SR or DE... that is the question.

Hello all!!! I've been stalking this forum for about a week now and have to say, the wealth of information and expertise is staggering. Not to mention, you all are the most welcoming unch of guys on the internet!

As someone who grew-up buying a bag of crappy plastic BICs and disliked it so much I've been bearded for the last 10 years (35 yrs old now), I'm wondering if I should start out with the 'ol safety razor and get comfortable with that before moving up to the majors with a straight razor. Any advice on this would be greatly appriciated.

I started with straights and didn't have a problem. Some guys start with DE's. There's a learning curve with both, the SR's have more maintenance to be learned, but give better shaves (for me). Plus, I enjoy the ritual involved in using them. At the end of the day you'll probably buy both eventually lol.

I just switched to SR and have zero regrets. As a matter of fact I wish I started with SR a long time ago. I have been DE shaving for over twenty years and all this SR business still very new to me.

One thing for sure, I have never enjoyed my shaves this much after the switch.

Good luck with the decision!

:p He asks on a Forum named Straight Razor Place

Methinks the answers may be just slightly biased :rofl2:


On a serious note

Advice that got me started with a SR many years ago..

If you are going to keep facial hair, and want straight lines you need to use a straight razor :)

I'd suggest starting with a DE. Not as much of a learning curve, and you'll still be getting familiar with the brush, cream/soap lathering. If you apply skin stretching to your shaving with the DE, that is yet another skill you'll have before you go to the straight.

Also the DE is handy to have for those days when time constraints favor a quick shave rather than trying to rush with a straight.

Thanks gents! JimmyHAD's sentiment is what I was thinking. But, thanks to a conversation with another member in response to a comment I left in the classified section, I'm pulling the trigger on old 5/8 ERN. I'll more than likely snag a DE to touch-up the inevitable patch-job I'm left with after my first gos. Ha!

I agree with the suggestion to start with a DE. Having just come to the SR world 2 months ago I cannot imagine the learning curve without the base of information I learned from DE shaving. It gave me the opportunity to learn about cream/soaps and brushes, but more importantly I learned about blade angles, pressure, and most importantly I learned about my face and beard.

DE shaving gave me the opportunity to explore different techniques, and eventually ramp up to more and more aggressive razors. Once I made the transition to SR I could focus on SR technique, blade angle and pressure with as few variables as possible having a base of information about what works for my face and what doesn't from the DE experience.

For me I think I would have given up on SR shaving if I went to it directly, as I think I would have found the learning curve a bit overwhelming. I am sure others have successfully gone to SR right away. I just don't think I could have pulled it off.

That's my $.02 on what worked for me.

But hey, that's just me.

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Originally Posted by gssixgun

:p

Advice that got me started with a SR many years ago..

If you are going to keep facial hair, and want straight lines you need to use a straight razor :)

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I've heard this as well. And it makes perfect sense. My beard never looks better than it does after a straight razor clean-up from a good barber.

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Originally Posted by Newton3108

I agree with the suggestion to start with a DE. Having just come to the SR world 2 months ago I cannot imagine the learning curve without the base of information I learned from DE shaving. It gave me the opportunity to learn about cream/soaps and brushes, but more importantly I learned about blade angles, pressure, and most importantly I learned about my face and beard.

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Thanks. I was also wondering (but wasn't sure if this thread was the place to ask) if there's really THAT much difference in brushes/soaps/creams/etc. Everything I've read outside of this forum says badger, badger, BADGER! But I'm seeing a trend on these feeds that a $9 brush from Walgreens is just fine to start out. Any insight here as well?

Mushroom, mushroom? Sorry, old internet reference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL6CDFn2i3I

In short, no. Honestly, any brush is serviceable. I've used the cheap boar brush from walgreens and it was just fine, same with my $7 or $8 synthetic omega. They're all kinda different, in general you can get boar or badger for under $20. Boar is scratchier, but breaks in softer and badger can be scratchy or like feathers, whereas my synthetic is stupid soft. It's all personal preference in hair, but I imagine one could get a brush used to clean your back to work if someone was desperate enough.

I gotta say i was completely opposite from everybody here
I couldn't get a DE right for the life of me for over 6 months. (R89)
and a straight razor was almost intuitive after 3 shaves.
that being said - after the last few years i still get a better final shave with a DE but a better gloss with a straight.
my routine now involves both.

to get close i need to go against the grain, and i just cant* do it in some spots with a straight razor. - particularly the pass i do from my ear to my adams apple and vice versa.

Get them both second hand and you can always sell what you dont like.

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Originally Posted by EolaHeights

Thanks. I was also wondering (but wasn't sure if this thread was the place to ask) if there's really THAT much difference in brushes/soaps/creams/etc. Everything I've read outside of this forum says badger, badger, BADGER! But I'm seeing a trend on these feeds that a $9 brush from Walgreens is just fine to start out. Any insight here as well?

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I do not find that much difference with brushes at all. I have badger, boar, and synthetic and they all make lather and get it on my face, which is the point. They have differences but they all work. Soaps/Creams can be fun but honestly it is not rocket science.

My point was for me it was an easier transition because I learned which way my beard grows, and various angles and techniques with a DE. Granted much of it changes with a SR, but you are still putting steel on skin.

Starting with a DE or SR is a personal preference. You will be fine either way. Just more to learn with a SR.

Whatever your choice, be aware of the angle of the blade to your face. That means that the cutting edge is at an optimum for the clean removal of whiskers.
It will take a while to learn but, if your face feels raw, the blade is at too high an angle, or too much pressure. If no whiskers off or short stubble and razor feels sticky, the angle is too low.
A good angle is about 10 degrees between your face and the blade. Which means there will be a change as you go over the jawline or chin.
Lather makes a BIG difference in quality of shave!!
Happy Shaves!!
~Richard

I got DE 4 months before the straight and had some basics down. Worked for me and had the DE to clean up with. If I were to do it again I would buy both cheap, get a shave ready SR and start a little at a time with straight, finishing with DE. Wet shaving all in...:)

Have a great day...

Well, it's like learning to drive a car with a manual tranny as opposed to an auto. Using an auto makes things much easier for a beginner. Same with shaving. You have the time to learn about using soaps and creams and prep methods with the DE before worrying about using the straight and stropping and razor care.

Of course back in the day you learned the hard way because there was no choice same with a car.

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Originally Posted by gflight

I got DE 4 months before the straight and had some basics down. Worked for me and had the DE to clean up with. If I were to do it again I would buy both cheap, get a shave ready SR and start a little at a time with straight, finishing with DE. Wet shaving all in...:)

Have a great day...

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This was EXACTLY my thinking. I already pulled the trigger and bought a SR from the classified section of the site. Now to find a solid Safety Razor. The Mrs. bought me a gift card to the "Art of Shaving" (some hipster-chic shave store) with the intention of my getting a nice barber shave which I love. That led me to thinking about learning to do this myself (catch a man a fish, ya know). I might just use that to pick one up. I don't think she had any idea of the wormhole she just opened. Ha!

I've never had one, but guys used to recommend the Merkur HD for the first SR if you were going new. Art of Shaving website shows this, which I think is the Merkur HD. They also have the Merkur Progress, which some guys rate highly.

The Art of Shaving - Chrome Heavyweight Safety Razor- Buy a Razor

Lots of good advice here. I think you need to do what feels right for you...and what you can afford. I enjoy DE, SE and SR shaving. Each one has something different to offer. I wouldn't want to restrict myself to just one kind of shaving. I can get an amazing shave from any and all the above. I really enjoy vintage razors (Gillette, Schicks, SRs), but there are also many good new varieties from which to choose. As for brushes...there are many options from which to choose. I have several of each kind of brush (boar, badger and horse) and each one has a special quality. As for soaps...there are some great quality soaps and creams on the market. Wet-shaving, in my view, is not about limiting choices, but about experimenting and enjoying the journey.

I just jumped into the straights, never was a patient chap. Steep learning curve but fun all the same. Back then I could take my time with a shave. Little lad came along and time to shave ebbed away. I went to a DE and eventually (hectic work and home) grew a beard.
That's gone recently and the DE is back, still not a great deal of time or peace lol.
I've just gotten a Merkur 34c. First shave with a wilkinson sword German blade was very good.
I will head back to the straights, may make it a weekend treat to begin with but will be sticking with the DE for now.
In summary, both are great fun to learn and RAD doesn't discriminate, DE or straight.

It does not have to be an either or situation. DE or straight? Yes, absolutely.

I love shaving with a straight but I have a chin that it very difficult to shave, especially with a straight. My chin looks like a golf ball, dimples and all. I just cannot get a BBS shave on my chin with a straight. My beard grows so fast that I would have to shave twice a day if I do not get a close shave the first time around. I shave two passes with a straight razor and then do a clean up pass with a DE. This might not be the most traditional way to do things, but it works for me.

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.