Does your shave last longer with a straight than with other methods?
I have heard this multiple times, that your shave lasts longer with a straight than with other types of razors. I have even had a friend tell me that his barber cuts his hair with a straight razor and it stays short longer. Can anyone verify if this is really true and explain the science behind this?
Does your shave last longer with a straight than with other methods?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
pathology101
The skin looks better I guess you could say, the DE razor skin looks good but different. .
A SR, in addition to shaving the hairs off your face, exfoliates the skin. The exfoliating is what makes your skin quality look better as ever time you shave new skin is being exposed.
Does your shave last longer with a straight than with other methods?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
UKRob
I'd be interested in the science behind this - or is it maybe a little PapaBullShine?
This is why I don't post on forums any more. People are too quick to belittle others, often without knowing anything about them.
A straight razor can be used to shave more closely because, when the edge is just right and the angle is right, it presses into the skin, which gives way and let's the razor catch the hair below the surface of the follicle. The skin gives way before it's downward pressure and the hair is caught quite deeply. The "safety" part of the safety razor prevents it from grabbing that deeply. The "safety" is a bit of a compromise. It made the whole process a little easier. Better? That's what people still debate and, hopefully, respectfully.
Now if you removed that safety limitation from a safety razor, you could do the same thing. But then it wouldn't be a safety razor.
The safety razor has a built-in limitation that the straight does not and that explained that mystery sufficiently to me.
Does your shave last longer with a straight than with other methods?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RobinK
This might help explain why the mythical effects of shaving with a cut-throat razor, especially one forged and ground in the US, are only being observed in said US. And not anywhere else on this planet.
Well, since I am not omniscient, I can't say what people do or do not observe across the entire world but since you seem to have such knowledge, I'll just take your word for it. :).
Of course, the fact that I found this out before I ground my first razor so many years ago would seem to belie your theory here, but can't argue with omniscience like yours. :D
Does your shave last longer with a straight than with other methods?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
decraew
I've never did this type of experiment - as far as I'm concerned there's way too many variables involved, and I do not have a decent laboratory.
(At a tangent, it always amazes me that one of the SR shaving brethren can take a new product, test it once or twice, and is immediately able to say how good or bad it is, as I said: too many variables).
But it does not seem very logical to me that there would be a marked difference in how long your skin stays smooth.
Even if it's correct that with a straight you go below the skin and therefore you cut off more beard hair, what is cut off additionally should be very very small and unless there's a difference in speed of beard hair growth depending on what you use for a razor, it doesn't make sence that the difference would be noticeable.
I think it's more likely a difference due to technique.
So much of shaving takes place at the microscopic level that people can believe pretty much whatever they want. That's why so many people rave about Gold Dollars.
I think all one who is really curious has to do is press a razor to the skin and see how deeply it presses into the skin without cutting skin... And then putting aside their preconceived notions and focus more on WHAT is right than the all-important issue of WHO is right..... And then one might see that a safety razor does not behave in the same fashion. It is, by design, intended to float along the surface of the skin and the depth is VERY limited mechanically.
This is why it isn't unreasonable to assume that the fixed angle of the blade and depth pressure of a safety razor just MIGHT NOT be the perfect setting for all skin, all beards, all people, all directions, all the time.
Spokeshaves vs hand planes. Hand engraving vs machine engraving. Same/same? People either get it or they don't and it's not so important as to be worth more argumentation. :)
I'd like to thank everyone that respectfully and logically cleared up all my misconceptions about this with their well-reasoned explanations. :)
Does your shave last longer with a straight than with other methods?
I propose that you'd rather assert that you are right and I am silly than actually think about what I actually said. And that's your prerogative, so it's all good.
That's why man created safety razors. Because no hand can match the precision of a machine. That's why all the best race car drivers choose automatic transmissions.
Christian humility is an awesome thing to behold. ;) [/sarcasm]
Ten years of experience. Oh my! Welcome to the straight razor shaving world, Newbie. :). I was a member of this forum years before you even thought about shaving with a straight razor, so the logical fallacy appeal to (self) authority falls a little flat. ;)
I still remember the same sort of endless pissing contests on SRP when it was nothing but a fledgling yahoo user group. (Hats off to Lynn!) Damn, I feel old.
Does your shave last longer with a straight than with other methods?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RobinK
The razor must be Joel's Chronik.
To answer your actual question, a vintage single edge will give you the closest and longest lasting shave. Failing that, a double edge razor will do.
You know, I tend to agree with you about the single edge (although the vintage stipulation is somewhat puzzling). Why do you think a single edge (as opposed to the double edge) gives the closest longest lasting shaves? What are the key elements and science behind it? Or is it just your gut feeling(?), which is OK, too.
Seems we both believe the same thing about what shaves closest, so we must only be quibbling about why, so tell us your theory about why a single edge razor shaves closer than a double edge or any other safety razor. :). You have obviously given it much thought, so I was hoping you could share what you learned.