Thread: Safety? really

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

Originally Posted by RVShave

...a safety razor ... why it is so named?

Marketing. The DE-blade producers want to sell.

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)

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.