Thread: Hello from a soon-to-be straight razor user

Upon finding this forum and spending a few weeks reading posts I finally got my act together and registered to join the fun!

My "shaving story": I first started shaving with what was available: disposable cartridges and canned-aerosol-type shaving creams. I tried a few brands but the result was always fairly similar. Razor bumps and irritation pretty common....

I felt that it made no sense to pay good money for a product that didn't do much in terms of effectiveness or enjoyment. I started using an old Gillette DE safety razor that my father gave me, along with the smallest travel brush that I have ever seen, an old badger (60's) brush with a dark horn handle the size of a pinkie.

I've been using a DE safety razor for a number of years with results that far outperform any multi-blade system. Recently, I've become curious about straight razors. I have yet to try using one and have so many questions... it's probably just a matter of time before I take the plunge and purchase my first SR...

Oolong, 'glad to have you checking in.

I learned to shave w/ a DE, if you can call it 'learning' or 'shaving'. When I grew too tired of the disposable scene, I wanted to try something different, so I'm learning Str8s. After a few months of ineptitude (ongoing), I had to shave in a hurry, and tried a DE for the first time in about 4 mo. What I found was that my learning with the str8 enabled me to get a MUCH better shave w/ a DE. I can only guess, but I think it may have to do w/ the str8 forcing you to get much more detailed knowledge of your own facial topography and how the stubble grows in each little area. 4 mo w/ the straight gave me the best DE shave in my life.

When you pull the trigger on the str8, the learning curve is a bit more demanding, but the help here is outrageously good. 'Hope you enjoy it alot.