Thread: 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?

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?

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

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

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....