Thread: Comparing DE blades to str8's

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

But the truth is, a DE will cut you more than a str8 and not be as comfortable, right?

Actually, for me it was opposite of that. I got maybe two or three minor nicks with a DE after a couple months use. I've already had more nicks than that after only a couple weeks of straight shaving. And I've had one really good cut on my upper lip when I wasn't paying attention. A straight will definitely bite worse than a DE, imo.

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

Lol Ive been doing it for years and a razor has never dropped, yet again it wouldnt do much if it did. I never have soapy fingers when shaving, thats a given. I will definitely have to modify something if I want to shave with a str8 but shaving outside the shower is just painful for me. All that cold air is so uncomfortable. I dont know how people do it. Even my lather was cold and I had soaked it in hot water but due to the lack of hot steam, it just cooled down. I really wonder how people do this. And not to mention that I dont even have thick stubble or a 5 oclock shadow ever. Yet it is sensitive.

Well, just so you are aware of the dangers.... a straight will slice through anything, including skin. muscles, tendons, arteries, shower curtains and the like. IF you should drop a straight, perhaps you slip in the shower, maybe you turn around in the shower with the razor in your hand and bump into something, or perhaps you bump into the razor while it's resting on a soap dish or wherever you plan to keep it inside the shower and it falls..... it could cause a severe laceration (of the "Get Me To The Emergency Room NOW!" variety) and or go as far as to decapitate a toe if it falls edge first on your foot. I am NOT KIDDING here! I'll also not mention the unmentionables that could also be kissed by the blade on it's free fall flight. Dropping a straight is not comparable to dropping an M3 which is about as safe as a child's toy in comparison. Please treat your razor like a loaded handgun with the safety off, knowing it has a hair trigger.

Want to keep your lather hot, use a Moss scuttle. Don't like that cold feeling when you've stepped out of the shower? Well, thats what those terry towel bath robes are for... Just before you step out of the shower, rub a little hair conditioner into your beard and that will keep it wet and soft while you get the lather going. It's not that hard to do and besides, you'll need at least one mirror to see what you are doing. It's not like a safety razor that you can do by feel... yes, after straight shaving for a long time you might be able to do most without having to look that hard but you still need that mirror to make sure you don't lop your ear off... and don't laugh, there's been more than one ear cut amongst us here.. we just don't talk about it that much.

Shaving with a straight can be quite safe if done properly. Throwing caution to the wind is inviting disaster.

Regards

Christian

My father did this earlier today in an instant of distraction...

He's fortunate he didn't need stitches, and this was done away from anything slipperey or dangling...

I made a brief foray into DE shaving and had a fairly similar experience. It just didn't want to cut, I had to drag the razor hard and ended up with razor burn every time. Heavier DE's were somewhat better, but still not very good. I was eventually able to get shaves comparable to what I got with cartridge razors(which were never particularly good), it just took a lot longer. I have a very coarse beard though.

I switched to straights and got better shaves almost immediately. It felt far more intuitive to me...the proper angle came naturally, whereas with the DE I had to concentrate on maintaining that perfect angle. I also felt like I was able to follow the contours of my face much more easily with the open blade...it really just came together for me in a way DE shaving never did.

I can't put my finger on exactly why it went this way for me, and I'm certainly not suggesting the transition will be so seamless for everyone. But I think for some people, for whatever reason, straights just work better. I haven't been at it for very long (maybe 2 months?), and I'm already consistently getting the best shaves I've ever gotten. I couldn't be happier...I really think that anyone who is having a lot of trouble with other shaving methods should give straights a shot, it just might "click."

I just wanted to thank everyone first of all for contributing to this thread. I will definitely not be shaving in the shower with the str8. I will need to invest in a moss scuttle for sure. Mejnoon, did you use a SS or HCS steel on your first shave and what do you currently use?

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

I hate the DE blade. Ive tried to shave like 3 times and at the slightest angle, it just cuts (ATG passes). No gliding or softness here. Just tugs and almost gets "caught" on every stroke. My beard is not coarse either, I have no 5 o'clock shadow. I used Derby, Merkur and Personna. Its all the same more or less. Do str8's feel this way too (because it is a sharp single bladed tool) or is it a totally different ball game? Someone chime in because Im getting rid of my DE and would rather use my M3 anyday.

Oldfashioned

I could be wrong, of course, but it sounds like a technique issue or a lather issue or both. . . When I first started shaving with a DE razor I had a similar experience and my problem was the angle of the razor. I was holding the razor with the handle more parallel to my face instead of perpendicular to my face. The result was that I was more or less scraping the beard off, instead of having the blade scooch under the hairs and slice them off. This is a common mistake for gents used to shaving with an M3 or the like. . . M3 shaving technique does not translate to DE razor technique

I wouldn't give up on the DE yet. . . give it some time. Slow down and practice. Pay attention to your angle and not using any pressure. And enjoy the experience.

. . . wouldn't hurt to get a straight razor either, but the learning curve is a little bigger so just be aware of that.

Originally Posted by OldFashioned

I just wanted to thank everyone first of all for contributing to this thread. I will definitely not be shaving in the shower with the str8. I will need to invest in a moss scuttle for sure. Mejnoon, did you use a SS or HCS steel on your first shave and what do you currently use?

I think my very first shave I used a friodur which is stainless, but I only used it for that one shave. After that I used a W&B carbon steel blade for a while. Then the RAD hit and I've bought MANY razors since... Last few shaves I've used a Puma Special.

So do u still have that Friodur?

Originally Posted by Mejnoon

I think my very first shave I used a friodur which is stainless, but I only used it for that one shave. After that I used a W&B carbon steel blade for a while. Then the RAD hit and I've bought MANY razors since... Last few shaves I've used a Puma Special.

here is a perfect example of how it is so smooth and just glides across his face. it is after mantic's intro. i know he knows what he is doing but i could never get that from a DE and most will agree (already have agreed) that the str8 is smoother and more comfortable. im interested in shaving like he does, after hes been dressed and ready to go, i would rinse my face with hot water and use a scuttle to get hot lather. BTW his facial hair is quite thin, i must say that mine is thicker than his but only on the chin/neck area and the area between my cheeks/chin which is the most sensitive. i also noticed that he does TWO WTG passes on his stache, probably because its all he needs. the least amount of hair growth on my face is my stache (upper lip) so i think i will sort of copy his routine. (but no XTG or ATG passes til i master the two WTG passes).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78QqnrJtvg4&NR=1