did not have a ton of money to get a full Straight Razor setup like I wanted.
2. I wanted to practice my face prep before I took a Straight to it.
And 3. I ran out of my Mach 3 blades, and did not want to buy more crap that was going to tare up my face!

Now you can go directly to the straight (a lot of people on the forum have) and have no trouble at all. But when all is said and done it mainly comes down to personal preference, and what you are most comfortable with.

I hope this helps you!

Thanks! I actually have already bought the str8 setup and am beginning to learn how to use it. Something you said, probably in passing, about running out of Mach 3 blades may be my real answer. I should probably wait until I run out of blades on my old one, which hopefully will be a while as I get better with the str8 and use the other less and less, before getting serious about buying a DE. Good advice!

Thirty shaves is typically about all it takes for someone to get the hang of using a straight. I've been using a straight for a while & when I'm in a hurry I will use a DE as if you rush a straight it will let you know they don't like to be rushed and you have to break out the styptic pencil. So, should you buy a DE? That's just a personal choice as they too need some "learning". I would actually recommend learning the straight first & use your disposable to clean up. Then, once you feel comfortable with the straight, by all means learn to use a DE...but it's just a preference thing, you don't have to have one, but if you want one...you need one.

When I began shaving, back in the 1960s, the DE was the dominant tool with single edge injectors, like the Schick also available. The disposables had not yet come along. Twin blade Gillette 'good news' were what I shaved with the majority of my life, until I returned to the DE in '2006 and began with the straight in '07. Now I shave almost exclusively with the straight razor but have a few DEs if I am in a hurry.

I've never in my life shaved with the cartridge razor so I can't speak to that , but if you are into 'old' stuff the DE is a great shaving method and can become a hobby in itself. A vintage Gillette or a current production , such as the Merkur or Muhle , among many others, is what I would recommend. Also get a blade sampler pack to determine which blade works best for you. It is surprising how many people like one blade as opposed to another. They don't all work the same for everyone.

I got an Edwin Jagger de87 to save some time. A lot of people seem to like it and for $35 you can't go wrong.

I had started with DE for my first several years of wet shaving, and just this spring made the jump to straight. I love having the DE still around for clean up because it's a lot safer than the straight in the tougher areas, but still gives me that feedback of knowing the right angle to be dragging a single exposed blade across my face. It's hard to explain, but it helps me get a feel for the proper blade angle and how it's supposed to feel on my face (as opposed to getting used to getting a feel for how to hold a particular razor).

+1 on the previous advice.

As for me, I actually began shaving with a DE razor--after transitioning from a multi-blade razor--before moving to a straight razor.

When I'm in a hurry, I will usually opt for my DE rather than my straight razor. There are lots of affordable, excellent quality DE's out there--Merkur, Edwin Jagger, etc. I purchased a Merkur Progress (adjustable) razor for my son several years ago. He loves it.

You can also pick up a nice vintage Gillette DE razor on ebay.

I hope that this helps.

The blades for a DE also cost a lot less than multi=blade replacement cartridges.

Personally I think it is a smoother transition from DE to Straight than to start from square one with a cutthroat.
I purchased a Merkur Progress Adjustable Safety Razor which I love but it does have a definite learning curve.
I'm sure this will save me some nicks and facial damage in my next stage of progression.

If you only have one straight, a DE would be a good idea if you have to send the straight out to get honed. It's nice to have a fallback that isn't a cartridge.