Thread: My First DE Shave

I like them , both, but prefer my Jon Engstrom Red Devil straight.
The shaves are a little closer with the DE, because I can go ATG on a third pass; I never go ATG with a straight, I only need 2 passes WTG with a straight for a close smooth shave.

My stropping technique has improved a little and I tried my hand at honing, successfully I might add (though there is great room for improvement), so my straights are now fairly sharp. I guess with further SR experience my shaves will get closer. But, for right now, the DE has them beat in closeness of shave. A little while back I turned the bathroom fan off and was better able to hear the DE blade slicing the whiskers so by adjusting the razor angle for maximum slicing noise my shaves got a lot closer!

Good luck with both your SR and DE shaving!

Jim

Glad to hear it's working out for ya. Good stuff. I've experimented quite a bit with blade longevity, sometimes to extremes. I've gotten as many as 15 shaves from one Stainless DE blade. I think it was a Vidyut Super Max. Anyway, I only do 2 passes: one with the grin, one directly against. Maybe that's part of it?

That was when I was in my "saving money" stage. Now I just like the good shaves and usually toss 'em after 5 shaves with DEs, 7 shaves with SEs, and 7 to 10 with injectors. Blades are cheap, why worry?

Hirlau, don't give up on ATG passes with the straight. I wasn't getting truly GREAT shaves with a straight until I started doing ATG with one. Wow!! Just go slow, lay that razor almost flat to start, and make sure your lather is quite wet and slick.

Have a wonderful time!

John

I've got an Astra Super Platinum in my Gillette now, on the second shave. I'm going to keep it in there until I feel a difference, then let you know the count. I'm the kind of person who hates to waste anything,,,amatuer Hoarder in the making.

I remove the blade after each shave, dry, then clean the Gillette, then dry the Gillette & replace the blade. I think I might be over doing the experience. Heck, I can clean & strop my straight in less time.

I'm right there with you. Clean and dry, I even store the blade in my "shave tool" box (and old oak tool box with felt lined drawers) with a "die" by it so I can count the number of shaves that particular blade is on. It's so quick compared to straights, why wouldn't I?

I keep an old tooth brush handy too for the back side of the head on a TTO, that way there's no build up. Three piece razors I just take apart, rinse and dry.

John