Thread: Safety Razor vs Straight razor

Straight razors are interesting as a hobby, and they can give a fantastic shave when everything is right. But I do not recommend them for just anyone. If someone is looking for a better shave than what an electric shaver can give, I recommend wet shaving in general, and usually a double edge safety razor. The reason is that straight razors are simply too involved, and there are too many things that can go wrong. However, if I think someone might be interested do-it-yourself projects, and maybe just seeing how sharp and smooth he can get a blade, then a straight might be right.

straight only.

When I started shaving with a straight razor I put the D/E down and haven't shaved with it since.

Pete <:-}

I use DE and straight's. DE for travel & touch up sometimes & straight's most of the time.
I have some NOS Don Juan DE blades that are really nice & will use them for a long time as I have a bunch. As far as straight's go I have a bunch but my favorite is a old 7/8" W&B hollow ground that was my first straight I have owned. Just lucked out to get a great razor right off the bat.

Slawman

Gentlemen,

I have shaved with both the straight razor and the safety razor for many years. Both give me a good shave, although the safety razor gets the difficult parts of the beard easier — and I have many of those. With a bad case of straight razor fatigue, as well as arthritis in my hands and shoulders, currently my safety razors get a good workout.

The only vintage safety razors I use are the two Aristocrats, 1946-47 models, which I am saving for my grandsons. My favorite modern razors are the Timeless 0.68 scalloped open comb, and the Charcoal Goods antiqued brass closed comb. I also have the Timeless closed comb, ATT R1, ATT SE1 and the Colonial Razors' The General. A BBS-1 has been on order for almost a year, and so has a Wolfman. I had the Wolfman closed and open comb razors and sold them a while back — and still kick myself.

Indeed, gentlemen, this is a great period for traditional wet shavers.

Originally Posted by trondsi

Straight razors are interesting as a hobby, and they can give a fantastic shave when everything is right. But I do not recommend them for just anyone. If someone is looking for a better shave than what an electric shaver can give, I recommend wet shaving in general, and usually a double edge safety razor. The reason is that straight razors are simply too involved, and there are too many things that can go wrong. However, if I think someone might be interested do-it-yourself projects, and maybe just seeing how sharp and smooth he can get a blade, then a straight might be right.

I was close to going the DE route when I got fed of with the quality of Mach 3s over the past couple years. I was going to try the VDH kit from Target to get started. But it was that craft, that being involved as you put it, that led me to learn the straight. I knew I would probably dull the edge or whatnot while learning. But I always did like to learn the more involved ways of doing things. I would much rather own a manual transmission car (and I have for the past 20 years) because I like being more involved with driving. It's the same with shaving.

I've never had any interest in DE safety razors, so I only shave with straights. DEs are too much like a cartridge razor for me to get any enjoyment out of shaving with them.

When i picked up the straight for the first time i knew id never go back. I do still have a few DE's and one SE along with blades for them but i havent used any of them in 9 months. Who know what will happen around the bend in this road we call life. At least i know as long as i have one good hand left ill be able to shave without having to pickup one of those blue plastic razors ever again!

Thanks for the feedback gents.

Currently browsing the market for a second razor. Currently only have one straight, Dovo Best quality 6/8, I bought with a set from SRD. Think I am going to purchase another straight (possibly the Dovo Pearlex 5/8).

Shaving with a straight gives me clearly more satisfaction, but on the occasion where shaving with a straight is not practical I may use a safety razor as backup.


B.


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