Thread: D/E closeness?

I have used the 2011 R41 and the 2013 R41 as well as the Vision. Here's my take on closeness:

Point 1) You have skin and hair coming out of it. At some point, in order to cut more hair, the razor (whichever razor) has to cut skin as well. This will result in irritated skin, after a while.

Point 2) In my experience (I cannot speak for anyone else), any decent razor will be able to shave me to the point where it cannot cut any more hair without also scraping off a whole bunch of skin. Milder razors may take more advanced techniques or an extra pass to get there, but they will....if you have the skills to use them properly.

A more aggressive DE razor will take off more hair in a single pass, but again (in my experience) it takes a few passes to get a uniformly close shave. So, if you have several day's stubble, a more aggressive razor would be better to mow it down initially, but once you have the stubble reduced to reasonable amounts, any razor will shave well. So if you shave every day, which razor works best for you will come down to personal preference, and skill with the razor in question.

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Now, on to the R41 (both versions):

The R41 holds the blade pretty flat, and the 2011 exposes a lot of blade. This means that it is pretty aggressive, and can mow down a lot of stubble (again, this is unnecessary, if you shave every day). However, this comes at a price: if you have sensitive skin, or thick growth or hairs, the blade can flex....leading to irritation. With proper care, it will shave you very well, but the 'window' for a good shave is very narrow, and since people's faces are not regular, and also since people will let their concentration slip every now and then, this can lead to a (minor) disaster.

The 2013 holds the blade in the same way, but has less blade exposure, making it easier to get a good shave that's not always fraught with danger.

The Vision also has high blade exposure, but it curves the blade more, making it stiffer, so you have more of a 'window' within which you'll get a good shave. I have never used the Vision opened up completely, because I prefer to have a comfortable shave that I don't have to be worried about.

Straights, of course, have a completely exposed blade, but the blades don't flex as much as a DE blade, making them more comfortable and easier to use (once you have your technique down).

I can get a great shave with a wide variety of razors. Some are aggressive, some are milder. With equally good prep, the quality of the shave I get depends more on my technique than on the razor I use. If I return to a razor after a long time, it may take a few shaves for me to recapture the technique it requires to get the best shave.

Originally Posted by yohannrjm

I can get a great shave with a wide variety of razors. Some are aggressive, some are milder. With equally good prep, the quality of the shave I get depends more on my technique than on the razor I use. If I return to a razor after a long time, it may take a few shaves for me to recapture the technique it requires to get the best shave.

Now ain't that the truth.

Bob

My Edwin Jagger DE89 gets me down to bare skin. Yes a straight can do the same, only with a lot more skill and time.

Originally Posted by Wayne1963

My Edwin Jagger DE89 gets me down to bare skin. Yes a straight can do the same, only with a lot more skill and time.

From my own experience I can state that with experience a straight shave will shorten to about the same duration as a safety razor shave.

That said, if your main focus is on getting a good shave, safeties will generally give as good a shave as a straight.