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So I am in the market for my first real* straight razor. I am trying to decide on whether I should get a razor with the toe rounded off or ground to a point? Someone please shed some light on the topic. What are the advantages? What are the disadvantages?
*I have been using a horrible shavette. Razor burn and cuts left and right.
It's a mostly a personal preference. I used only rounded blades for a few months and then found that I liked spiked or squared tips equally well. It also matters about the width of the blade. A 5/8 or 6/8 seems about right for me but I haven't tried a full inch of steel yet. The 3/8 and 4/8 are a little too small to my tastes. As far as pros and cons, I'll leave that to someone that has been through them all.
i've read it's easier to reach certain spots like the upper lip with a point, but that a round point is more forgiving for beginners.
i do like the round point i have and i do think that is very easy to begin with because i felt more comfortable with the rounded point. however now i do want to get a spiked point because personally i think its easier to see the point in the mirror and where the blade ends
I think a spike point is more beautiful. It really just comes down to your taste. They say that with a spike point it is easier to jab yourself with the point, but I haven't managed to do that yet.
But you really can't take our word for it. You have to try them yourself and find out what works best for you and what you like best. This is all very subjective.
Welcome at first.
if this will be your first blade go with round blade. anyway you are not going to stop buying blades. it will continue forever. gl. and
Welcome to SRP.
I have square, Spanish, French, round and others that I don't know what you call them. I like them all except the super sharp spikes or squares. They are fine if the very ends are very slightly smoothed out with a hone. As mentioned above, if you enjoy shaving with a straight you will own them all before it is done.
If you are cutting yourself with a shavette you will cut yourself with a straight. If you have not looked at the WIKI for shaving tips, that would be a great place to double check your techniques.
:gl:
I like to shave with all of the point styles but I don't have to be as conscious of where the point is when shaving with a round as I do with the others. I get good shaves with a round and can get to anyplace that I can get with a spike point or whatever. As has already been said a round doesn't look as cool but it is a good choice for a beginning shaver. If you want to avoid cuts and nicks read my sig and follow what it says. It works for me.
Quite a few experienced users, myself included, prefer square or spike points. I really is a matter of personal preference though.
Usually the recommendation of a round tip for a 1st straight razor is because they are a little more forgiving, and it gives you one less aspect to think about while learning to shave (watch the point!).
For your specific situation I ask; have you been cutting yourself with the point on your shavette? If you have, you might start with a round point or a barbers notch. If you haven't, take your pick of all of the available options.
In the end, you'll probably end up trying them all and deciding for yourself what point (and grind, width, type of steel, manufacturer, etc.) you prefer. If you ask 10 members here what their favorite style of razor is, you'll probably get 10 different answers.
im new too, but +1 for what bubba said,
if the tip of your shavette doesnt scratch you, you should be fine with whatever you want.
and, id cut myself alot with shavette too, they are so light i cant feel what im doing as well, cant feel the blade touching my skin
I like the spike points myself. They are very precise and I have never had a problem with them. I actually find the rounded points a little more difficult because I can't quite tell where the edge stops. With the spike I can get right under my nos on a sideways pass in a way that is impossible for a round point to match.
X
My experience is still very limited, as I'm still working with my first straight, but it's a square point, and I can tell you what I like about it, and what I don't.
I wear a neatly trimmed beard, and I find that the square point lends itself really nicely to trimming in neatly, especially where my beard and sideburns meet.
What I don't like about it, is that the growth pattern on my neck makes it so a true ATG pass would be horizontal from the outside to the center, and it can be a little tricky to make that pass without that point doing ugly things to the underside of my jaw. Of course, I'm not sure that a round point would be any better.
I have a rounded and one with more of a spike point, and I have definitely nicked myself with the spike more.
I don't like round points because I have trouble getting the area of my sideburns that's right by my ears.
Learning primarily on a spike point... on my tenth shave or so and getting very satisfactory results at this point.
The spike just makes things more interesting. I regularly nick myself just in front of the earlobe. But it also allows for some very precise control of the blade. Based on my experience, you will periodically nick yourself with that point, but it also forces you to be very aware of which section of the blade you are using and how to make it work for you. The couple of times I used a round point, I wasn't paying nearly so much attention to that detail and did not get as good a shave.
So I feel forcing yourself to learn on the spike point is well worth it... it will drill blade control into your head very rapidly... just have some alum or a styptic nearby.
Cheers,
- HJ
Ive tried a number of them and like the 6/8, spiked , for trimming around my goatee and sideburns...but, if i was keeping a furless face there would be no preference most likely.
spike or round buy the best razor you can afford & get it shave ready from one of the members here.plus a good strop if you struggled thru a shavette you are gona love a real straight. :tu
I suppose a spike will see you being extra careful but that's not a bad thing.
You will likely end up with a variety anyway. Don't sweat it. It's pretty subjective really. Just make sure its shave ready...& enjoy
In my experience it hasn't made much odds. I don't think round points are great lookers, but I have had great shaves from spike, round and french.
There are plenty of razors out there for resonable money so pick one that takes your fancy and enjoy.
Thanks for all the replies. I decided to go with a new Dovo spike from classicshaving.com. I ordered it yesterday. I am so excited. It will be my first straight razor. I think it will be easier to learn with a point now, than trying to learn it later. Is it shave ready if I buy it from classic shaving? Does it need to be honed? Stropped?
Yes if their description says PRESHARPENED, no if it does not. For those that are not presharpened they have a sharpening service ($19.99).Quote:
Originally Posted by cwilbourn1
Congratulations on taking the plunge!Quote:
Originally Posted by cwilbourn1
Don't expect stellar results off the bat. My first shave, the razor just bounced across the skin, causing lots of irritation, pulling, and not a lot of cutting. After all the anticipation and build up, I felt really disappointed and foolish for spending all that money.
I've since learned how to give a pretty darn good shave and am very happy with my results. I've figured out all these errors on that initial shave made it horrible: blade angle (way too much), pressure (too much), stropping (too little and very poorly), lather (too much water), skin stretching (too little). Slowly correcting all those errors, and I now look forward to shaving, and even shave on the weekends because I love the experience, when before I would go without!
So don't expect a great shave right off the bat, but stick with it, ask tons of questions here on the forum, and it will get much better!
Cheers,
- HJ
My limited experience so far is I need a bit of pressure to effectively strop... at first I was using too much, then backed off until it was no more than the weight of the blade. I still wasn't getting a good result... after rewatching a few stropping videos, I now use a moderate amount of pressure and now it's much better...Quote:
Originally Posted by cutalot
+1, So true! When you start crusin' for razors, you will get the best deal you can, regardless of the tip. Yes, you will have a prefrence, maybe, but in the long run for now it dosen't really matter.Quote:
Originally Posted by cutalot
I like round tips! :shrug:
Steve
I started out a few months ago with round points but now find myself going toward the square or spike because of what others have mentioned about getting to the sideburns or closer to the ear.
+1 I dont think it matters.I think guys just step up to squares as a macho thing.Newbies get the impression that rounds are for the beginner.I started with a spike and I have rounds in my rotation.It all depends on how a razor shaves for me. That only my opinion.:shrug:Quote:
Originally Posted by zepplin
I agree that a spike point will do a great job of trimming the edges of goatees and mustaches. But I don't wear those, and I do have that sideways growth pattern on my neck. The round points work quite well on the horizontal strokes there. The square points I have just don't get used as much; I even prefer the looks of the round point. My favorite razor not only has a round point, but a sloping shoulder as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by VeeDubb65
I like the way the round looks, but like a more exact point. I split the difference and bought a french point.
-Chief
Appearance wise, I have some roundpoints that knock the socks off my squares IMO.
But I don't own razors just for their looks.;)
I like both square point and round point. Whether or not it's actually true or significantly different, square points do give a feeling of precision. They do occasionally "kiss" my ears where the lobes connect to my cheek whereas round points never do. Not a biggie.
Here's what round points do for me that spikes can't:
The toe edge of the round point allows me to make a final excellent downward pass in the curved "trough" of my upper lip area under my nose. The tip fits in that area and cleans it up perfectly and comfortably on a second pass without even really having to stretch the skin there. It'd be slice city if I even tried that with a spike.
Round points "ride the tube" from my jawline down to my neck easily. Square points are fine there, but occasionally, I'll nick that area lightly (more of a scratch really) from a spike.
I actually like having to be more aware when shaving with a spike, but both have their place in my arsenal.
Chris L
A round point is a bit more forgiving than a spike point (although you mentioned a square point). However, many of our members started successfully with square and spike points. :gl:
I have been SR shaving, with round points only, for 3 months. Tried my first spike this weekend. Put a small clean cut on my cheek... I should mention, my fist time with a round point, I did the same thing!!
I agree that its best to develope your skills on the round before expanding. I also predict that you'll likely have a variety of points before all is said and done!
Best..
J
I have a round and actually love it for my concave neck because I can kind of stick the round point in there without cutting and use the front 1/4 of the blade to shave the neck on the n-s pass.