DE razor and str8 technique - wow!

Hi all,
I'm new to straight razor shaving - having only been at it for about a month now - and getting pretty good results - but still not as good as with my DE.

Today I felt like shaving with a DE for some reason.

So I pulled a worn Gillette Diplomat off my rack, tossed a Shark razor in it - and worked up some Proraso shave cream.

Since I've been practicing good straight technique - I decided to keep at it. I was stretching my face (with hands and expressions) - using the 'new' paths/directions I've learned with the straight razor more recently and even using both hands - which I am still getting used to.

WOW - BBS in only 2 passes! :) I did a 3rd cleanup pass for just a a few spots - but I usually do a solid 4 passes plus touch ups. Sure looks like I don't need to any more.

My guess is the stretching makes really a big difference. Who else has tried this and what were your experiences?

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Originally Posted by hgrail

Hi all,
I'm new to straight razor shaving - having only been at it for about a month now - and getting pretty good results - but still not as good as with my DE.

Today I felt like shaving with a DE for some reason.

So I pulled a worn Gillette Diplomat off my rack, tossed a Shark razor in it - and worked up some Proraso shave cream.

Since I've been practicing good straight technique - I decided to keep at it. I was stretching my face (with hands and expressions) - using the 'new' paths/directions I've learned with the straight razor more recently and even using both hands - which I am still getting used to.

WOW - BBS in only 2 passes! :) I did a 3rd cleanup pass for just a a few spots - but I usually do a solid 4 passes plus touch ups. Sure looks like I don't need to any more.

My guess is the stretching makes really a big difference. Who else has tried this and what were your experiences?

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I just read your post and had "deja vu" picked up my Vintage DE after shaving with straights and man a new level of shave!!! and fast!!! So my rocket shaves like a rocket now:)

maybe i need to try this.. i shave wonderfully with my artist club razor and now that i've started playing around with de's.. i just can't get as good of a shave.. i think i have a hard time maintaining the proper angle... but maybe i'm not following the same technique as i do with my artist club.

hgrail,

I too found that shaving with a straight improved my safety razor technique no end :)

I think it was the learning to use very light pressure, keeping the constancy of the contact angle and the more advanced skin stretching techniques that did it for me.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

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Originally Posted by PhatMan

hgrail,

I too found that shaving with a straight improved my safety razor technique no end :)

I think it was the learning to use very light pressure, keeping the constancy of the contact angle and the more advanced skin stretching techniques that did it for me.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

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Fully agree. Skin stretching techniques I learned from straight razor shaving have greatly improved my DE shaves. For some reason the DE boards tend to discourage skin stretching, for reasons I have never fully understood.

It's also possible that shaving with a straight razor changes the way your hair grows, so that using other razors becomes more effective.

I've noticed that my disposable safety razor also has to do less work, and I don't think I've changed my technique with that at all. (No stretching, just zip-zop.)

That is certainly one of the side effects of straight shaving. The art of straight shaving and the technique(s) associated with it are much more complex than DE...So, your hands (and brain) have to get used to more subtle, intricate movements and as such, will make DE shaving look like child's play.

Give straight shaving some time though...after a certain point, it will deliver a smoother shave than DE...then, you will be hooked for good.

That's funny, I picked up my DE yesterday and tried to shave with it and cut myself up. I am doing pretty good with my straight but for some reason I messed up with my DE, could be the new blade I put in it but not sure.

I found that I've actually cut myself more with my DE's than with my straights, but the straights deliver a smoothness of the skin that can't be matched.

I have had a busy schedule the last few days so no straight shaving. Fortunately I bought a vintage Gillette DE. Today I received a pack of Feather blades. WOW. A much better shave than the Gilletes I was using.

Incidentally, I use my DE shaving to inform my Straight shaving, and vice versa.
I have been wet shaving for only a month now....

The Feathers are excellent in a Super Speed or a Tech.

They are very good in the more aggressive razors and the adjustables too - but then I do have to remember to be a bit less aggressive myself..:banghead:

The upside is if I cut myself with a Feather - I never feel it.

But I bleed just the same-:mad:

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Originally Posted by Firefighter2

I found that I've actually cut myself more with my DE's than with my straights, but the straights deliver a smoothness of the skin that can't be matched.

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+1. I also have this issue. I'm new to DE's and so spent some time with them of late. The other day I shaved with my Cutthroat, only to find it was like being a beginner with that all over again. I started to alternate now and, thankfully, my CT shaves are back to where they ought to be. I'm still having issues with the DE that will hopefully be sorted out with time, practice and the finding of the holy grail blade to suit my face. I can barely make it through a second pass with the DE somedays.


Mick

Ive been a solid DE user for 30+ yrs only using disposables now an then all that time have been shaving with a superspeed and a fatboy but since starting with straights prettywell daily for bout 8 mths now then going back to DE's now an then I get outstanding shaves out of my Feather loaded Fatboy genuine BBS all over , my DE technique has improved outa sight from using straights yeap streching makes all the difference indeed , just ordered a 39C slant after reading all the good reviews on it , cant wait to load some feathers in it and clean up !

Gentlemen,

Please do not take this as criticism, as I do not know what your shaving technique is like, but if you put as much care and attention into your DE shave as you do with a SR you will not cut yourself up at all. You should also be able to match your straight shaves in closeness Unfortunately many of us look at the DE as a "knock off a quick shave" instrument, without giving it it's due respect.

I've shaved with Feathers many times and have yet to cut myself with one. It's likely due to the fact that, like Obie, I respect whatever razor I happen to be using on any given day.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Gentlemen,

Please do not take this as criticism, as I do not know what your shaving technique is like, but if you put as much care and attention into your DE shave as you do with a SR you will not cut yourself up at all. You should also be able to match your straight shaves in closeness Unfortunately many of us look at the DE as a "knock off a quick shave" instrument, without giving it it's due respect.

I've shaved with Feathers many times and have yet to cut myself with one. It's likely due to the fact that, like Obie, I respect whatever razor I happen to be using on any given day.

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Ryan I think your post is right on the money we will tend to slack off when shaving with a DE because it is diffcult to remove body parts with a safety razor but there is always that possibilty with a straight so we'll subconciously pay more attention:tameshigiri:

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Originally Posted by MickR

I'm still having issues with the DE that will hopefully be sorted out with time, practice and the finding of the holy grail blade to suit my face. I can barely make it through a second pass with the DE somedays.


Mick

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Hi there,

That is an odd thing. I sorta doubt it's your technique that's the problem, but you never know. Sounds like a pretty rough road, and maybe I'd look to something else as the culprit.

It might be the razor you have isn't a good fit, or it may be the blade......or both. Do you happen to be using an aggressive razor with a Merkur blade? Now that could be a tough combo for lots of people.

Martin

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Originally Posted by Evin

we will tend to slack off when shaving with a DE because it is diffcult to remove body parts with a safety razor

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That's my thinking too. However I frequently hear stories about guys cutting themselves up pretty good with DE razor, and I mean hanging-flaps-of-skin kind of cuts. I'm not sure how they are performing this feat, but if you can make it through a straight shave without cutting yourself there is no reason why you should be cut by a safety razor.

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Originally Posted by De Layne

Hi there,

That is an odd thing. I sorta doubt it's your technique that's the problem, but you never know. Sounds like a pretty rough road, and maybe I'd look to something else as the culprit.

It might be the razor you have isn't a good fit, or it may be the blade......or both. Do you happen to be using an aggressive razor with a Merkur blade? Now that could be a tough combo for lots of people.

Martin

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It was the blades mate. I've started on a different brand after trying to alter my technique to fix the problem. Nothing worked, so I moved onto the next (3rd) pack of blades in the line-up in my sample pack. They work fine, no burn, clean shave...I'm in love! Still going to give the other brands a go. But I ain't going back to the ones I've tried and failed with.


Mick