Thread: First DE shave

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I think unless you be talking about an actual beard a DE is fine with even a weeks growth. If it's adjustable it makes it even easier. I routinely use a DE for a weeks heavy growth and the DE handles it just as good as a one day growth.

Just seems they clog fast and you are forever rinsing them by day 3.
A straight, you can load a good amount on it and then wipe it on a sponge.
Will give it a go with an adjustable though.

Originally Posted by Grazor

Just seems they clog fast and you are forever rinsing them by day 3.
A straight, you can load a good amount on it and then wipe it on a sponge.
Will give it a go with an adjustable though.

It depends on the razor. There are some that do clog really fast but a well designed one will not.

Originally Posted by DZEC

The one complication with using a DE is determining which blade(s) match which razor(s) for my beard. I am not at all knowledgable about the engineering associated with each DE I own or the blades I have, but it amazes me how a blade that works great in one razor is not the best blade for a different razor.

It really has been trial and error to find the optimal combinations. To make it even more confusing is the reality that different people using the same razor find that completely different blades work best for them. Throw in adjustable DE razors, and it gets even more complicated.

Very true, there's a lot of shave forum based geekery involved, but DE isn't the only format so afflicted. I found out, after some minimal trial and error with a handful of different blades, that I am quite happy with Feathers in every DE I've tried (lots - from the original Fatboy circa 1963 to modern Wolfmen). But the humble straight has also been bred beyond the simple 5/8 Red Imp and barber's hone, to 8/8 cleavers whispered to sharpness by stones from a particular cave, or leather from the right butt cheek of andalusian equines only ..

Yes,it's true we have an entire site here pretty much dedicated to the care and feeding of straight razors.

Proficiency with a straight should mean being able to pick up and use any straight razor and getting a great shave however many don't like a spike or maybe a round point or maybe any extra hollow ground or maybe a Kamisori or maybe a wedge or a big razor or a small razor or a stainless razor and it goes on and on.

I've also found feather DE blades are simply the best in any DE I've used with one exception the R-41 and that's because it's such an aggressive razor it really needed some toning down. Really the current crop of newly designed DEs have the advantage of advanced design and manufacturing techniques and provide really great shaves riveling a straight with minor differences more related to handle sizes and head sizes and the amount of grip and balance.

After coming to grips with a straight razor one has definitely learnt some techniques that also benefit a shave with a DE razor (and even a shave with a cartridge razor, if one is so inclined).

Ultimately, shaves with a straight razor have the potential to surpass shaves with the DE razor, but it is an exceedingly long way to to get there, way beyond the 100 straight shaves that are sometimes mentioned.

100 shaves with a straight razor get you in a range that with a safety razor you could have reached much sooner.
Not only does a DE razor require little maintenance, a safety razor is also much quicker to master than a straight razor, can deliver excellent results, and the shave takes little over half the time of a straight shave. No wonder they became so popular.

Ultimately, a straight shave is a leisure activity, a DE shave is a type of shave that I definitely enjoy more than a shave with a cartridge razor, but not quite as much as a straight shave.
If I should take a DE razor, it will be either my R101 (black handle variant of the R41) or more recently my Rocca.
As far as blades go, I don’t have much imagination (and too much of a stockpile) and stick to my Feather blades, with an occasional Astra blade from my other stash in between.

If it is a question of carrying less gear on a trip, I take my Feather AC DX or SS along. Feather AC razors emulate a straight razor quite well, produce exceptionally close results, and after the first 2-3 shaves a new blade loses its original harshness and delivers comfortable shaves for the rest of the +12 shaves blade life.


B.