Close Shave

A couple a weeks ago we had a thread on what is considered a close shave and it got me thinking. This week I have had some fun with this and would be interested to see what you guys think.

I have been trying to compare shaving with my usual straight razor against a Mach 3 and DE. So........I shaved half my face with the straight and half with a Mach 3 and a DE on 2 occasions.

Both times the straight razor side of the face was virtually sticky smooth after the shave and an application of some balm. With the DE, it was pretty close to this. With the Mach 3 it was smooth, but not sticky smooth.

I then waited two hours and compared the feeling on both sides of the face again just by running my fingers up and down the face.

I can tell why I like the straight so much better. Actually for hours after the shave, there is this wonderful smooth feeling that seems to last most of the day for me. With the other razors, that feeling is not near the same within a few hours.

This was fun. Any of you guys try something like this??

Lynn

I am not yet able to make a confortable ATG pass with the straight, and use a DE to do it (only when I need to have a very close shave - if not I stay with my two passes WTG)... so maybe I cannot answer with much precision...

But nonetheless I have experienced that two passes with a straight and one with the DE is far more confortable than three passes with a DE and gives what you so rightly call a "sticky smooth" feeling (and I have quite tough whiskers that need an everyday shaving).

I have shaved with electric razors and Gillette, but never obtained such a confortable and smooth shave than with my straight - DE combo.

I can get a BBS shave with a straight, DE, or M3. I find that the M3 leads to at least 1 or 2 ingrowns. The DE and straight last roughly the same amount of time for me, as long as I use a good sharp DE blade and a fairly aggressive razor. The Fat handled Tech shave doesn't last nearly as long. The real difference to me is the process. I enjoy the seek and destroy feeling of using a straight razor.

I don't really care for the sticky smooth. My favorite is the really tight skin smooth that an alchol splash provides. I also like the feedback it gives me about how I shaved. I am still a rookie.

Lynn, a coworker bought me a mach three last week to let me prove to myself that it is superior to a straight. I tried the same thing you did, shaving half of my face with the mach three, and the other half with my straight razor. I was able to get the mach three a little closer, but my face was stinging afterward in the effort to get it closer. There was no visible difference in stubble on my face, and by the end of the day, the straight side felt smoother to the touch.

The mach three shave only took about half the time than the straight shave - I now understand why I can afford the extra 5 or 10 minutes to get a shave that looks and feels good all day long

My experience is the same as your's Lynn. I have checked my straight shave results against the M3, the Fusion and a DE. I get close shaves from all, however, the straight provides the longest lasting( 11 PM) clean look on my cheeks. Additionally, there is special feel to the skin after a straight shave that I do not get with the alternatives.

I am able to get similar shaves with a straight and a DE but have to give the winning points to the str8. The shave just seems to last a little longer with less irritation.

Irritation is the only factor I really care about, BBS is good but since I only trim around a beard the straight lines provided by a straight edge just plain look nicer...and my face feels better....
I can with no problem go 2 days after a straight razor shave and still look presentable, which I could never do with a Mach 3, I however now shave every day just because I enjoy my shaves so much now...
The worst for me is by far an electric which instantly turns my neck into a red sore rash...
I started with a striaght back in 1981-82 stopped in the mid 90's and came back to it last year I will never change again...... the comfort level is by far the best with the straight......

Ive been trying out the straight. 3rd shave today but today i did something different. i went with a light touch with the straight like i am supposed to. i then tried ATG but it pulled so i stopped and put it away. then i got my M3 (which gives me the best shaves so far anyway) and did a light WTG just to make sure nothing gets caught when i go ATG (in case i didnt get it all off from the straight). well then i did ATG with my mach 3 and it was so smooth. that sticky smooth usually comes only with the straight/DE unless I do like 2 ATG passes with the M3. the shave today was probably the closest (in most spots) but i want to be able to get this close and smooth of a shave everyday from the STRAIGHT ALONE!

Don't worry, OldFashioned - it will come...I've been at it close to 8 months now, and am still learning with every shave. You can get proficient at it fairly quickly (took me about a month or so), but it has been a slow journey to get to where I consider that I've had a great shave.

Lynn, I totally agree - I had to shave with my cartrige razor the other week while travelling for work, and it wasn't nearly as smooth right off the shave, nevermind the sandpaper that appeared two hours later!

A good straight shave is still way better than the best cartrige shave IMHO.

Mark

I never did a half face test like you Lynn but otherwise I have the same expereince you had. On days I am really pressed for time I use a double blade cartridge. If the blade is new I can hardly shave my neck because it causes awfull superfical bleeds. Cartridges never get me a BBS shave. For some reason DE blades give me even worse results than cartridge razors. That is one of the reasons I started shaving straight.

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Originally Posted by OldFashioned

i want to be able to get this close and smooth of a shave everyday from the STRAIGHT ALONE!

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As he said, it's definitely doable. Just keep practicing going against the grain. I'm the guy in the green Popeye shirt if you type "straight razor shave" into YouTube if you want to have a look. I just did a quick shave for the camera when that was shot, but because I've never really been able to do "acceptable" shaves that just get rid of "most" of the stubble, I go for a BBS shave every time. So right from the beginning when I first started with the straight razor, I was after the closest possible shave. After doing a WTG and cross grain pass, it takes care of most of the hair. But as you're aware, dragging your fingertips against the grain lets you feel that bit of grit from those super short hairs. I don't really re-lather for the against the grain pass. It's more or less a quick procedure where I'll just splash water on my face and zip all around the face, wherever I feel any stubble at alll.

I have to say that since I started using straights I haven't been even remotely interested in any other shaving tool. I know that even if everyone here tried this experiment and reported back that the Mach 3 kicks the straight's butt in terms of closeness of shave, I'd just shrug and carry on regardless.

It is nice to know that the straight is better though :D

James.

i just saw your video. im young also. i noticed that you were able to go ATG. i just cant. maybe its my razor, its being sent back to lynn. also, i got a low end dovo. im going to get a high end. if it doesnt work out, oh well, at least i tried.

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Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

As he said, it's definitely doable. Just keep practicing going against the grain. I'm the guy in the green Popeye shirt if you type "straight razor shave" into YouTube if you want to have a look. I just did a quick shave for the camera when that was shot, but because I've never really been able to do "acceptable" shaves that just get rid of "most" of the stubble, I go for a BBS shave every time. So right from the beginning when I first started with the straight razor, I was after the closest possible shave. After doing a WTG and cross grain pass, it takes care of most of the hair. But as you're aware, dragging your fingertips against the grain lets you feel that bit of grit from those super short hairs. I don't really re-lather for the against the grain pass. It's more or less a quick procedure where I'll just splash water on my face and zip all around the face, wherever I feel any stubble at alll.

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