Thread: Straight and DE clean up; a crutch? Or acceptable?

I do another interesting game of razor roulette -- I shave with a SR, 2 1/2 passes usually, then I lather with what's left in the brush and water quickly, then do my whole face quickly with a DE. I then put the stopper in the sink, and fill it with a little water.

As I go through the DE finishing pass, I listen to the DE for signs of spots I might have been less than perfect with the SR. As I go along I rinse the DE in the standing water. At the end, when I drain, I check to see what "whisker residue" I have rinsed from the DE. It used to be a fair amount. Now after 15 months and well over 200 SR shaves it's almost zero. I will give up this test soon

Originally Posted by EdHutton

Tell me about the smaller SR you are using please? That would make the shave much easier. As you know it really is just a clearance problem, I can get the top 2/3rds or so of my neck sideways with no problem. The bottom is just a lot of light touch and finesse with the toe of the blade. Sometimes is works perfectly and sometimes not.

Best,

Ed

Does someone make a shorty?

Yes, Hart makes one for Classic each time they release the Customs

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I do another interesting game of razor roulette -- I shave with a SR, 2 1/2 passes usually, then I lather with what's left in the brush and water quickly, then do my whole face quickly with a DE. I then put the stopper in the sink, and fill it with a little water.

At the end, when I drain, I check to see what "whisker residue" I have rinsed from the DE. It used to be a fair amount. Now after 15 months and well over 200 SR shaves it's almost zero. I will give up this test soon

Thanks! I love these diagnostic ideas! Using the DE as a quality control check on your SR shaving! Fantastic!

Best,

Ed

In the end it's about shaving. Sure, some people may have a philosophical thing around the implement, but despite the love of the hobby a lot of us are pragmatic shavers. If tidying up with a DE is what you do, it's what you do. You're not the first and you won't be the last.

Depending on how you go with straights, you'll might transition away from the DE cleanup at some stage. But that's up to you. Take your time, do it your own way, push your boundaries and see where it leads you.

James.

Jimbo makes an excellent point. I have, in fact, stopped doing my DE "test cleanup" when I know I got a DFS.