Might be blasphemy but......

What I am about to say might be considered blasphemy on this site but here it is anyway. My straights are put away and oiled in anticipation of leaving on holiday overseas in a couple of days. This morning the shave was with what I will use on the trip, Arko, old nondescript boar brush and a 2 bladed disposable razor bought at the Dollar Store for you guessed it, 1 dollar complete with spare blade heads. The razor is made by Personna BTW.

No prep other than to wet my face with hot water, lathered up, shaved and finished with my usual splash of Thayers Original. I did my normal 3 pass shave and was rewarded with shave that was no better or worse than I get with a straight. It was smooth ,comfortable, close and irritation free. That just reaffirmed why I can't understand why a lot of people say they simply can't get a decent shave from a disposable multi blade razor. My guess is that if you have good technique with whatever type of shave tool you use, all else being equal, you should get a decent shave.

So why do I bother with a straight razor at all if there is no real difference in the end result? The reasons are many and varied. I enjoy learning a new skill that is not the easiest to get a handle on, notice I did not say master as I have not got that far yet. Straights are far more appealing aesthetically than a hunk of plastic, art versus bare bones practicality. The pleasure of finding old discarded tools, repairing them if necessary and putting them back to work. I enjoy learning the history behind them. So for those reasons and likely more I use a straight but certainly not for the end result and that's what might be considered blasphemous around these parts.

Anyway, just a ramble for your consideration. Why do you use a straight?

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

... Why do you use a straight?

Bob

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Here you go:Why do you shave with a straight razor?

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Originally Posted by BobH

Anyway, just a ramble for your consideration. Why do you use a straight?
Bob

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I enjoy the patience, practice and precision required of all aspects of cutthroat shaving. Stropping and face prep set the mood. Lathering provides a tactile pleasure. I also truly enjoy the concentration needed when the blade is at my throat -- it's a sort of tunnel-vision.
The best part is afterwards, when SWMBO runs her fingers across my face and tells me that she likes!!!

For me, the nostalgia, doing something that's not the norm. The need of challenge, and with success, the feeling of accomplishment. Turning a mundane chore into a meaningful event whilst pampering myself. but, that's just me. I, as well, feel I will never master the art, but, I'm working on it.

I like doing something that others find odd/impossible.

I guess I am an attention seeker. I just enjoy doing something that everyone used to do, and somehow so many today say it is "impossible" or impractical. I love proving people wrong too...I shaved today in under 3 minutes. Single pass and results as good as I used to get with my 6 bladed ultra-expensive cart razor....AND I enjoyed it far more!

Otto

Thanks Otto, I had not seen that before.

Seems like so far everyone has similar reasons and they don't seem to have much to do with the end result. So why do so many claim they can't get a good shave from a disposable multiblade razor? That is what puzzles me more than why I use a straight. The only thing I can think of is incorrect technique and not much else.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Otto

Thanks Otto, I had not seen that before.

Seems like so far everyone has similar reasons and they don't seem to have much to do with the end result. So why do so many claim they can't get a good shave from a disposable multiblade razor? That is what puzzles me more than why I use a straight. The only thing I can think of is incorrect technique and not much else.

Bob

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I'd suggest that you are right. I never had any trouble getting BBS every time if I prepped properly.

Disposables make it so easy that users further simplify (over the years) and develop learned ignorance.

Unit

That is very likely true. It amazes me how many people with a digital SLRs have no clue of the basics of photography and the basics have not changed since film days and are still applicable with digital. Same thing different pile.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

Unit

That is very likely true. It amazes me how many people with a digital SLRs have no clue of the basics of photography and the basics have not changed since film days and are still applicable with digital. Same thing different pile.

Bob

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(Ducks head for cover) I think you are talking about me... My wife got a DSLR and I can take a slightly better photo with it than I can take with my iPhone...I generally just use my iPhone;)

I never claimed to be a great photographer though...but I can occasionally take an interesting shot:D

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Originally Posted by BobH

What I am about to say might be considered blasphemy...

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Uh-oh. If you see a crowd of angry straight shavers approaching with rocks in their hands, RUN!

Attachment 107511

:rofl2:

For me there are a whole bunch of reasons:

The almost meditative aspects of the process

An appreciation of simple tools that do one thing extremely well, and for the craftsmanship of those who made them (and I'm talking brushes, soaps, and strops here as well as razors)

I too enjoy the process of bringing old razors back to life even though I am just learning that process and have a long way to go.

It's just kind of a cool, badass, sort of thing to do to drag a deadly-sharp hunk of steel across one's face on a regular basis.

And finally the thing that really got me started on this whole thing: I *really* like not having to pay over the top for over-priced, over-hyped plastic thingies.

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Originally Posted by BobH

So why do so many claim they can't get a good shave from a disposable multiblade razor? That is what puzzles me more than why I use a straight. The only thing I can think of is incorrect technique and not much else.

Bob

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1. Disposables will give you fits if you have facial hair to trim but not remove.
2. Disposables will cut up my face no matter how used with only one brand exception.
3. I need to do ATG and only a straight will allow me to place the blade angle flat against my skin to get close without slicing into my face.
4. I often have to overshave the same area with a disposable to get the last of the whiskers and it results in razor burn.

I just can't get the end result I seek with disposables.

An acceptably close disposable shave always leaves weepers and usually burn.

Cangooner

I can understand all of what you are saying but the plastic thingy that I used cost 1 dollar. It came with a total of 6 heads, 1 mounted and 5 spares. That should do me for a month so $12.00 for the year is not too expensive. Those plastic thingys need not be expensive to do a good job. I don't see cost or end result as being a factor, for me at least. If you insist on using the expensive plastic thingys then yes certainly cost could well be a factor. Not being argumentative here just saying.

Bob

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Originally Posted by jaswarb

1. Disposables will give you fits if you have facial hair to trim but not remove.
2. Disposables will cut up my face no matter how used with only one brand exception.
3. I need to do ATG and only a straight will allow me to place the blade angle flat against my skin to get close without slicing into my face.
4. I often have to overshave the same area with a disposable to get the last of the whiskers and it results in razor burn.

I just can't get the end result I seek with disposables.

An acceptably close disposable shave always leaves weepers and usually burn.

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Yea, I guess it is an individual thing. I don't have those problems with the disposable that I used today. I guess it is a case of if it does not happen to you then you have difficulty understanding that someone else has a difficulty.

Bob

I thought that the first woman in my life was the greatest, until other women came along and educated me otherwise.

I believe that straights are the true instruments of shave. I feel cheated that it took me 50 years to find them. I just don't know who to blame other than myself. I guess that I can put some blame on myself, my father and a society that has focused on the expedient and disposable path through life. i definitely got caught up in it.

I don't think that its blasphemy, I just think that you slipped a little. Go out & buy your straight a new shave cream. She will get over it.

Stay true my friend.

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Originally Posted by BobH

Cangooner

I can understand all of what you are saying but the plastic thingy that I used cost 1 dollar. It came with a total of 6 heads, 1 mounted and 5 spares. That should do me for a month so $12.00 for the year is not too expensive. Those plastic thingys need not be expensive to do a good job. I don't see cost or end result as being a factor, for me at least. If you insist on using the expensive plastic thingys then yes certainly cost could well be a factor. Not being argumentative here just saying.

Bob

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Oh I hear you! It was my fault entirely for buying into the marketing hype.

I think I also have an instinctive reaction against most anything labelled disposable. :)

When you get good with the straight you will understand why use it instead of cartridge or disposable.

I was forced to go back to a doubled edged cartridge for a weekend travel event. The shave was not nearly as close and the ATG pass irritated my skin something fierce. Maybe your beard is not that rough or is it possible that you're not getting everything out of your straight that the end product is the same?

Physically, the multi blade razors always caused irritation and ingrown hairs. I gave up on them a few decades ago.
Otherwise, straight razors are my hobby. Maintaining and shaving with them are part of that hobby. It gives me pleasure to restore, hone, and shave with them. I just dig looking at them too! Some guys collect Hot Wheels cars. They just sit there. Even knife collectors would not dream of cutting a rope with their prized pieces.
A razor seems to appreciate bing used as well, IMO!

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Originally Posted by sharptonn

Physically, the multi blade razors always caused irritation and ingrown hairs. !

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When my left hand was in a cast this summer I dusted off an old Fusion and put in a new cart. I did the usual prep just as I would for a straight blade. I got a pretty decent shave and used the same cart the next day and also got good results.

On the third day the ingrown hairs arose. It was a blood bath especially around the corners of the mouth.

On the fourth day I wet back to the st8. I had to do some creative one-handed shaving until the ingrowns healed.

Sharptonn and I must share the same facial hair growth type that leads to ingrown hair.

Never again. If I can't use one of my blades then let the beard begin!

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Originally Posted by BobH

Seems like so far everyone has similar reasons and they don't seem to have much to do with the end result. So why do so many claim they can't get a good shave from a disposable multiblade razor? That is what puzzles me more than why I use a straight. The only thing I can think of is incorrect technique and not much else.

Bob

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For shame! I have some very acutely slanted hairs and though I can adjust the angle somewhat on a disposable and a DE I can't really get very close, if I do try for very close it is possible with some of the skin-stretching possible that a pulled blade on a handle can achieve, for the directions and stretchability of certain regions, over a straight. But ultimately it is the straight that wins because of the adjustability of the angle, how I can sneak underneath the slanted ones. Also the edge itself can be honed into something kinder than most DE blades and disposables. I existed for many years with generic, store-brand plastic disposables and got plenty of acceptable shaves (my Jewishness only allowed me to buy them when they were on sale and I always comforted myself by calculating the exact price of an individual razor (after taxes!) and estimated how many shaves each one lasted). I don't even remember what happened to my first cartridge razor, the Gillette Sensor Excel. I think I disposed of it. I have used a Mach3 and a Mock3 (CVS brand, they changed their Mock3 so now I have a "vintage" Mock3 and the only cartridges I can use for it are what I've got (25)). They don't give a better shave than the disposable or DE. Just faster and a feeling of less control. They have now been relegated to the unspeakable areas that cannot be shown to the Sun God, Ra (Get it? Where the sun don't shine!). It's not a bad thing, really. They have a very specific purpose, used exactly for their strengths, just like a str8.

I get good shaves with fixed-head blade-on-a-stick razors. But I get better shaving action, results and skin benefits from a str8.

But not to worry, Bob. I get good shaves with a swivelling head disposable cartridge razor, too. I just can't talk about it here!

People prefer a straight for many different reasons.

For me, I can get a BBS shave from an electric but 5 hours later the stubble begins to appear. If I use a cartridge type 12 hours later I need to shave again. That's reason enough for me to use a straight.

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Originally Posted by mainaman

When you get good with the straight you will understand why use it instead of cartridge or disposable.

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Yea, that is quite possible and I hinted at that in my op by not using the term mastered the straight. I have a feeling that even though the shave felt good today with the disposable it may not be as close as a straight. I'll know later today and see how the face feels then.

Bob

Just in case anyone is wondering, no I am not giving up on straights. I'll be back to them when the trip is over. I know why I use a straight and intend to continue to do so. This mornings shave was just a bit of a reality check and food for some contemplation on my part. I have tried never to be an adherent to the one true path line of thinking on anything is all.

Bob