I am on the fence now after the first DE shave.

Hi, I just had my first DE shave (not exactly the first one, but this time, I
got it right with Merkur 12C long handle open comb+Feather, with proper face preparations).

Finally, I had that "buttery" feeling when the blade sliding through my skin.
Everything sticking out just melted away.

This has put me in a awkward position since I am not sure anymore I should
even start to learn the straight razor if a DE can provide such a
close shave with much less demand for skills. I have ordered a bunch of honing stones and
strops and blades. Haha

Any input would be welcome.

Everything is relative.

Yes you can get a very fine shave with a DE but it still does not match a Straight Shave. I know I'll finish with a DE and be BBS all over but by late that night the stubble is there. With a straight the same amount of stubble doesn't reappear until the next morning.

It just feels so much safer with a DE:thinking:

I will at least give the SR a try to see the differences myself.

I am sure if you decided not to use a straight your items would be able to find new homes from members here. I have never used a DE I went from cheap disposables to a straight. There is a definate learning curve but the shave is not even comparable. If you are comfortable with a DE then perhaps it is good for you. But I think You should try a straight for a while besides it gives you a whole new set of skills. Honing, shaving, stropping......

I have and use both regularly, but straight razors are not for everyone. I found the straight razor to be my primary tool where my wife found the DE to be her primary. She still uses a straight and helps with the back of my neck with a straight razor, but for her the DE is simpler and she prefers it.

My DEs have been sidelined now, for the reasons outlined by thebigspendur. Mind you, I can get very good results indeed from a safety razor (lots of practice!), so if using a straight seems like too much hassle or too steep a learning curve, fair enough.

remingtonmarlin,

A lot of people, including myself, use a straight not just because if the quality of the straight shave, but because of the entirety of the straight shaving experience.

I shave after work, and for me, my straight shaves are a tranquil oasis.

During the shave, all the bad crap from the day disappears, and I fell very much the better for it !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Like some of the other gents here I went from a cartridge directly to a straight. I hesitate to say it, but I didn't actually know what a safety razor was until I joined up on forums. I have tried them and they work great, but to be honest I found them rather lack luster. By all means, you can get a great shave using a DE, but IMHO they lack the subtleties of a straight razor - it's the little things that make them so interesting and fun.

If it works, great! But I would encourage you to keep options open. Variety is the spice of life!

Tell you the honest truth ..... it is very rare that I shave with a DE in the past few years. Not that I didn't like them, I have a fairly large collection of vintage Gillettes and vintage slants which are my favorite DEs. The reason I rarely shave with them is I am way more likely to nick myself with one of them than with a straight razor. That and .... once I developed my skills... I do get a superior shave with the straight. Keep shaving with the DE until you feel the call of the straight and then start rotating between the two. You'll eventually find which is best for you .... or continue to use both. You can't lose. :)

+ 1 on what jimmy says.A wise man.Well said.:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Tell you the honest truth ..... it is very rare that I shave with a DE in the past few years. Not that I didn't like them, I have a fairly large collection of vintage Gillettes and vintage slants which are my favorite DEs. The reason I rarely shave with them is I am way more likely to nick myself with one of them than with a straight razor. That and .... once I developed my skills... I do get a superior shave with the straight. Keep shaving with the DE until you feel the call of the straight and then start rotating between the two. You'll eventually find which is best for you .... or continue to use both. You can't lose. :)

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I can get a fantastic shave from either a straight or DE, they both deliver the goods in that department. However, shaving with a straight is just so much more enjoyable, plus it connects you to the past in ways few other activities can. If a "perception" of safety is a concern, along with time (a lack thereof) then perhaps a DE would be a better option.

BTW - straights really aren't as dangerous as some people make them out to be, they just require due respect and attention.

I use a DE when I have less time. I do find a better shave that always seems to last longer with the Str8. I also agree that with the str8, it is the "Me" time I seem to enjoy also.

Enjoy the day.

Hello, remingtonmarlin:

The straight razor is not for everyone.

To master the art and craft of it demands patience, tenacity and, yes, taste for adventure. It's not something you can force upon yourself; rather, you have to want it badly enough to embrace it.

For me, the straight razor is not just a shave. It's a ritual of preparation, stropping, shaving and, finally, slapping my Hollywood face with a fragrant aftershave. That's how I start my day — every day. I would not have it any other way. My daily ritual takes about an hour or so. It's my time, in my shave den, where I am king and citizen.

Yet some days I prefer to use my double edge razor, especially when short on time. Sometimes I just feel like using the double edge. I'm sure my straight razors understand — to me they are living instruments. On such occasions my morning ritual is the same except for the tool I use to give myself a shave.

I have 25 straight razors and five double edge in my modest collection. I enjoy each for what it is. Both types of razors give me a good shave — my 5 O' Clock shadow usually shows up at 10 O' Clock at night.

Since you have found the perfect shave with the double edge, why not stop right there? Be satisfied with what you have. Yet, since the straight razor still floats in your thoughts, you will always wonder why you did not give it a try. I suggest, therefore, to give it a good try — but only if you want to.

When the day comes that to feel the straight razor is not for you, at least you will walk away satisfied that, yes, you did give it a try. On the other hand, you might decide you do like the straight razor after all and that you want to rotate it with your double edge. Imagine how much richer your morning shaving experience will be.

You will never know until you try it.

Either way, you are welcome here at Straight Razor Place.

Regards,

Obie

WOW. Thank you for all the replies. My mind has been corrected by those great responses.

I have tried the two vintage I bought off ebay on my face followed suggestions in Wiki for beginners. The first one is good. I tried it again after stropping when I woke up this morning, those started to pull and wont shave.

I figure that my stropping (with no class and skill) might have damaged the edge. Is this a good time to start hone my blades? on which stone?

I have Chinese 12k water stone, Naniwa(?) superstone 1k, 5k, and 10k.
Or I may just try to strop the edge with some DOVO red paste on a leather?

Thank you very much.

Welcome to SRP, remingtonmarlin.

First, I must commend you for the energy and effort that you clearly put into this. You are diving right in from the start, and there is much to learn. Face preparation, lather building, stropping, the actual shaving, and honing. You are not making it easy on yourself :) Just remember this when you are judging the quality of your first shaves.

It might very well be your stropping technique that has dulled the blade. Stropping, particularily on a pasted strop, certainly has the potential to ruin a sharp blade. This applies doubly to honing. If at all possible, try to get a razor sharpened by one of our honemeisters, and keep that tucked away as a reference for when you are wondering if your knives are sharp. But yes, if your razor is starting to pull, a small treatment with a pasted strop or a barber's hone is the first go-to to mend the problem.

Generally, if your knife has been properly set up, you would want to start with the mildest possible treatment - that would be a strop or a barber's hone. If it needs a honing, try with the 12k. Read all you can in the wiki, and remember it is very easy to ruin the sharpeness if you don't know how to sharpen. If at all possible, send your shavers out and get a cheap razor to practice honing on. If not, and you decide to do your own honing, don't get disheartened if your razors decide to act up and pull a bit in the beginning. Remember it takes practice.

I recognize a lot of my own personality in your description, I am also a dive-in kinda guy and started much like you - with everything. Knowing this, I did not judge my shaves much in the beginning, at all. I only tried to get a shave that looked presentable, and let the quality and comfort come as they would, in their own time. I also did my won honing right from the start, (I did buy one to hold as a reference) and this had a funny side effect: I was having trouble deciding which razor was my favourite, until it dawned on me - my favourite would always be the one I honed last, as my honing skills picked up :)

Best of luck!

Hi， str8fencer
Thank for those advices. I think we do have some in common in terms of
habits of doing certain things:beer1:. For example, I did order one DOVO from SRD for reference, and one Gold Dollar from star shaving for honing practices. However, both of those are still on the way.
I will keep trying for sure as shaving with a shiny blade is much cooler than
using a little "ugly" disposable DE.

Wow, interesting thread, especially the timing of it. I have been using straight razors for a few weeks now. Going pretty well now, had a few days that I looked like I lost a knife fight :) but things have continued to improve and less loss of blood now (although I joked that the bloodletting was helping me with my weight loss).

The "old time" shaving though triggered some childhood memories, mainly of my father and his gold DE gillette. I purchased a Gillette super speed on eBay, and tried it out with some blades from the local supermarket ... I was amazed how smooth and easy the shave was! I have had nearly as comfortable a shave with a straight, and with more practice I feel I will achieve this quality shave routinely with the straights. It opened a door though, and I will certainly be using the DE occasionally.

I wouldn't sell your hones, etc. as yet though, as I don't see it as an either or, at least depending on the reasons you were attracted to straight razors in the 1st place. For me it was partially dissatisfaction with the multi-blade razors popular today, and the waste, and cost associated with them. I have also found the shaving experience is different with a straight, which is a plus that I did not forsee. Another unintended benefit is that there is just something neat about using a razor that was used 80 or 100 years ago (if you go the vintage route).

Best of luck wherever you end up, in any case (DE or straight, or both) you have journeyed across the tracks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by remingtonmarlin

Hi, I just had my first DE shave (not exactly the first one, but this time, I
got it right with Merkur 12C long handle open comb+Feather, with proper face preparations).

Finally, I had that "buttery" feeling when the blade sliding through my skin.
Everything sticking out just melted away.

This has put me in a awkward position since I am not sure anymore I should
even start to learn the straight razor if a DE can provide such a
close shave with much less demand for skills. I have ordered a bunch of honing stones and
strops and bl
Any input would be welcome.

---

ades. Haha

Coming at this shaving experience from the world of woodworking, i've found a certain gratification from knowing that i honed or stropped a piece of steel to a point where it will do its job well. Honing chisels and handplane blades was my first skill that i mastered. Planing off a translucent, paper thin ribbon of wood was a magical experience. I started using straights that i bought from ebay: all vintage blades. I've made good progress with the honing and stropping process but sometimes wonder if my edges are up to snuff in comparison with a new, professionally prepared razor. I enjoy the challenge and get a real sense of accomplishment when i shave with a straight and it just glides through my whiskers. Like Billy Crystal said in the film Analyze This: "it's a process". hee hee. With all that said, the DE experience is perfectly valid and good luck with your shaving experience.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by remingtonmarlin

This has put me in a awkward position since I am not sure anymore I should
even start to learn the straight razor if a DE can provide such a
close shave with much less demand for skills.

I have ordered a bunch of honing stones and
strops and blades.

Any input would be welcome.

---

I read once that it's a lot to undertake to learn to hone, strop, and shave with a str8 all at one time. It sounds like you've already jumped in.. You could always perfect your d/e technique while your learn stropping and honing. Good Luck to you.

thebigspendur is absolutely correct. A DE razor shave will certainly deliver a superior shave when compared to a multi-blade razor. If you think that's a good shave, though, compare it to a straight razor shave--once you have mastered the technique.

Beleive me, there is a difference. My straight razor shaves are not only close and smooth, but tend to last longer, for example.

Thank you for those encouraging comments. I will give it a good try. The stropping is somewhat frustrating at the beginning:banghead: though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by str8fencer

I recognize a lot of my own personality in your description, I am also a dive-in kinda guy and started much like you - with everything. I also did my won honing right from the start, and this had a funny side effect: I was having trouble deciding which razor was my favourite, until it dawned on me - my favourite would always be the one I honed last, as my honing skills picked up :)

Best of luck!

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I had a good laugh when I read this. I am getting to the point that my favorite is 3 honings ago! :roflmao

I too jumped in with both feet to straights. After this weekend I am glad I did. I decided to do some experimenting. Saturday I tried a Star SE. I bought a honing jig and of course I had to get a blade dull to try it out. I am yet deciding if I will give it a chance to get dull. I have never seen so much blood/razor burn. You might think that would be enough to stop my experimenting but then I got out my Rolls Razor and honed that up today. I irritated all the spots from yesterday and added a few more. I don't know how they could sell these "New and Improved" things.

Then to add insult to injury I cut my pointer finger while repairing the scales on a W&B. It cut so quick and clean I have had a tough time getting it to seal. I had a bandaid on it for three hours or so and it came loose and then started bleeding again.

Oh well, If this is the worst that will happen I will be happy. I think in the morning I will use that W&B.

Tim

Seriously, you should go to the ER for a few stitches for a wound:dropjaw: like that.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 32t

Then to add insult to injury I cut my pointer finger while repairing the scales on a W&B. It cut so quick and clean I have had a tough time getting it to seal. I had a bandaid on it for three hours or so and it came loose and then started bleeding again.

Tim

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by remingtonmarlin

Seriously, you should go to the ER for a few stitches for a wound:dropjaw: like that.

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Thanks for your concern but I think all that I would be doing is adding to the high cost of insurance if I did that.

I have read many times the recommendation to try and hone a blade to see if it is worth restoring. If you can get a good edge then fix it up. I don't do that. They are dangerous enough when they are dull.

Tim

The W&B did a wonderful job this morning. I am wondering if my honing skill increased in proportion to my shaving skills. They got sharper as I got better?

That dang cut opened up again late morning. I had heard many times the superglue treatment. I gave it a try and it works great. Now as long as I don't get ethyl cyanoacrylate poisoning!

That got me thinking... If I was going to continue to try and use that SE has anyone ever tried Super Glue as a post shave treatment? :rofl2:

Tim

First off, if you do decide you don't want to go the straight shave route you can make a non-tax-deductible donation to the BigJim Shaving Gear Fund. ;)

I used a DE for the first time last night, as my straights are off being honed. I picked it up at an antique shop, grabbed some blades from the local grocer's pharmacy section, and away we went. It wen't at least as well as my Hydro's shaves. Little more blood loss as the Hydro won't cut the shaving bumps it leaves, but the Fatboy level's the Hydro's bumps (no serious blood loss though...didn't even need my styptic).

For the ability to pop in a blade and get a comparable shave, it was very gratifying. The shave was equal to or better than the cartridge, and I'm sure will be even better tonight. I'm still all about getting my straights back and mastering them, but instead of finishing up those straight shaves with the Hydro, I'll be reaching for the DE for sure.

What's BBS?

Sorry, new guy.

Regards,

Paul

Hey Dr. Pepper, welcome to SRP. (Striaght Razor Place). BBS stands for Baby Butt Smooth. There are a whole bunch of other abbreviations thrown around here. You can find most of them in the Wiki (in the menu bar above). Along with a ton of other great info on wet shaving.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by PhatMan

remingtonmarlin,

A lot of people, including myself, use a straight not just because if the quality of the straight shave, but because of the entirety of the straight shaving experience.

I shave after work, and for me, my straight shaves are a tranquil oasis.

During the shave, all the bad crap from the day disappears, and I fell very much the better for it !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

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+1to that, im the same way, i have both and i use the straight on my face, and the DE on my dome, seems to give me a better bbs on top that way, love them both but the straight is ME TIME

I would like to add a question to this thread. I am struggling with an SE right now. I have probably mangled the blade with poor stropping technique and need to send it in for sharpening. I am consider getting a DE to fill in the gap during the learning curve. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance

JeffH

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffH

I would like to add a question to this thread. I am struggling with an SE right now. I have probably mangled the blade with poor stropping technique and need to send it in for sharpening. I am consider getting a DE to fill in the gap during the learning curve. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance

JeffH

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Jeff, I think you mean you're struggling with a Straight. To my knowledge SE blades cannot be honed and certainly shouldn't be stropped. (SE blades look like the paint scraper blades you pick up at the hardware store...though thinner and sharper)

I'd definitely go with a DE. That's what I did while my razors were off being honed and I'll never go back to a cartridge again. Lots of options when it comes to DE's though.

Sorry for the confusion, I did mean a straight razor. Thanks for the advice. I will start the search for a DE.

i'm kind of opposite from the op... i got a straight razor about a year ago and use it only on the weekends since i don't have time during the week... and i enjoy it since as stated before, it's 'me' time and a connection to the past..

but for my every day shaving, i've been using disposable razors... i finally had enough of them and ordered a ej89 and a sample pack of blades. so i'm on my first week of using the ej89 and find it to be as smooth as the straight and much quicker...

i haven't had any major nicks with the straight in the past year, and haven't had any problems with the de ... of course, having said that, i'll wind up lopping my head off tomorrow morning :rant:

I have a DE and two straights. Some days the amount of time I have in the morning determines what method I will use. Other times, it 's simply a matter of what I feel like using. Weekends are almost always reserved for SR shaving. I'll brew a pot of Trader Joe's French Roast, put on some opera, whip up some Proraso, and away I go. Nothing says you have to stick to one to one type of shaving. Use what you feel like, or what time may dictate that day.

Sure they can. Whether they are worth the effort and time is in question. I am experimenting with this at this time but have no answers. :-]


[QUOTE=BigJim;765442. To my knowledge SE blades cannot be honed and certainly shouldn't be stropped. (SE blades look like the paint scraper blades you pick up at the hardware store...though thinner and sharper)

.[/QUOTE]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ENFD240

i haven't had any major nicks with the straight in the past year, and haven't had any problems with the de ... of course, having said that, i'll wind up lopping my head off tomorrow morning :rant:

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monday morning update: i just knew it...took off a nice piece of skin with the de...