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

I don't mean this thread to be one where we beat each other up - but as I have started to use both types of razor I was wondering about your experiences and how they stack up against my own.

I've gotten used to straight razor shaving and it only took a few weeks. I can even hone one now But I wanted to also try to use a DE.

As I was learning to use a straight I found I could get a closer shave with the DE - but since I've become a bit better at my ATG strokes I'm finding that the straight offers more opportunities to angle the blade as and how necessary - I suppose it feels like having slightly more control over the shave. Having said that, if I'm feeling tired after a long day at work I sometimes favour speed over ritual and the DE is a useful second fiddle.

What's your experience?

I've never used a de but I can readily see some advantages, especially from the perspective of a frequent traveler. I generally spend about 9 months of the year in hotels across the country. Blades would be readily available when you can't carry them onto a plane, no need for packing a strop, etc...

I may get one or two eventually but for now I still enjoy my wackers too much to consider trying anything else.

Once a shaver is proficient with either one, I think the straight becomes the favored choice. At least that is the way it was for me. Just a really clean, effortless way to shave. I wouldn't say I necessarily get better results with one over the other but I consider the straight to be more pleasurable. If I was traveling I'd take a DE.

After a year of straight razor usage I am now getting perfect BBS shaves. Thats totally smooth in any direction I feel. I never achieved that once in 15 years of DE shaving. Got good shaves but never totally smooth.
It's not just that though, the stropping, honing and general care of the razor are all part of the enjoyment and I am certain I will never shave any other way again. Even take all my gear with me when I'm away.

I am new to straight razor shaving so for me the end result is about the same using my Fat Boy DE or any of my straights and that is a very good shave. For traveling by car the DE gets the nod and by air a disposable, horrors of all horrors. To be honest I find the that a straight would be too much of a PITA for travel. As to what do I enjoy using the most, the straight wins hands down and is virtually all I use at home.

Bob

For me its an odd combo. With the DE, I can nail any part of my face and get it BBS. With the straight, I have a few tough spots on lower neck just to the right/left of my adams apple. Because of the curve of my neck and the angle it needs to be attacked, I never them as smooth as the rest of my face. However, my shave with the straight is much closer. I know what you're thinking. How much closer can you get than BBS. Don't ask me how this is but my beard is so mowed down with the straight that I probably have an extra 12 hours before feeling the first bit of stubble coming through. With a DE, I'd start to feel a little at the end of the day. Now with a straight, its not until the following morning. Overall, I prefer the straight except for when I'm rushed and need a quick shave in a short amount of time. A bad hang-over with the shakes is a good time for a DE too.

For me it's like comparing sports watches to dress watches. I like both even though sport watches give way more exact time than an automatic watch. Or perhaps it could be compared to automatic and manual transmission cars. I enjoy both options in the above mentioned examples (with a slight preference for manual transmission and automatic watches ).

I enjoy the craftsmanship of both good DEs and straight razors. I like that the DE is no hassle (generally) and that the straight edge is more 'the man not the machine'.

Man, there are so many things so say. Can one not love two?

(but of course there are considerations such as travel and time constraints...)

I honestly get pleasure and enjoy using both. I do use my straights more now that I have gotten my techniques for stropping, honing, and shaving up to a level that achieves what I want from them. The DE is more consistent as far as that goes, b/c the razor itself helps to keep from too steep or shallow an angle that will/can dull an edge quicker like a straight. Maybe I'm just an oddball, but my lower jawline just under the earlobes is my trouble spot w/ a DE or a straight, so neither is easier or more difficult now to me. I took to DE's like I had done it all my life, no challenge at all for me, but straights were a challenge, but a fun and unique challenge that I wanted to conquer, so the enjoyment of it, and nostalgia factor keeps my interests peaked. I've gotten bit by the HAD, RAD, RRAD (razor restoration acquisition disorder) bugs...MAN MY WALLET IS SCREWED! Like I said I like using both, but for those half asleep, zombie mornings, or HOLY CRAP it's that time already mornings, the DE is my go to, b/c I am just really too lazy to deal w/ cleaning up the bloodbath that would ensue later after work.

I like straights, but there are some cool looking DEs out there and I have gotten some brilliant tips from DE users.

They are razors...all good.

Being a relative newbie to straights, I still partake in my DEs. When I first started with straights, it would only be on the weekends as it would take significantly longer than using a DE. At this point, it still takes longer but the difference isn't nearly as great so I do partake in straight shave during the week every now and again. I can get a nice BBS with any (or at least most) of my DEs pretty much every time. The same is true for straights but I'm not as proficient. At this point, I enjoy them both and appreciate the differences. Using a straight is much more of a process (which I enjoy) while using a DE can be done while I"m on auto-pilot. The prep, use of a brush, bowl/scuttle, soaps/creams, etc is the same so I get to enjoy those parts of the shave no matter which I choose.
I have noticed that I do look forward to my straight shaves more than my DEs now but I think much of that has to do with the newness of it. We'll see how it plays out when I become equally as proficient with both. But for now I enjoy the variety in using different tools for the same what could be otherwise mudane job of whacking whiskers.