DE Shaver trying to become a convert

Hi I have been shaving with a double edge razor for the past 18 months a convert from Fusion. I have been reading alot about straights and I think I want to give it a try. Part of me is frightened to try it thinking of scenes from the movie Wolfman. I have to look back at going back to DEs after a 30+ year break from them and the blood flowed freely. Well with what I learned shaving with the DE ,prep, pressure, and shaving technique in general I think it will work.

P.S. I received a straight razor yesterday, bought it from another board site. I shaved my left cheek with no issue and decided to retreat. Later i trid to clean up a spot on my neck , and I couldn't figure out how to get to it. It was like a monkey trying to have sex with a football.Well I almost gave up on the DE but I found small steps are the way to go.

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Originally Posted by ShoreBird

It was like a monkey trying to have sex with a football.

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Can you post a link to the video of that? :D

Sounds like you're taking it at a sensible pace, which is good. I just went for it, which was a challenge to say the least!
Ensure your straight is shave ready. Watch some shaving videos, there are more on the tube, though many are utter bo***cks, but it should help.
Don't be afraid of the blade. Respect it, but it's only going where you make it. Generally, once you nick yourself, you stop pushing! I don't think we've fatally lost many members, though to be honest, it's hard to tell as they'd simply stop posting!

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Originally Posted by ben.mid

Can you post a link to the video of that? :D

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Hey ben, I've got a subscription to these videos, new ones added daily, wanna share it?


Anyways, you should try it again in few days, usually it gets better quickly as you build the muscle memory. But it's still a fairly long process - weeks and months before you get the hang of it.

I have been doing more and more every day, So far so good. I think the razor I'm using needs a good stropping. I'll tend to that when the strop comes in. i really think the prep and the technique of using the DE has given me a good foundation. Now I just need to figure out the maintenance along with the technique.

Welcome to SRP!

I've got links in my sig to the basic info for straight beginners. Of course, I've only recently been shaving myself. I think the prep and pressure that you learned with DEs should carry over to straights. You are certainly a lot better prepared than if you jumped straight from fusions. Just read up on the wiki, watch those shaving videos (they help more than you would think) and keep posting your progress and questions.

ALOT of guys would say they nick themselves worse/more often than with a DE/SE..compared to an all smooth n mighty str8 razor..I believe its in the "blade grind"..for me..I knew after 2 yrs of DE/SE str8's were ready for my face..visa versa as well...take it slow n let yer hands be "trained" into all angles of your face...:matrix:


PcDad

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Originally Posted by pcdad

ALOT of guys would say they nick themselves worse/more often than with a DE/SE..compared to an all smooth n mighty str8 razor..I believe its in the "blade grind"..for me..I knew after 2 yrs of DE/SE str8's were ready for my face..visa versa as well...take it slow n let yer hands be "trained" into all angles of your face...:matrix:


PcDad

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You know I almost hung up the DE because I was nicking myself so much. I haven't had that problem yet. I must say I didn't let fear get in the way and i'm taking small steps and most of all i respect the blade. I wish I would have tried straights earlier.

I had been using the DE for about 10 years. I never knew there were any sites about it. Bought both of mine in garage sales. It just seemed more economical than those multi blades. It has been getting harder to find the DE blades, so perhaps that is my initial interest in the straight.

What ever happened to those injector razors? I haven't seen those blades for years.

I sometimes shave with a injector you can get blades at Drugstore.com. A number of vendors carry DE blades. Most manufactured in Asia, Russia, or India. There are quite a few to pick from. As most things the prices have gone up but they are still a bargin compared to cartridges.

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Originally Posted by ShoreBird

I sometimes shave with a injector you can get blades at Drugstore.com. A number of vendors carry DE blades. Most manufactured in Asia, Russia, or India. There are quite a few to pick from. As most things the prices have gone up but they are still a bargin compared to cartridges.

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I kinda figured they'd be around for a while online. Except for the Razor acquisition syndrome, I expect the straights to save me over time from having to buy blades. The other problem I had with the DE was I would stretch out the use of the blades past where they should have been changed just because I am so cheap!! With the Straight, this should not be a problem!;)

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Originally Posted by jeffegg2

The other problem I had with the DE was I would stretch out the use of the blades past where they should have been changed just because I am so cheap!! With the Straight, this should not be a problem!;)

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Just don't get lazy and put off blade touchups or other minor hone jobs, which in the SR world is the equivalent of using a DE or disposable blade past its best-before date. It only provides crappy shaves and creates more work for yourself when you do hit the hones.