Thread: Dual Shaving System for Straight Razor Beginners

Hi, I'm Rob from Denver, CO, first post.


As a newcomer to straight razor shaving I thought I would share my experiences over the last 2 months to anyone who might be contemplating taking up this fine pursuit.


Firstly - is it worth it? Unequivocally yes. Believe all the stories and the hype - you will unquestionably get the smoothest shave of your life and also be left with a substantial feeling of self-accomplishment every time you shave. And I mean everytime!


So, onto the system and why I think it is big help to newbies. Almost certainly this isn't an original idea, but it works for me.


Firstly, straight razor shaving has a steep learning curve. I have 1, and maybe 2 permanent scars to show for that, time will tell. Secondly you will just not get the smoothest shave the first few dozen times you try it, unless you happen to be a natural.


For the first couple of weeks I found myself finishing up with a cartridge razor to get the smooth feeling I wanted, specially on the jaw line. Wanting to go old school for reasons I'm not 100% sure about, this just didn't feel right. My solution was to buy a 50 year old Gillette adjustable DE Fat Boy on the Bay to do the finishing pass. My daily routine is now to shave 2 passes with the straight (WTG and XTG) and then a final pass with the Fat Boy, also XTG.


I'm sure with time I can forgo the Fat Boy, but for now it works - I get an extra smooth shave and also get to use 2 of the best shaving methods out there!

I too have de razors that I use sometimes for touchups, sometimes just because. Not only are they "old skool", (not as old as str8s), but the blades are pennies compared to modern cartridges. There are also so many different blades to try and types of de razors, just another list of things for RAD.

Welcome to SRP

Your approach is very reasonable. With time and practice you will reduce the need for the DE.

You have a few SRP members in Denver. Here is a partial list...........

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...sername&order=

In Colorado.........

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...sername&order=

You should click on 'Settings" at the top of this page and enter your "Location" so others can find you and inform you of Razor Meets in your area. Here is the forum to watch for that...

Get Togethers and Meetings

Browse thru that forum to see past Razor Meets in your area.

try to connect up with some local guys for some 1 on 1 coaching. It will shorten your learning curve a lot and you will meet some pretty good people.

Hope thjis helps

Welcome to SRP, Rob.
I found using a DE useful for finishing in the beginning but dropped it after two weeks. By that time I was getting acceptable but obviously far from perfect shaves. My thinking was that using a DE thereafter would merely slow down the further learning process.

I use both styles of razor (Cut-Throat and DE), but not in the same shave. I use whatever takes my fancy at the time, but I did a similar thing as the OP when I was starting out for my last ditch effort. Thankfully I was able to sort out my issues and have been sworn off the carts/electrics/what-have-you for some few years now.


Mick

What's that old saying? "Never say never." I truly believe in that one. While I try to stick with my str8 for every shave I'm still on the learning curve and have a pressure problem to resolve. Curiously it exists mainly with my dominant right hand and being able to use my left hand adequately the left side of my face I have an almost un irritated left side and over a number of days an increasingly irritated right side of my face. To solve that issue I switch to my DE for a day or two and the irritation resolves itself. Now if one is good, and two is better why not three different types of razors when necessary. I will admit, to the possible scorn of the purists, that every four or five days I have to use a multi blade disposable. Not my face, but the tops of my ears for a dry shave of the werewolf growth that springs back due to advanced age. Ya gotta use what works. Anti-pristine, yes. Solve nagging problems, yes, yes and yes.

My latest theory about the growth of hair in odd places is the following. We don't really lose the hair we had in our prime from the top of our head. Gravity just makes it migrate to other places. (No I'm not smoking anything.)

I've always been an advocate for what works for people, if that happens to be a Mach 3 or the latest in face waxing technology then more power to you. I've revisited my own cart head and electric a few times since I took on the older style of shaving, and each time it was a dismal failure that left me wondering why I spent years inflicting them on my face like I did.


Mick