Thread: SR or DE... that is the question.

Both work well. Straights to me have some advantages, my job doesn't require being clean shaven. Sometimes I won't shave for a week or more, a straight will mow it down no problem. When I used carts, I would trim it with a hair trimmer and then usually kill a couple of them getting the rest off. Expensive. DE are better, but still struggle with a weeks worth of growth.
Another advantage is the smoothness. Carts and DE give me irritation, especially in the summer months. I just don't get that with a straight. Have had trouble convincing friends about this, they look at me like I lost my marbles.
It does take a while to get proficient, don't expect immediate results. Stick with it, you will be rewarded with close comfortable shaves.

I'll play contrarian and recommend starting with the straight instead of DE. If your goal is to one day use a straight, you can save a lot of time and money by passing by the DEs. I started with DE's, and still use them, but if I could do it all over again, I would've began with the straight. The technique required for DE shaving versus straight does have a few similarities, but they are different. No matter which route you chose, there still is going to be a learning curve.

If you're the type of personality that timidly removes a sticking bandage, go with the DE. If you're the type that just rips that sucker off, go with the straight.