Thread: is it harsh?

Originally Posted by petrakos

straight razor users cannot accept that a DE industrial blade is way sharper than even the best hand honed straight edge ...

wow. and do you care to tell us how you came to this "fact"?!








You've clearly misunderstood the entire purpose of SR shaving. It's not a "sharpness" contest (giggle). It's about smooth, close, and comfortable, as well as the process.

Gents, no need to get personal. We're just talking about shaving here.

This sport is personified by the clique ...... YMMV ........ (your mileage may vary) Some of us may find a straight razor shave more comfortable, others a DE. Name your poison. I cannot comment on anyone's shaving experience, with any accuracy, but my own.

When I first began shaving with straight razors, and the average shave took 45 minutes, I found it very discouraging. I persevered and finally became expert, if I do say so myself, and a shave might take 15 minutes, if that. I like my Merkur 137C slant with a feather blade for days where I'm running late to church, or wherever, but my firm favorite shave implement is the straight razor. YMMV.

Anyone for Ford or Chevy,Ginger or MaryAnn? Really when you think about it, it's about the same thing. I shave with a little bit of everything (Shavette, DE, SE, Straight Razor) I've found that which I prefer depends. Recently with school and work, I had a long stretch that I just didn't have the time to properly maintain my straights, so I did a very long stretch of replaceable blade stuff (DE and Shavettes mostly). That lasted several months and of course I got some great shaves. Eventually, I began to miss the ritual of straight shaving so I gradually started bringing my straights back on line. Once I had four or five back to giving really good shaves, I noticed I used the DE and Shavettes less and less. Does that mean a straight is by definition better than a DE or Shavette? NO, just better right now. Eventually, I'll get back to them but at the moment I'm enjoying my straights. Admittedly I"m a bit of a razor whore. I know guys who will absolutely use nothing but a straight, or nothing but a DE or nothing but a shavette. It's a very personal choice and at least in my case is a product of time and just mood. I just don't plan it that far in advance, it might be three more months before I touch a shavette, or I might go in tomorrow morning, look at my Merkur 37C and say, "It's been a while since I used that, I think I'll give it a go. Just because you may prefer one or the other, there's certainly no need to get ugly about it. Shave with what works. You can bet that's what everyone else is doing. Who really cares if I'm on a DE kick at the moment and you happen to prefer a straight? If you don't like one type or the other don't use it, that doesn't mean someone else can't use it. This is where I'm at with the Ford, Chevy debate. I've owned nothing but Fords for about the last 25 years. I've always just had good luck with them and I like them. That doesn't mean you have to like them. I wouldn't give $10 for a parking lot full of Chevys. You might feel the same way about Fords, who cares?

Very different animals, an aggressive DE will give more razor burn if used with too much pressure but will probably not cut your face unless you do something really wrong, with a straight you are in complete control of blade angle but it comes with much more danger of cutting yourself. Personally I haven't ever had burn from a straight in about 5 years, that's not the case with a DE

Originally Posted by buzzhave7

Hello everyone, I'm a newbie to wet shaving and I have a lot questions. Is aggressive DE is equivalent to a straight razor shave?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Gents, no need to get personal. We're just talking about shaving here.

This sport is personified by the clique ...... YMMV ........ (your mileage may vary) Some of us may find a straight razor shave more comfortable, others a DE. Name your poison. I cannot comment on anyone's shaving experience, with any accuracy, but my own.

When I first began shaving with straight razors, and the average shave took 45 minutes, I found it very discouraging. I persevered and finally became expert, if I do say so myself, and a shave might take 15 minutes, if that. I like my Merkur 137C slant with a feather blade for days where I'm running late to church, or wherever, but my firm favorite shave implement is the straight razor. YMMV.

Totally agree does it really matter in the whole scheme of things whether you think DE or straight is the best, I enjoy both, depends on the mood, but let's no get overheated about it, there are more important things in life.

To be perfectly clear: I attacked no person.

I attacked (by poking fun) a notion presented as irrefutable fact and asked for some evidence supporting such conclusion. There is a big difference.

I did go further and include the person and how he may have confused sharpness for "everything there is". But this is all in good sport to help, if not that person, others who may be open to the ideas that I have learned both from this forum, forum archives, outside research, and also from personal experience.

I also do note that their may be language translation issues, such that he may have interpreted my words differently than intended or that his may be presented imprecisely in a 2nd or 3rd or 4th language.

No offense was meant, but eyebrows were supposed to be raised. I assume those who have studied sharpness and smoothness and industrial processes WRT the razors edge simply chose to ignore the comments.

I wasn't so smart. Apologies to those offended.

Sharpness DOESN'T equal comfort. Having had a blade honed on a Shapton, it was not a comfortable shave (for me), but dropping down to the ZULU, it was considerably easier on my face. I think alot of the decision comes to wanting the nastalgia of old world shaving; that's why I started using a straight.

In Christ
SB

ok my two cents , I have shaved with a DE for 45 years. I think I have it mastered, I came over to straights for the nostalgia part, so I may not be an expert with the straights but I,m pretty darn good with the DE. yes the blades are extremely sharp , I use feathers, and sometimes the Gillette greens, depends on the razor I use. I can get a baby butt smooth shave , but it does take more passes which translate to more irritation. with my straights this is not the case , so I will agree that the DE blades are sharper than most straights, and I say most because I have a Kinfolks that Glen honed that is scary sharp. but sharp and smooth is two different beasts, and my shaves with a straight last as long or longer than my DE shaves do without the same irritation to get that close. so it is what you like , not what anyone else likes ,, so there it is have a great day gents tc

Maybe I've gotten intellectually lost in this thread, but I thought the question of the OP was about harshness, not sharpness. They are two different things. One is an impression or opinion or sensation; the other is a fact. What is harsh for my son who has a 23 year old face that he's only been shaving for 8 years might not feel harsh to my 65 year old face, that has dealt with a sharp edge almost every day for 50 years. Sharp, on the other hand is measurable.

To give the OP my one, straight direct answer....for me, with my face and my technique, a SR is less harsh a shave (and closer, when I do it well) than a DE...no matter the blade brand or aggressiveness of the razor.

Threads dead, I get it you like DE blade. Tc