Thread: Darnit! Likin' my DE better'n my SR now! :)

I know it's 'cause I'm still a newbie to both. But I'm starting to like my DE better. Partly, it's because my SR pulls. I think I might need to adjust my angle better than I am. But the DE does a better job than my SR at this point. DOH!

Nothing wrong with liking your DE. You may want to send your straight razor out for honing by one of our craftsmen.

I agree, there's nothing wrong with DE's at all. But keep at it with your SR and in time you'll find you can match or beat your DE shaves. It doesn't happen overnight though....

It's funny you should say this. JUST the other day I was thinking...

I've been using a straight for only a little over a year. I had great success from the start, though it was scary to begin. After a few months, I think it was, I got a nice DE. I loved it. I could see why people swapped. I improved constantly with both. I found the DE gave me a 'better' shave (an explanation of why I've used quotes later) than the straight; which rather annoyed me, though, to be honest, my straight razor shaves have always been pretty good.

The thing I find about my DE (which is quite mild I believe; a Mühle R 89) is that it's manoeuvrable. This allows me to come at every hair completely against its grain. I find it harder to do this on all hairs with a straight. This led me to believe it was a 'better' (those quotes again) shave.

Whilst 'considering my face with my fingers' on my 65 kilometer drive home from work yesterday I became aware that although the morning's result seemed superb at the time, by 17:45 my face was feeling 'manly'. I have less hair follicles I think than many, so it only shows after about a week of not shaving, but of course one can feel it.

What this tells me is what you all know anyway, a DE feels better, but doesn't actually do as close a shave as a straight, I think...

Carl

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

It's funny you should say this. JUST the other day I was thinking...

I've been using a straight for only a little over a year. I had great success from the start, though it was scary to begin. After a few months, I think it was, I got a nice DE. I loved it. I could see why people swapped. I improved constantly with both. I found the DE gave me a 'better' shave (an explanation of why I've used quotes later) than the straight; which rather annoyed me, though, to be honest, my straight razor shaves have always been pretty good.

The thing I find about my DE (which is quite mild I believe; a Mühle R 89) is that it's manoeuvrable. This allows me to come at every hair completely against its grain. I find it harder to do this on all hairs with a straight. This led me to believe it was a 'better' (those quotes again) shave.

Whilst 'considering my face with my fingers' on my 65 kilometer drive home from work yesterday I became aware that although the morning's result seemed superb at the time, by 17:45 my face was feeling 'manly'. I have less hair follicles I think than many, so it only shows after about a week of not shaving, but of course one can feel it.

What this tells me is what you all know anyway, a DE feels better, but doesn't actually do as close a shave as a straight, I think...

Carl

This whole thing of the BBS is really a lot of bunk. I can shave with an electric razor and have a BBS shave but 4 hours later stubble begins to appear. I can get it with a DE and 15 hours later stubble begins to appear. I can shave with a straight and have a few areas that are not BBS but the next day the stubble is only first beginning to appear. So the moral of the story is the straight gives you the best shave and BBS is not a test of a great shave.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I agree, there's nothing wrong with DE's at all. But keep at it with your SR and in time you'll find you can match or beat your DE shaves. It doesn't happen overnight though....

Big +1. Been there and done that. It is a matter of developing shave technique and a for sure shave ready razor IME. When it happens you'll know it and won't look back.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

This whole thing of the BBS is really a lot of bunk. I can shave with an electric razor and have a BBS shave but 4 hours later stubble begins to appear. I can get it with a DE and 15 hours later stubble begins to appear. I can shave with a straight and have a few areas that are not BBS but the next day the stubble is only first beginning to appear. So the moral of the story is the straight gives you the best shave and BBS is not a test of a great shave.

You know I am with you on the whole BBS being a bit of bunk... kind of. Put a Feather blade in my 11C and boy is it smooth and like Carl states, it's easier to go across the grain in some areas with the DE. But again, like Carl states - I find I am always amazed right after the shave, but not much longer after that.

I really think the term BBS was born out of the fact that it really seems like you have gotten a BBS shave after getting that first great shave off of a DE or straight after using a cart for years. It's just not something I have been able to replicate using a cart.

Anyway, I KNOW I have romanticized my DE because every time I pull out my DE (just yesterday), I am let down. But I keep pulling it out now and again lol. I wish I could do a two handed shave with my straight but that's never going to happen, and it limits me to a degree in some spots but I tell you... "for me," nothing gets as close as a straight.

I love my DE's, but the commitment I made to learning how to shave with my straight really see's it doing a much better job. Yes a noob with a razor that pulls will find that a DE is easy, closer, less maintenance, and therefor seemingly superior - but I have yet to find a straight user who's shaved exclusively with a straight for over six to 12 months ever find the DE closer.

Well that's my experience anyway. No harm in using a DE - they are awesome and have an appeal all their own, but I'll be plugging away with my straights for some time to come .

Originally Posted by bjmacnevin

I know it's 'cause I'm still a newbie to both. But I'm starting to like my DE better. Partly, it's because my SR pulls. I think I might need to adjust my angle better than I am. But the DE does a better job than my SR at this point. DOH!

I know what you mean, I love my DE's!

[QUOTE=carlmaloschneider;1005557
Whilst 'considering my face with my fingers' on my 65 kilometer drive home from work yesterday I became aware that although the morning's result seemed superb at the time, by 17:45 my face was feeling 'manly'. I have less hair follicles I think than many, so it only shows after about a week of not shaving, but of course one can feel it.

What this tells me is what you all know anyway, a DE feels better, but doesn't actually do as close a shave as a straight, I think...

Carl[/QUOTE] Just got my first DE two days ago and I'm experiencing just that myself Carl.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

This whole thing of the BBS is really a lot of bunk. I can shave with an electric razor and have a BBS shave but 4 hours later stubble begins to appear. I can get it with a DE and 15 hours later stubble begins to appear. I can shave with a straight and have a few areas that are not BBS but the next day the stubble is only first beginning to appear. So the moral of the story is the straight gives you the best shave and BBS is not a test of a great shave.

And same thing here....I love spending time with my straights,but when I get up late on a work day and need a good shave,my DE is a big help. I can maneuver a bit better with my DE as well. I agree as well with the BBS comment. Glad to hear I'm not the only one with these experiences,Thanks guys!

I enjoy a DE shave as well as a Str8. I started shaving about 35 years ago with a DE that my Dad gave me. I was not knew to DE when I started using them again few years ago. When time is an issue, the DE is faster and provides a very nice shave. I think the big difference is that when I use a Str8 I go slower and take more time. I also tend to stretch the skin more to get those angles that are difficult. I think if I took the time with the DE, I would get as close a shave as I do with a Str8. My wife can tell when I've not used a Str8 when she touches my cheeks. I think the big comparison comes into the fact that everyone has different thickness whiskers, different growth patterns different angles on their face and I am damn good lookin!!
I enjoy them both. When I'm tired or in a rush, I use a DE and get a really nice shave. Just my 2cents