Have you quit for a time?

Recently I shaved the “old” way. No, not with a straight or a safety razor, I shaved with a cartridge razor. I will admit to using the better cream I have now become accustomed to. I did the one pass I used to perform. I spent the day wishing I had not attempted this shave. I kept touching my face in disbelief and the amount of stubble I could feel. I normally perform a two and a quarter to two and a half pass shave with a straight daily with the same passes on Sunday with a Double Edge. I do not get hung up on BBS but rather CCS or Close Comfortable Shave.

If you have quit using a straight or Safety razor what made you want to quit?


When you returned what brought you back?

No,,, not yet

Not since converted.

For a few years, maybe 2010-13, I put down the SR and went all DE. But the only time I've cartridge shaved since 2006 is occasionally when stranded traveling.

I sometimes consider doing it as an experiment, but never do.

Are you saying the shave with the cart was good or that it left a lot of stubble?

Bob

I still use a cartridge razor sometimes, when I'm in a real hurry or just plain lazy. Don't know about the other brands or types but my Mach 3 gives me a very close, comfortable shave. However I don't find shaving with that razor nearly as fun as using one of my straight razors.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobH

Are you saying the shave with the cart was good or that it left a lot of stubble?

Bob

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Compared to my shave with a straight or DE it felt like I had not shaved at all. I looked presentable but felt the stubble left behind when I would touch my face.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JTmke

Compared to my shave with a straight or DE it felt like I had not shaved at all. I looked presentable but felt the stubble left behind when I would touch my face.

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OK, I understand now. The only time I use a twinblade disposable cart razor is when I fly on vacation. No real complaints with those twinblade disposables as they don't leave a massive amount of stubble behind. They do not provide me with as close or comfortable a shave as with a straight or DE but presentable none the less. So I only relapse when I have to and that has not been frequently lately.

Bob

I did start in my late teens and early twenties with a straight, but oddly enough I got ribbed about it quite a bit, and had a hard time finding good soap, way pre internet. Also during the years I was not using my straight razor I sported a beard a lot. Fast forward twenty some years and I am required to be clean shaven, so the straight came out of hiding. At this age nobody really cares how I shave.

Yep, I posted about not using a straight fo 3 mos. not to long ago,used all D.E.
Two weeks on Maui for my Daughters wedding, two weeks up in Wash state with the wife.
I don't travel with My straights, strops etc,than a month of screaming hot weather in my town,my face will not tolorate using a straight when I am out in 110 deg heat all day.

See my SOTD this week :)
first time in ages I haven't used a straight. It wasn't a terrible shave, i had no irritation etc but none the less it was not special. In the interests of science I also used my wife's shaving creme, it smelled ok. Wouldn't hurry to do it again but wouldn't care if I had to.

I was 16 and was watching my grandfather shave with his straight. He handed it to me and said get that peach fuzz off yur face. ( He was Old Order Amish and I was too young to have facial hair by their religious beliefs) So I attempted a shave. OMG, what a bloody mess. I never picked one up again until a year ago even though I always wanted too. Now that's all I use

When in a hurry, I sometimes use a DE... I even used my leftover M3 cartridges this year as I was often too busy for anything else.

The verdict:
-M3 is fastest but the stubble comes back way too fast
-DE is fast but the stubble is visible in the same day
-SR is a tad slower but it gives me the longest stubble-free time... so good that I can actually shave in the evening and look decent during office hours

Because I travel a lot, and carry on, I get to go back to the way of the Cart more than I care to.
I cling to everything else, taking a brush and either a shave stick or a small container of something (the current is Tabac Creme)

It is quick, but the amount of stubble 12 hours out is a surprise - as in "did I forget to shave?"

So I get more than enough forced breaks away from the Straight thank you very much...

Yes....I was getting way too handsome, that's why I had to stop. Been growing a beard for the last two months ;)
Seriously, I've only used a Cart, a few times since I've switched to straight razors and DE's

Yeah... these past few months my arthritic right shoulder has been "difficult", and I've almost completely abandoned straight-razor shaves; of course, the problems with "upstrokes" when using SE and DE safety razors are no less of an issue; and, as a result, I've been shaving twice-a-week... sometimes only once.

Yeah I quit for years, when I had no clue.
Came back to it when I started to understand honing.

I haven't used a cartridge since I converted to DE and now straight. I imagine I would get the same shave but not just as much fun.

I'm foregoing shaving during deer season to keep my face warm. I won't be shaving till I get three more deer or till the season ends, whichever comes first. I got a beautiful brush and bowl from Ray (Walleyeman) at the KC meet-up and I can't even use them yet!

I have gone for rather long periods without shaving with a straight, but it was never because I went back to a cartridge. I cannot ever see myself doing that.

Same here. I'll be fighting for my straight in the nursing home!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JTmke

Recently I shaved the “old” way. No, not with a straight or a safety razor, I shaved with a cartridge razor. I will admit to using the better cream I have now become accustomed to. I did the one pass I used to perform. I spent the day wishing I had not attempted this shave. I kept touching my face in disbelief and the amount of stubble I could feel. I normally perform a two and a quarter to two and a half pass shave with a straight daily with the same passes on Sunday with a Double Edge. I do not get hung up on BBS but rather CCS or Close Comfortable Shave.

If you have quit using a straight or Safety razor what made you want to quit?


When you returned what brought you back?

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My worst experiences were with multiblade razors, and I wanted an alternative to those and electric razors for 40 years. Getting a safety razor was like face candy. Straight razors had a sharp learning for me but my desire to master it was so strong that I persevered until I prevailed. After 4 1/2 years it is still a treat to have a face that feels good after shaving.

I could never go back, but a while ago I did a review on the new Gillette pro glide power here
I just wanted to try and see if what I had learnt from SRP about proper prep and shaving would make much difference to the end result, and it did, but I just enjoy using a straight razor too much now. I never once recall enjoying a shave when I used a cartridge razor.

I've only been shaving with a straight for about 9-10 months, and in that time I did go back to the cartridge razor while on a cruise... I didn't want to risk using the straight while being rocked by waves, or in such a cramped washroom with barely any counter space.

Looking in to the future, I'll be going back to school for a post-grad starting in January, and I expect I'll be very busy with long days of studying and homework. I'm not sure yet if I'll choose to sleep an extra 15 minutes in the morning and just shave with a cartridge razor.

From the day I put a straight razor to my face I have never going to anything else. However the days between shaves has fluctuated quite a bit :p

Not working for a year plus has left me with a rather long goatee (with no intent on cutting it yet) but I still shave the cheeks. I'm on my last puck of Colleens soap.... beginning to panic a little....

Nothing shaves me better and more comfortably than a straight razor. It's like having a barber at home that never quits. :D

Sadly, I have quit for quite a few months now. The reason -- all of my razors need sharpening and I still haven't mastered the process. I've thought of sending them out but I refuse to give up. I'm still working on it and I'm confident that one of these days, I'll put down the hones, test the blade and say, "Ah! Shave ready!"

Is there anyone near you that can help you out with your honing?

Having started in my 20s I quit for years and only returned recently after 20 years away. I reckon razor care was the issue - I think my stropping was ok but I didn't know about honing. I didn't have much info and my fritz Bracht dovo dulled and I didn't know what to do next.

The journey now is much easier - SRP has been a huge help...

I have had a tough time with straights, I went to a shavette for a while and now for the last 3 or 4 months have just used my old DE exclusively. Hopefully one day I'll find some local help and get my straights properly honed, until then I'm greatly enjoying the DE with a cheap boar brush. I have not ever gone back to a cartridge, but I did try one of the new 5 blade things because it was free at a local store promotion. It did not impress me, I love my $2 thrift store DE with Arko,Proraso, La Toja, or CO Bigelow. I got into this to save money but stayed for many other reasons. Shaving is for the most part a pleasant ritual instead of something to be completed as quickly as possible.

I haven't stopped yet but how much of my face I shave has varied. I shave everyday but since having a beard about a month it's just the next and high cheeks.

I occasionally stop using a str8 and use my safety razors. Usually it is because of time issues but sometimes its because I just want the change. I like both but always go back to the str8 after 2 or 3 times using the safety razors.

I've been wet shaving for over 52 years. The first 51 1/2 were with either a Fat Boy or a Slim which I purchased new in 1962 and 1964. I then shaved with a Cobra for six months, and for the past nine months have shaved with a straight. I've never shaved with a cart. So no, I haven't stopped because I never started.

I used to do a quick pass with my crappy electric every few days just for speed, not for the shave, obviously. Then do a full SR shave when I had more time. Then for about 9-10mo. last year I grew out my full beard with no trimming except for the mustache. But when I finally decided to shave, I went back to only SR shaves.

I quit every morning and regret it until the next morning!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JTmke

Recently I shaved the “old” way. No, not with a straight or a safety razor, I shaved with a cartridge razor. I will admit to using the better cream I have now become accustomed to. I did the one pass I used to perform. I spent the day wishing I had not attempted this shave. I kept touching my face in disbelief and the amount of stubble I could feel. I normally perform a two and a quarter to two and a half pass shave with a straight daily with the same passes on Sunday with a Double Edge. I do not get hung up on BBS but rather CCS or Close Comfortable Shave.

If you have quit using a straight or Safety razor what made you want to quit?


When you returned what brought you back?

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NEVAH !!!!!! It's like cheating on your wife....

I have not regretted a straight-shave as I began. Even the bad shaves! A few vintage cheats, but never a mutli-blade!
I suppose it helps as I never never used one. Occasional SE or DE, but that is all.

Dear God no. I used to travel with a safety razor. But I've even stopped using a safety razor for travel. I strop a few razors prior to leaving and only use them once per blade while I'm there. That with an Arko shave stick and I don't miss a beat.