Thread: Feather as training for straight

I don't know exactly how different the feather is from the disposable "straight razors" that use half of a DE blade (I think they're called "shavettes"?), but I gave one of them a try after I had been using the regular straight razor for a little while. I didn't like it at all.

The blade was ridiculously sharp, of course, and not at all forgiving. That's one of the great things about the straight razor: you can basicaly customize its sharpness to your liking. After a while it's as though it becomes... a part of you.

I did exactly what you are contemplating: I bought a feather in order to learn how to shave with a st8 and not have to deal with honing and stropping. I acquired a reasonable level of proficiency in about a month, but I wasn't exactly delighted with the whole experience so I decided to try a real st8.

I got a TI that Lynn had honed. What a difference! On my first attempt I got a far more comfortable shave with better results. And the bonus is that the st8 is soooo much more foregiving. My feather now sits in a drawer gathering dust. I had originally planned to use it as a travel razor; however, I haven't done so--just a st8 and a paddle strop for traveling.

Stropping is a relatively easy skill to acquire. Honeing is another story. It took me several months and a half dozen ebay razors to actually get to where I can make a razor shave ready. (And they still aren't what I would call ideal.)

While you are learning, you can get a Tony Miller pasted strop. It will keep a professionally honed razor going for many months.

So, my advice would be to forget about the feather and get a professionally honed st8. Save the money--you'll need it if you decide to continue with this method of depilation! (And this advice is worth every cent you paid for it.)

Larry

I started shaving with a Feather str8, and, yes, it helped me learn to respect a sharp edge and have a light touch. I like the Feather for what it is: the best, and sharpest, and most well made disposable str8 razor on the market.

Having said that, you will be taking a step backward if you go to a Feather. That is unless you plan on giving up regular str8 razors, because there is nothing like a great shave with a real str8!!! The few times I went back to the Feather it was just "Ho Humm". No charge, no exciting feeling that I did something really great! No excitement you get from a great shave with a razor you have sharpened, stropped, and shaved with.

TRUST ME! Don't do it!

Regards,

Steve

I've gone both ways on this in the past, so take this as a snapshot of where I am now...

The Feather can be a good tool if you're really struggling to learn some aspect of straight shaving. For a long time, I got terrible irritation or a stubbly face. One or the other.

Switching to a Feather for a while helped me figure out that I was using way too much pressure, which was due to my decision early on to learn to hone on my own. I should have gotten a shave-ready razor from the getgo.

That said, the Feather requires very different technique, in my book. With my straights, I use a 30-degree angle and some light to moderate pressure. With the Feather, I keep the blade flat against my face--almost a zero angle. I use no pressure.

With a straight, I go N-S on my neck for the first pass. With the Feather, I have to go up or I get pretty bad razor burn. (Down is partially against the grain. This is OK with the straight, but not so much with the Feather.)

I totally agree that the straight is gentler and more forgiving. I have very sensitive skin, and my favorite edges are finished to a smooth but not terribly sharp 6K edge on my Belgian blue.

With the Feather, I always have some irritation, no matter how careful I am. I'm sure I could get the hang of it eventually, but I'd rather just use my straights.

One trap I fell into was thinking that sharper is always better. I was finding that the razor would hang up in my chin hair and not cut it. So I went to a sharper edge, which made things worse with the razor burn and irritation. If you're struggling, I'd encourage you to try a range of edges, from a super-smooth 6K edge to a hyper-sharp 30K Shapton or 50K diamond paste edge.

Just my 2 cents,
Josh

I believe the Feather is great if you want to get a "straight type" shave without having to learn to hone or strop, and you don't want to lay out the bucks for hone or two. You get a similar experience to a straight shave but with a machine honed blade. However, comparing the overall experience, using a Feather is a lot like drinking frozen concentrate. Good, but not the real thing.

RT

I say dive right in. I've never used a DE or a feather. I simply went from Mach 3 to a straight and I learned right from wrong quickly by trial and error. Although I did nick myself due only to my own carelessness a few times, but that's how you learn. I also learned to hone and strop, but I had lots of time to just sit and do it. Good Luck.

Thanks everyone. Your advice was quite helpful. Soar on!