Thread: My DE Story... long

I guess it was about 10 years ago that I found myself walking the mean streets of Manhattan NYC when I popped my head into a Art of Shaving store. A small fortune later, I walked out with a sandalwood shaving set.

The set included a Merkur razor and some merkur blades.




There it sits on the left, lonely. Blade-less. I never use it anymore in spite of how comfortable a shave it gives, because at the end of the day, I’m all about close.

I used that razor for some time. The Merkur blades never did it for me, and I went through dozens of brands trying to find close, finally settling on Feathers. Ultimately, Looking for closer, I decided to get an open comb Merkur.




And there it is today, hanging in the shower for those rare days when I’ve slept in, but need a shave. It was more “aggressive” than my original no doubt, and it taught me that super sharp isn’t always the way to go - there is sharp and smooth - hence I discovered Personna Reds. But it wasn’t long after getting the open comb merkur razor, that I discovered straight razors!

I shaved with straights for years. It took me a while though. I jumped from straight to DE until one day I vowed to use a straight exclusively for a year. When the year was done, I never went back.

Part II

Fast forward until two years ago when I took a two year contract teaching three and a half hours from home. I got an apartment for the weekdays, thinking I’d go home on weekends. I really didn’t want to haul all my straights and stones over, so I decided to just use my Feather Artist Club (FAC). The thing rocked it out just fine. I love my FAC, but about a year and a half in, I got to thinking about a Muhle r41. I really wanted one back in the day, but they were always sold out, and that’s why I got the open comb.

So I bought one for no other reason than Pooh’s and Giggles. After all, I’d be home soon and back to my straights.




You know I love my Personnas, but I just had to try a Feather blade in it. It. Was. Close!! What a shave! But it was harsh! You need a great soap to work it!

The second shave saw it settle down, but it was still a great shave. Using Personnas in it now, I’m here to tell you, I’m getting insanely close and smooth shaves with it!! I love my 41.

I’m not going to lie, it’s because it can get that one spot on my neck that I gave up trying to get long ago with a straight or my FAC even. The 41 can reach places and can get close.

I don’t know if you can see it in this picture, but try to note that starting at the left with my original DE, moving right to my 41, each blade sits flatter and flatter in its head. This is what is supposed to make the razor more “aggressive.” The flatter it sits - the better (if you want exfoliating close lol), and the 41 sits flatter than any I’ve seen to date.




So here I am, back home with all my straights, and I’m still using my DE! I mean, not exclusively, but I thought it’d be years before I touched anything but my straights again lol. But nope, I’m still loving my R41 shaves. So much so, I just bought another head to fit my travel case!




I’m thinking i’ll Give my other DEs away at this point. I really never intended to continue with DEs to begin with, but there it is I guess, when you find something that works, it stays in the rotation.

What an interesting “ride.”

Excellent report of your embracing the dark side of the wet-shaving force.



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(note: stupid GIF size limitation!)

Lol! You are such a knob Mark.

Have you ever used a DE? Seriously, you kind of went plastic to straights right?

I have a few DE's. I seem to prefer my Gems, but if I skip a few days, it seems to make for a clogged mess unlike with a straight.
I have not used an open-comb yet although I do have an old-type OC around somewhere.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

I have a few DE's. I seem to prefer my Gems, but if I skip a few days, it seems to make for a clogged mess unlike with a straight.
I have not used an open-comb yet although I do have an old-type OC around somewhere.

I’ve grown a “baby” beard more than a couple of times. I LOVE mowing them down with a straight or even my Artist Club! Lol - love it! It feels so refreshing!

Anyway, as aggressive as the R41 can be, it bogs down on the first pass shaving a little beard. I don’t think any DE can even come close to a straight in that department. It was SO disappointing when I tried lol!

And in spite of the fact that my DE can tackle areas that I’ve long given up on with a straight, I’m still convinced that a straight shave lasts longer on me than a DE shave. Which makes no sense I know, but I’m still sure of it lol!

Originally Posted by earcutter

Lol! You are such a knob Mark.

Have you ever used a DE? Seriously, you kind of went plastic to straights right?

Yes....A knob indeed!

I went from Wahl clippers to straights. I suppose I avoid the DE's for the same reason I could not do the multi-blades.
Ingrown hairs......

Thanks for sharing your adventure.

I went from the plastic blue razors to DE's. Played with different blades until i found the Gillette Silver Blues, thoses did the trick for me. Then i won an SE in a raffle with some blades, found that was very cool and gave a great shave too. Bounced between the two for another year.
Then i got to take part in a pass-around box of straights. Figured why not give it a try. No cost to me so went for it. Did a lot of reading and vid watching. When the straights showed up i had a good shave with a little irritation but not bad. I liked the idea so bought a couple, was donated one, and just kept it up. I have a few DE's and a couple SE's in my collection along with blaďes but they just sit.

Straights for me now on, or until my hands cant safely hold one any more.

The knob got straight rescued from the Braun 7000 by pure, crazy luck! Still, I have no desire to try out a DE or shavette for any reason. Some knobs trod down stranger paths than others I suppose.

Henceforth, I will do my best to refrain from snarking on your DE threads less anyone mistake my jests as originating from any shred of expertise on the matter. And, WTH, I'm an awful comedian ever plagued by writer's block. Maybe I have too much time on my hands?

<sigh>

I think DE's are great for guys who shave daily. They don't seem to work well with 2-3 days of my growth, personally.