Thread: Straights alongside shavettes

I take and use my Feather DX folding shavette when I travel for convenience. When home I use straights or my Merkur Futur or Mongoose. The Mongoose will give you an extremely close shave,

Originally Posted by beluga

Of course, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion.

I find most shavettes (with the possible exception of the Feather AC and similar designs) only substitutes for a straight razor that do not convey the pleasure of a straight shave.

After the straight shave, I prefer to do any necessary clean-up with the straight I have been using. I know my face by now well enough that I know where the trouble spots are and can judge the quality of my shave (and any possible need for some touch-up) while my face is still wet and straight razor and shaving loaded brush are still handy.

I am too lazy to clean a straight razor and straight razor substitute afterwards.


B.


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This is about where I'm at with it. Then again, I don't have a job that requires I be clean shaven at all times so if I would be in a rush or don't have time to shave - I don't. I've also become much more proficient with time and shaving with a straight takes about as much time as using a disposable used to.

I've thought about getting something else, a DE or a shavette, for many reasons. And someday I might just to sate that natural curiosity. "What does this feel like?" But for now, the more hands-on time I have with a straight the better and I've come to the conclusion that to get any better with it than I already am, I need to narrow it down to just 1 or 2 blades and use only those. Otherwise I'll forever be touching up less than satisfactory spots and lighting my face up with razor burn from time to time.

Originally Posted by Marshal

Otherwise I'll forever be touching up less than satisfactory spots and lighting my face up with razor burn from time to time.

I've been quite lucky. I have done a lot of touching up with the SR and as long as my edge is well maintained, my razor burn is minimal. I guess my face has done well at adapting to the SR. If course, the Aveeno moisturizing cream applied after my post shave balm also may have something to do with it.

Originally Posted by donaldjr1969

I'd say about 99% of the time, that's what I do. However, there has been a couple times where I have been in a hurry (although I NEVER hurry the shave itself) and I get the razor dried and post-shave stropped (10/10 passes to clean the edge). My WH has already been applied but when I put on the balm, that's when I seem to notice it.

When that happens, I just leave it and get on with the day. Not worth going back for a little roughness.

Originally Posted by donaldjr1969

I've been quite lucky. I have done a lot of touching up with the SR and as long as my edge is well maintained, my razor burn is minimal. I guess my face has done well at adapting to the SR. If course, the Aveeno moisturizing cream applied after my post shave balm also may have something to do with it.

Well, every now and then I find I focus on something other than the task at hand. Thinking about what I did on the hones, or how I should be tweaking my stropping for next time. Or just using a different blade profile every shave. And while I'm pondering these things, I'm not watching my blade angle, or thinking about pressure. That's when razor burn happens.

Touch up passes likely have similar roots. But this in and of itself isn't what causes razor burn. When I pay attention to my technique, after a 2 pass and a touch up I can slap Captain's Choice Cat 'o Ninetails on my face and not feel any burn. It's just time consuming. Granted I'm not out to set any speed records, but I don't want to end up taking unnecessary steps or spending an hour on a shave either.

That is usually my preferred method, use my shavette or DE for touch up, nothing wrong with it

Originally Posted by donaldjr1969

I am of the opinion that, despite the number of razors one may own (I only have 1 right now), it may not be a bad idea to have a cheap shavette like a Magic or similar. Sometimes I will miss a small patch of my beard on the final cleanup pass and as I am rubbing the witch hazel on my face, I feel it. Rather than get my SR back out after being dried and oiled, I just open the shavette, put a tiny bit of lather (if I have not yet cleaned my brush) or my after shave balm on the missed area, give it a few quick licks with the shavette, and I'm good to go. Even if I had a 7day set of razors (I WISH!), I'd still use a shavette to clean up a small missed area.

Anybody else do this?

I'm only good enough with a shavette when I am in practice, so for me this very sensible suggestion doesn't work.

I just enjoy traditional straights too much to use other shavers.

Originally Posted by Sxot

When that happens, I just leave it and get on with the day. Not worth going back for a little roughness.

And that right there is my biggest problem. I am such a perfectionist at times when I do not need to be. I got this thing in my mind that if I do not get that rough area smooth, it will be fully visible by noon. I know that's not the case, but it bugs the heck out of me when it should not even be a concern.

Heck, when I took my very first open razor, my Magic shavette, to my face, I had to get everything nice and smooth. I got razor burn to the effect it felt like a good sunburn! That goes against everything Lynn said in his videos about doing just one cheek on your first SR/Shavette shave.

I'm quite bullheaded when I do not need to be. But I am pretty much beginning to learn that I do not need to be BBS for work.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

I'm only good enough with a shavette when I am in practice, so for me this very sensible suggestion doesn't work.

I learned SR shaving on a shavette so I pretty much can go right back to the shavette if need be, such as sending out my razor for a honing. I know, best to get a second SR for that!

I just enjoy traditional straights too much to use other shavers.

I agree. I like my SR much more than the shavette. I just like the whole routine of stropping as well prior to using the razor for that day's shave.

If i have missed a bit and want to do a clean up i will just use my razor, if i have stropped it then so be it, i will either just palm strop off the debris or restrop for a few laps. However i dont oil my razors post shave.
To be honest if you use the same razor daily or every few days the oil is probably unnecessary.