"Modern" SR shaver?

Let me preface this by saying I am someone who has no problem accepting when a given piece of technology has become obsolete, but also values tradition and has found that sometimes new technology needs to be carefully evaluated to Be sure it doesn't create more problems than it solves. Essentially, I'm always looking to combine the best of the old and the new. With that said:

A bit over a year into my SR experience, and I have found that what works for me is a Feather AC, a synthetic brush, and skipping the mug by face lathering with shaving cream. While I will lwayse keep a couple of traditional straights, a mug, and a badger brush, and use them every now and then for kicks, the combo above seems like it combines all the best elements of the old and the new: the great shaves of an SR, real lather and wonderful feel of the brush on your skin, freedom from the tyranny of cartridges, with vastly simplified maintenance for both blade and brush, and much faster lathering. Thus I think of myself as a a "modernized" SR shaver.

With the understanding that traditional wet shaving is all about the experience, and that everyone should use the tools that make them happy, I'm curious if anyone else has arrived at a similar place as I have.
Thanks!

Oh, now your banned for life!
Just kidding.
What makes you happy in this old way of shaving is your choice. If your not into using a straight every day, your not alone. We have some that use a DE or SE more often than a straight. When you find what works for you is always better than doing whats wrong for your personnal reasons or likes.

Now, im never picking up anything besides a straight unless my hands wont hold one safely or if i have to travel by plane with a carry-on, then i will use a DE. But to each there own.

Not a thing wrong with using what works best for you or combining old with new tech to get to that place.

Bob

Everyone can do whatever they want, it's just shaving after all.

I don't see why anyone would give someone else grieve for something that works for them, of course plenty people do on the internetz, but they tend to be snobs among other things; and I don't see many of them around here.

Find your jam and roll with it, to each his own

I for one am also a fan of oldschool tools combined with modern technology

Shaving with a straight razor should never be done in a rush. It’s too pleasant a ritual to waste (and maybe a tad dangerous if you aren’t paying attention). I use a DE when I’m in a hurry or travelling by air and unable to bring my straight and I never feel guilty.

I feel guilty using a DE because i'm afraid my Straights will find out and have their feelings hurt.

I agree completely about the rushing thing, which is one of the reasons I like being able to cut down on maintenance time; it allows me to spend more time in the morning focusing on the actual shaving

You will know when you are shaving properly because you will enjoy the process and have a close clean and comfortable shave.

One quick follow up, I want to say that the reason I like the Feather isn't just the reduced maintenance; I also just find that it gives me the most consistently awesome shave with the least amount of irritation. As far as I can tell, for my face sharper is better, and all the stars have to really be aligned for a traditional Straight To have that kind a edge.

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Originally Posted by FoliageFace

One quick follow up, I want to say that the reason I like the Feather isn't just the reduced maintenance; I also just find that it gives me the most consistently awesome shave with the least amount of irritation. As far as I can tell, for my face sharper is better, and all the stars have to really be aligned for a traditional Straight To have that kind a edge.

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All the stars dont have to be aligned, you just need to have the right guy honing your straight. I had a guy honing my blades who had no idea how to do it, and it was not fun. After having Outback hone one, I know what a sharp blade really is.

Interesting and thought-provoking post!

I think you've 'curated' the very best of efficient modern technology with a traditional feel.

I'm a huge fan of Feather blades-I've shaved with their DE blades since they were released into the US market as well as the Artist Club in SE razors (also the FHS for the OneBlade). Phenomenal blades.

A synthetic brush? As much as I hate to admit it, the modern ones can just conquer any soap no matter how finicky.

And a good cream is a joy.

Having said all of that, there are so many ways to enjoy this hobby. I sometimes LIKE the challenge of a dense badger brush and a triple-milled soap. I think it's very cool that I shaved this morning with a blade that was in use during Civil War times. I've come to enjoy the various rituals like stropping. I enjoy the challenge of honing, although I've only begun acquiring skills in that area.

All of that takes time and attention, of course-luxuries in this day and age. Great fun, too.

You've winnowed it down to gear that takes little to no maintenance (synthetics dry so quickly, no honing or stropping of a Feather AC, etc.) while keeping the aesthetic, if you will, of a traditional straight razor shave. Very cool merging of the old and new.

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Originally Posted by MichaelPz

Interesting and thought-provoking post!

I think you've 'curated' the very best of efficient modern technology with a traditional feel.

I'm a huge fan of Feather blades-I've shaved with their DE blades since they were released into the US market as well as the Artist Club in SE razors (also the FHS for the OneBlade). Phenomenal blades.

A synthetic brush? As much as I hate to admit it, the modern ones can just conquer any soap no matter how finicky.

And a good cream is a joy.

Having said all of that, there are so many ways to enjoy this hobby. I sometimes LIKE the challenge of a dense badger brush and a triple-milled soap. I think it's very cool that I shaved this morning with a blade that was in use during Civil War times. I've come to enjoy the various rituals like stropping. I enjoy the challenge of honing, although I've only begun acquiring skills in that area.

All of that takes time and attention, of course-luxuries in this day and age. Great fun, too.

You've winnowed it down to gear that takes little to no maintenance (synthetics dry so quickly, no honing or stropping of a Feather AC, etc.) while keeping the aesthetic, if you will, of a traditional straight razor shave. Very cool merging of the old and new.

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I do enjoy the history and tradition as well, and when I have the time, I really enjoy busting out my Vintage Straights, badger brush, soap puck and mug. A big part of trying to minimize maintenance is a time issue: I'm a new dad, and due to a odd set of circumstances, am also basically working 2 full-time jobs at the moment. So if I want to keep SR at all, I needed to find the least time-consuming way to do it;-)

I prefer using a straight to a DE but often I use a DE when I lack the time or am just not feeling fully able to appreciate the straight, poor attention and straight shaving are a bad combination.
As to bowl or face lather it depends on so much, what soap/cream I am using, how much time I have, is it raining? evening/daytime, moon phase etc etc.
I only have a boar and a couple of badger brushes. The boar I keep in my Dopp bag and the other two I use depending on which one I happen to grab first. I cant claim to notice any real differences between them. Actually come to think of it I do have a synthetic that I dont use but that is because it is HUGE! I mean this thig was made for Andre the giants hands. It is rather unweildy in my human sized paws so it sits on the shelf like a pagan idol and keeping the other brushes from getting out of line

I have a friend that can shave with a straight razor in 10 minutes or less before going to work.

It takes me about an hour to shave though as I am very meticulous.

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Originally Posted by AnglesMatter

I have a friend that can shave with a straight razor in 10 minutes or less before going to work.

It takes me about an hour to shave though as I am very meticulous.

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That's about right, if I'm in a hurry, face lather, quick strop and I can be perfectly shaved and out the door in 10 minutes....I find now using a DE makes more mess and take more time for me to shave...LOL.

But I shave at night, so I can chillax, take my time and pick the razor I want, the soap I want, and get a nice warm scuttle so the lather is nice and warm.

Works out well in my family, after dinner, wife grabs her bath, I do my shave, having said that, she can have a bath and be sitting back downstairs in like 5 minutes...I like to take my time a bit more, but lately I've been getting, "Hurry up, or I'll turn the show on without you....!" lol

"Hurry up, or I'll turn the show on without you....!" lol

That sounds fun! You should shave slower next time to see if she keeps her word. :popcorn:

Gentlemen,

The Feather Artist Club is a marvelous razor. I use it from time to time, not because I don't like stropping, or find maintaining my traditional straight razors a chore; rather, I use it because it is a superb shaver. What's more, after using top line badger brushes for years (Wiborg, Thater, Simpson, etc.), I use strictly synthetic brushes.

As for shaving fast because we're short on time, no, not me. NO! I get up a little early, in that case, to have the time to fully enjoy my shave. That means creating lather in my scuttle, spending time lathering, because I find it the best part of the shave, and then taking my sweet time with my razor, whether a straight, AC or safety.

For me, traditional shaving, and seven days a week, is one of life's greatest joys. I am not about to rush it. I prefer to savor it, as I would a great meal and a bottle of wine.

I fade away in the shave den for about an hour every day. For me, everything stops in that hour except for my shave and my thoughts. That's what's so sweet about traditional shaving and taking your time with it.

Obie,

That was very enjoyable to read. I am up for a shave myself today and I am looking forward to it.

I use both modern and old technology in straight razors. I have one Dovo in the rotation (modern day) and the rest are from the early 20th and late 19th Century. I try to get as close to what "they would have done" in those days, but unfortunately it's not always possible. I do enjoy a nice hot lather straight razor shave. I don't shave every day, but about every two days. I often find myself wondering what and how many hones the barbers had and used in the early 20th century to get keen edges? I like being tied to the past in this fashion but with the modern day conveniences.

It looks like I'll be doing the same thing. My Dovo is from 2009 and unless I buy that Dovo "En Vogue" I probably won't buy any newly-made straight razors.

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Originally Posted by MrZ

All the stars dont have to be aligned, you just need to have the right guy honing your straight. I had a guy honing my blades who had no idea how to do it, and it was not fun. After having Outback hone one, I know what a sharp blade really is.

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I have to say that has not been my experience. I have had several high quality razors honed by several reputable honemeisters, and while those blades have undoubtedly been quite keen, and given good shaves, very rarely have I had one match a fresh Feather blade. The Feathers just glide in a way that I only very rarely get from a traditional straight. If you have a feather, try putting in a fresh blade, and and skim your arm hair at a few millimeters above the skin; when I do this, I don't even feel the hairs get cut, they just fall away. Not trying to dog on traditional blades, I love my straights, but I do think that Feather blades are a level of sharpnes that is very difficult to achieve in a traditional blade; And while I totally understand that sharpness doesn't always equate to smoothness, for my beard I generally find that the sharper, the better.

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Originally Posted by FoliageFace

I have to say that has not been my experience. I have had several high quality razors honed by several reputable honemeisters, and while those blades have undoubtedly been quite keen, and given good shaves, very rarely have I had one match a fresh Feather blade. The Feathers just glide in a way that I only very rarely get from a traditional straight. If you have a feather, try putting in a fresh blade, and and skim your arm hair at a few millimeters above the skin; when I do this, I don't even feel the hairs get cut, they just fall away. Not trying to dog on traditional blades, I love my straights, but I do think that Feather blades are a level of sharpnes that is very difficult to achieve in a traditional blade; And while I totally understand that sharpness doesn't always equate to smoothness, for my beard I generally find that the sharper, the better.

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It is funny how different people can have such a different experience. Feather blades are my blade of choice. I have tried many different DE blades and persona blue and feathers are my preferred DE blades. However, I have found that my best straights are not only as sharp delivering a shave result just as smooth as my feather blades but also with much much less irritation. I dread using my DE and shavette now but will still use them once in a while in memory of my Sister but that’s it.
It also takes me just a few minutes to get a beautiful shave complete with maintenance. So you can see there are different results for different people. You just have to find your OWN way and enjoy it.

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Originally Posted by Steel

It is funny how different people can have such a different experience. Feather blades are my blade of choice. I have tried many different DE blades and persona blue and feathers are my preferred DE blades. However, I have found that my best straights are not only as sharp delivering a shave result just as smooth as my feather blades but also with much much less irritation. I dread using my DE and shavette now but will still use them once in a while in memory of my Sister but that’s it.
It also takes me just a few minutes to get a beautiful shave complete with maintenance. So you can see there are different results for different people. You just have to find your OWN way and enjoy it.

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Actually can I don't think our experience is that different: I have found Feather DE blades to be quite irritating, as well; however, the shavette blades are very non-irritating. I suspect, however, that it has as much to do with technique as anything; blades that sharp are pretty unforgiving of unnecessary pressure or the wrong angles.

Edit: I realized after the fact that this post could be interpreted as a saying "you have bad technique" in a veiled way. That was not the intention at all: I meant more to say that I have bad technique with a DE, which probably contributes to me finding the Feather blades harsh. And I certainly have had my fair share of nicks with my Artist Club as well!

I find my straights will actually pop the tips of my arm hair right off. Perhaps they aren’t quite as sharp as a new Feather but they do get extremely close