Thread: Straight razor versus a DE - what's your opinion?

Like others, I too enjoy both safety and straight razor shaves. I'm still much better with a SE or DE than a straight in some spots because my hands aren't as agile as they once were and I can get a shave in all the hard to get spots of the chin and neck that I have trouble with using a straight. That said, the straight is a better shave in terms of closeness and enjoyment.

I mostly use a DE for traveling and time. It's much quicker to pop in a blade, soak the brush and use a stick of Arko than to strop a razor, get my scuttle ready,soak the brush and then dry the razor and strop again lightly before putting it away.
I would still use DE's on occasion because it's an enjoyable experience too. I enjoy my older DE's and Gems, but I like my straights even more.

Thanks for your thoughts, gentlemen! There is no right an no wrong as you say - but in my transition to straights I really enjoyed using a DE and like I said I still use it when I'm short of time or my kids are in the bathroom (I learned that lesson quickly - and I was the only one bleeding ).

Having started straight shaving with a 4/8 Heljestrand I've now 'moved up' to a 5/8 and I find it easier to handle. My net expieriment on my face with be a 6/8. And I can't wait to try a full wedge!

If you set aside the aesthetic and subjective factors that go into a shave I have noticed a couple of significant differences between using a DE vs. a straight. The first is that I am much more prone to irritation and weepers with the DE. In addition, I find that stubble returns faster after a shave with a DE than it does when I use a straight razor. I'm sure that these two things are related and are the result of the potential for harshness with a DE blade.

Like most of the guys have already said, I can and do use both, but I prefer the straight razor.

I think it's really hard to make a general fair comparison, as the DE razor and blade you chose for the job is of tremendous relevance to the result you will get.

I use a Merkur Futur with Feather blades, and I don't know how I could possibly get any closer of a shave than that. IMO it produces the results of a straight but in a fraction of the time, and much less effort (concentration) required.

I have been shaving straights exclusively for nearly a year. I just recently received a DE as a gift, and I have used it 4 times. For me, a shave with a DE takes just as long, if not longer, than a shave with a straight. I do shave pretty quick with a straight, and a shave can go really fast if I am in a hurry.

The 4th DE shave was yesterday, and after the shave I was noticing shaves with a straight are closer and smoother for me. My face feels better when I use a straight.

I travel quite a bit at times for work, and I have always taken a straight when it's an overnighter. For me, there's no difference between packing a straight and any other razor. I just grab one and toss it in my bag. When I fly, I do check in my bag. It's not that big of a deal for me.

Evolution. That's way the T Rex turned into a chicken. And then chickens turned into Mc Nuggets .