Printable View
I'm short time straight user and also got a safety razor for travel away from the rig. I figured a safety razor was named for a reason, but while learning to use it in between straight shaves, I'm nicking myself more with the safety and it makes me wonder why it is so named? Is it just the learning curve or the cheap razor I got (didn't want to put a lot of money into it), not sure I ever want to pick it up again.
I am fairly sure that the safety razors were named as such because the blade was partially exposed. Either a bar or open comb protected the user from deep cuts and the full fury of those little sharp slivers of steel!
There has to be a better more official answer but this should tide you over 'till the expert arrives!
I am just a spert but have to agree with WhiskerHarvest on this one. You can't cut your juggler open and bleed yourself out with it so it must be safe right? :<0) I never tried 1 and have no desire to give it a shot.
You can absolutely nick yourself with a safety razor. And you can get some cuts too. DE's have their own learning curve. The head doesn't swivel and flex like a disposable, which takes some practice to compensate for. It doesn't take long to start getting good shaves from a DE, and much later one can get really great shaves. After a lot of practice with a good razor, you may be able to get shaves that are in the same league as that of a straight razor.
Michael
Marketing. The DE-blade producers want to sell.Quote:
Originally Posted by RVShave
Safety is a relative thing and relative to straights they are a bit safer as other posters have said. It may also tend to lead a new user to think they can be sloppy with their technique relative to when using a straight. Giving as much attention to DE shaving as with a straight is half the battle. Some DEs are more aggressive than others too and will bite you quicker than others. They do have a learning curve all their own and different from flexible head cart razors. You don't have to lean on them, just the weight of the razor should be enough pressure unlike plastic wonders.
Bob
The worst shave wound I have ever gotten in my life was with a flexible multi blade disposable razor. Literally cut off a big piece of skin off my chin!
To me the best is the straight razor: I have never been seriously cut with it not even when I started using it. I of course cut myself with a straight razor in the beginning but nothing serious.
If you drop a safety razor and it lands on your foot, there is almost zero chance you will bleed to death.
If you slip and drop then subsequently juggle your safety razor in effort not to drop it to the tile floor, there is a great chance you can perform your own first aid and/or dial your own ambulance.
Do these things with a straight and you will quickly learn that stupidity was not tolerated like it is today...but fathers prepared their boys for the world too.
Safe is a relative term. We often hear about how safe modern travel is, and I guess it is pretty safe (it is just those darn rapid stops that are dangerous)
:D
LOL ...... I was 13 or 14 the first time I picked up a Gillette DE and tried shaving the peach fuzz that was starting to pop up on my chin/cheeks. I can still remember the shock of feeling the burning sting when I dug a nick in my cheek. I am careful when I shave with a straight but I am even more careful with a DE. Whether it is my Merkur Slant or one of my other vintage DEs, that Feather blade will let me know when I've gone too fast or let my technique slip. I'm way more likely to get a nick with a DE than with a straight.
Thanks for the replys, love the humor added, guess I'll have to get my strop tech down so I can use straight all the time.
Well I've only used a DE a few weeks and have only tried the one I have which is a Muhle. I haven't had a problem with it yet. I have also been using mild to medium aggressive blades based on what I've read. But after reading quite a bit about them it could be that you just have an aggressive razor and/or blade. There are mild blades such as Derby. Have you tried different blades?
Also, light to no pressure on the DE same as straights. Don't press down like a cartridge. I have found that I can even shave right over a raised mole with it with no problems. I used to nick that mole every couple of months with a cartridge.
One tip I saw somewhere said to hold it down near the end of the handle with the thumb and two fingers to lessen the likelyhood of applying pressure. May have been Mantic on his shave site, not sure.
I have been using a DE for over 7 years. I switched from a Mach3 to a DE razor. I started using a straight razor late last year, but I still use the DE for touch ups on my chin and lip areas.
As mentioned, the DE razor has its own learning curve. I remember nicking and cutting myself the first few times I used it. You should not apply pressure with the DE. Let the weight of the razor do the work and drag the razor across the face. I never realized it until now, but I do what Jetmech mentioned: I lightly hold the end of the DE handle with my thumb and 2 fingers when shaving to prevent myself from applying pressure.
Also, some DE blades are more aggressive than others, so that is another factor to consider.
What kind of DE did you get? I just got an Edwin Jagger DE87, imitation ivory handle, for $35, which is cheap compared to a straight, but then there are also cheap DE's on ebay made of plastic (not sure what your definition of cheap is). I haven't cut myself yet, and yesterday was my first time with a DE. It's like my new best friend. I've heard that cheaply made DE's can cut and nick your face up terribly, one of the reasons that I didn't get an ebay cheapo and took my time deciding if I wanted a DE enough to spend a bit more than $10. If you want a DE that's smooth smooth smooth, get an EJ87, 89 or whatever other handle you prefer according to your taste. I'm not a DE expert so I'm sure some other guys will have more options than just the Jagger :)Quote:
Originally Posted by RVShave