Thread: Straight VS Cartridge

Heres the article
http://ezinearticles.com/?Straight-R...ner?&id=377246

As if I even needed to see this article to make up my mind!

Excelent info thanks. Would like to see the same thing except the straight faces of with something like a Gillette Super Speed. The answer would require a bit more words.

C'mon, this is just a joke.

Seriously, this guy totally underplays the learning curve for straight shaving - let alone honing and stropping. Also, he suggests that you only need worry about a rough shave and a few nicks when learning the straight - most of us have given ourselves a decent slice or two while learning the ropes - and its always a risk. Finally, a straight shave takes me longer than a cartridge or DE shave - there are times when I just don't have the time or patience.

As for the question about the DE vs straight, I suspect it would be a very close battle. While he talks about the cost of straight razor shaving, he doesn't factor in the cost of a Norton, finishing hone/pasted strop or strop (also, you're probably going to want two razors - lets say you can buy all this stuff for $150 to $200. This would would buy you a decent Gillette Superspeed ($10 - $15) or even a brand new Merkur fixed head ($25 - $35) and something like 400 Derby or feather blades (likely a 7 - 8 year supply).

Not saying I don't like my straights - just saying that this article not entirely accurate.

What I found funny was the picture of the author(?) with a full beard posted for this article.

you know what...i'm standing in line at walmart waiting to pay for my stuff and they have this little stand of nick-nacks and i spy the gillette fusion blades. $15 for 4 blades or $17 for 4 blades with "Powerglide Technology" (...yeah...i thought the same thing...) The thing that really got me scratching the noggin was that on the package for the regular blades (not on the more expensive powerglide blades), it advertised that 4 blades lasts 3 months!!! How often did they test these blades...6 times a month or what?!

alright, so even if that claim were true, thats $60/year to shave with the fusion (Add $10 for the basic handle or $13 for the "Power" version)...Do they really think that this is enticing to anyone? lol

it's funny though...my sister had her wedding just the other weekend and as all the guys were getting ready, i spot that her fiance (and my good friend) uses the fusion. i couldn't help but feel pity and the urge to enlighten him lol (my words of wisdom would fall on deaf ears...he's the type of guy that's been brainwashed into thinking "well they wouldn't make a razor with 5 blades unless it that was what is absolutely necessary to get a decent shave"...poor guy)

I appreciate disposables and cartridges, canned foam, in terms of how they've turned a required part of daily life into something convient that anyone can do in a rush. If you need to get shaved in timr for a rushed workday, it'll work. The crap just got out of hand with the blade count race and prices. This convenience that technology and good minds afforded us to keep a required task simple, also makes shaving feel more like a required task instead of something to enjoy, as well.

As for shave quality, no comparison. A straight or even DE shave with a brush and soap or cream is one of my favorite parts of the day, and it leaves my face feeling awesome for hours after.

I have absolutely no desire to carry any more of this garbage (Cartridge w/ N number of blades).

I must say that this Multi Cartridge garbage has been one of the most successful and profitable marketing Gimmicks in the history of world.

I still remember the day when Gillette announced the M3 and I was drooling all over myself to get one of these oh the how naive I was at the time!!!

Well Mach 3 and sensor are really good by plastic cart/disposable standards.
I liked my Mach 3 a lot. It became the only option for lots of guys who found it to be a smooth, easy shave with less irritation, but the price was a killer.
I used to get cut up on everything.
I tried a Schick Quattro and that just convinced my I was gonna be a Gilette man for good.

Mach3 was actually not bad by cart standards. I have used wilkinson guarded blades, and they suck bigtime.

For traveling I used to use my trusty shavette, but in the future I will use a feather because I am out of shavette blades and it is becoming a bit flimsy.
I could fall back to my mach3 but I'd rather learn to use feather than wimp out.