Hi all,
Well I took the plunge a month ago and got a straight and have been getting some good results. But some times I just dont have enough time in the morning. Are DE's any faster when im in more of a hurry.
Thanks
Brian
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Hi all,
Well I took the plunge a month ago and got a straight and have been getting some good results. But some times I just dont have enough time in the morning. Are DE's any faster when im in more of a hurry.
Thanks
Brian
You can get a presentable straight razor shave fairly rapidly. It won't be as BBS as you might like. But, it is church or work worthy. That being said, it will probably always take longer than other shaving methods.
Some guys make straight razor shaving a weekend activity. That is fine! Like a good dessert, better to take your time and make it an occasion that to wolf it down.
Hurry and Shaving = t-r-o-u-b-l-e
That pretty much spells it out.Quote:
Originally Posted by nessmuck
Yes, a DE may save a few minutes compared to using a SR, but rushing with a DE will still result in cuts, irritation and (of course) a shoddy shave.
Brian,
+1 on the above !
With a safety razor, you save some time by not having to strop the razor, clean it after the shave, final strop etc.
Do not rush any shave; if you need to save a bit of time, do two (2) passes instead of three, or even one (1) WTG pass.
It should be possible, after a little practice, to get a comfortable, safe, two (2) pass safety razor shave in ca ten (10) minutes from start to finish.
Mantic59 has a 'ten minute shave' video on YouTube :
YouTube - The Ten Minute Traditional Wet Shave
Good luck :)
Have fun !
Best regards
Russ
That's exactly the instances where I use a DE instead of a straight.
As far as time goes the savings isn't really as much as you might think. To me it's more a psychological thing where if I can't pay full attention to what I'm doing I'll skip the straight that day.
Cool thanks guys,
Ya the shaving time I am not worried about, its all the prep and clean up after with using a straight that I sometimes dont have time for. I just took the plunge and ordered a Edwin Jagger DE89L with some Derby blades to start out with.
We will see.
Thanks
Brian
The shave isn't any faster for me. Just the stropping and cleaning bit that takes the extra time for a straight razor. I enjoy keeping my tools in top shape, so it doesn't bother me. I got a DE out of curiosity, but sold it and bought another straight razor.
The thing I truly enjoy about straight razors is that I can constantly keep them sharp enough to give a great shave, but offer enough forgiveness so they do not create weepers. Occassionally, some small ones come out of nowhere, but a cold water rinse closes them up quickly.
Pabster
You can get pretty quick with a straight. Nothing that would rival how fast you can go with a mach3, but faster than you may realize. The trick is to get the shave time down without actually rushing, because as has been said before, rushing + straigh = trouble.
Here is how I do my quick shave.
1) Use shower time as beard prep time. Wash beard first thing to water has an easier time soaking into the hair for the duration of the shower.
2) Build the lather on your face. This saves a lot of time. Instead of 2 minutes building the lather, then another 3-4 minutes applying it, just build it on your face and you've cut your time in half.
3) 2 passes, WTG with the lather, and XTG with water only. The water makes touching up areas quick and easy.
4) The passes themselves, try to use fewer, longer strokes. This is the real time saver. See how few strokes you can get away with shaving your face. While I always need to use small, buffing strokes on my chin, I can do the rest of my face in less than 10 strokes a side.
I can easily shave in under 10 minutes without rushing it. The trick is to find ways to cut down your time without moving the razor any faster.
Try shaving at night if possible. I only shave in the morning on weekends when I'm not working.
I also like shaving at night. I find it very relaxing and because of the nature of straight shaving, I can stay focused on the technique without any concern for time or schedule. I enjoy the prep as well as the SR challenge. And finishing without a weeper is always satisfying for me.
If I need a really fast shave I will use an Injector, for me it faster than a mach three, and almost as easy to use, with no clogging and a sharper blade, if there is a faster shaving method I haven't tried it.
When I rush a DE shave, I get (at the worst) razor burn and 'weepers', that a styptic pencil will handle.
IMHO, rushing a straight-razor shave is _dumb_. The cost of error -- due to rushing, lack of concentration, whatever -- is just too great. That blade is very sharp, and can cut deeply.
Maybe after I stop being a newbie, and develop more confidence (or over-confidence), I'll feel differently.
Charles
PS -- I've started using a Weishi DE razor. It's cheap, light, and _very_ forgiving. According to those who know, there's not much blade exposed, compared to most DE razors. Even with Feather blades, it's not aggressive.
I started a few months ago with a straight, but due to 2 baby girls running around, I really don't have the time. I acquired a DE and it was easy for me after learning with a straight. It cuts time down for me and I'm getting better results for now. Just my 2 cents.
I broke into wet shaving using a DE. It is a good way to learn pre-share prep and post shave care. I followed Lynn's advice to work into straight razor shaving one section of face at a time. I used my DE to finish.
I still use my DE in rotation. It is a quicker shave for me, but not a fast shave. I second what others have written about the dangers of going to fast with a DE. I've left small scars on my face with each type of blade.
Just take it easy and enjoy the process.
Hi Guys,
I just recently bought a few DEs to try out, hoping to save a few minutes on the odd occasion. I bought a couple of three piece Gillettes because they looked nice, and were cheap. I bought a Gillette from my birth year, and one from 1970, still in the box. I have to say- I don't like them, and can't use them! Maybe there's a learning curve.
However, I did get a beautiful Heljestrand with the pieces of wedge blades that go in- Killer! It works great and a little faster than a straight. It still requires disassembly, drying, honing, etc.. It does as well as any straight I have, if I take my time, and do two passes.
Real time saved is probably not too much, but you can do it when distracted without undue fear, unlike a straight.
It's also nice to know that Heljestrand gives an excellent shave no matter which method used.
Ed
quicknicker
A steep learning curve, depending on which blade you're using.Quote:
Originally Posted by quicknicker
For a description of my learning curve with a 3-piece Gillette and a Feather blade, see here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...e-shaving.html
That razor and blade combo is now giving me nice shaves. They didn't change; I did.
Charles
My wife got me a Merkur HD and some Merkur blades for Xmas. I have been using this mostly since then to keep Santa happy.
Stupid easy to get a good shave with this after using a straight. I'm interested in trying some different blades out now.
It doesn't have the same appeal as shaving with a straight razor though. A DE just seems to be a hyper efficient hair terminator without the character of a straight shave. The best part is it has set the bar higher for me to continue on my straight razor learning.
Gauging the relative speed of a straight versus a D/E misses, imo, the critical point. Here's a simple rule, known hereafter and for all eternity- or at least until this thread dies- as Michael's Maxim[1]:Quote:
Originally Posted by kd7skx
If at any time, for any reason, you find yourself thinking "Y'know, maybe I should use a D/E today.." ...then you'd better use a D/E that day.
[1]The corollary to the above rule is The Lawson Stone Paradox: "The weird thing about really epic bad technique is that you will cut everything on your face except hair."
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbaglio100
:rofl2:I haven't laughed so hard in a long, long time. Thank you very much for your and Lawson Stone's humour.:roflmao
Mick
Str8 razor shaving is something you must do religiously.It builds confidence,discipline and develops a good time management skills.I for now would never go back to SR let there be the cats chasing the dogs, visit by will thunder & lightning to the house,Str8 razor shaving will always be mine.
'Practice make perfect'
Cheers
After much self-beard study, learning to hone my own blades to my own preferences, and two years of working on technique, I've been able to cut my straight to BBS time to about 20 minutes and two passes. However, preparing traditional scuttle-and-badger lather , cleanup and oiling of razor, etc, raises the ante to 30' not feeling rushed.
A couple of days a week, I have early clinics and on occasion only give myself 15 minutes for a shave. On those days, I do the following:
1. Use Real Shaving Co. cream, applied with hands and a little water. Saves 5 minutes. Effective if not luxurious lather.
2. Turn to one of the 50+ SE and DE razors I collected before turning to straights. Like meeting up with an old high school friend. Saves maybe another 5 minues. Unlike some others posting here I find I can economise on stretching/attention/pressure issues without injury. I do the same 2 pass shave, get equivalent results.
3. Other than running the razor under hot water and pat drying, no other cleanup. Again, 5 minutes saved.
4. Grab an extra cup of coffee.
Great shave in half the time. As satisfying as a straight? No, but those extra 15' in bed, sometimes, are worth it.