Thread: Double Edge vs Straight

Originally Posted by minnepicker

Thanks Bob, just one question for you. Why do you find a straight more enjoyable than a DE?

Good question really. Hard to pin down but probably just the type of tool used and how it is used or as Phoenix51 said a sort of Zen thing happening. A DE shave has a more industrial quality to it for me, simpler, quicker and more straight forward. I use either but the straight is more satisfying to use.

Bob

I started with a DE but went to a straight within a few months. I do however like having the DE around for when I'm in a hurry. With that said, NOTHING compares to the quality/joy of shaving with a true straight.

Originally Posted by minnepicker

Thanks Bob, just one question for you. Why do you find a straight more enjoyable than a DE?

If I may jump in.

In a nutshell:

Why more enjoyable?
Because shaving with a straight is a an activity that you look forward to and are prepared to spend the required time on.
In other words: a hobby


Shaving with a DE is a task, even if people may enjoy it.
If you don't want to invest time and effort into straight shaving; with a fairly small investment of time and money a DE will give you near-straight shaves and you still avoid paying outrageous amounts of money for razor cartridges and being fleeced by Gillette & Co.


(By comparison, shaving with a cartridge is a chore - which is why so few people look forward to their daily shave.)


Dyed-in-the wool DE shavers are happy with the ease and speed of their DE shave; by comparison, straight shaving is more for the enthusiasts who like to spend time on their shave.



Hope this helps...



B

All good advice and reasons so far. For me a de blade has always given me that "itchy" neck half hour after the shave. As far as shave quality goes the straight gets me a closer shave that lasts longer. Plus I hone to my taste, that has a lot to do with it.

Do what most of us do... get both! then use a DE one day and Straight another... ohhh then use a Shavette now and again for a laugh( well not for a laugh because they can be unforgiving as hell)

example last night , i used a Feather Shavette teamed with DE razor for those difficult areas i have... next week probably a straight

Originally Posted by Rossafumi

Do what most of us do... get both! then use a DE one day and Straight another... ohhh then use a Shavette now and again for a laugh( well not for a laugh because they can be unforgiving as hell)

example last night , i used a Feather Shavette teamed with DE razor for those difficult areas i have... next week probably a straight

I use the same combo, but for different reasons. For me it's about time. DE for when I'm really in a hurry, Feather SS for when I don't have time for stropping, Straight razor for when I want the best shave.

Using different type of razors each day doesnt affect technique? im using feather ac dx exc. And feather as d2 is on the shelf waiting for my son.

Originally Posted by MajorEthanolic

I use the same combo, but for different reasons. For me it's about time. DE for when I'm really in a hurry, Feather SS for when I don't have time for stropping, Straight razor for when I want the best shave.

depending on the weather and if the moons align just right... i get better shave from the DE sometimes.. but all in all i get great shaves from all of them and as you say its down to "have i got time"

Originally Posted by EmreMusovi

Using different type of razors each day doesnt affect technique? im using feather ac dx exc. And feather as d2 is on the shelf waiting for my son.

Of course you use different techniques for different razors - the fun part is mastering all of them

Found a DE in the supermarket outside my apartment complex last night. It cost about a dollar fifty. I had ordered a brush a couple days earlier and it came yesterday as well. The brush was pretty pricey though, it cost me about two dollars fifty after shipping. :-)

Shaved with them last night. I tried using shampoo for lather. That's what I've used with my Mach 3 for years. Didn't work that well. Decent imported stuff is pretty expensive here, around $30 for a tub of proraso. Maybe $80 for Mitchels Wool Fat shaving soap. Anyway, shampoo gave me a bit of irritation, especially on the neck. I guess you could say that shaving with shampoo for lather is a pain in the neck. :-) I also looked into getting some shipped here, it was more for the shipping than the product. That's hard to swallow.

Tomorrow I'll try using bar soap to lather instead of shampoo. I'll also look around and see if I can find any decent Chinese shaving soap. Worst case, I might break down and get a tub of proraso or get some sent if it's cheaper that way.

Thanks again guys for the input.

P.S. Wifey loved the shave!