Thread: As smooth as a modern cartridge system? I think not

It's taken me over a year to achieve a smooth chin. And even now, it only works if my razor is freshly honed.
But then again, I never was BBS from my mach3 either.
Unless I used the infamous '300 pass' technique, of course. Also known as 'extreme exfoliation'.

I should add that I only shave every 2 or 3 days, so that is probably another reason why it's taken me so long, together with the fact that my chin hairs are tough.

don't give up. straights have a learning curve, and all pieces of the puzzle have to come together in order to get good results:
- good stropping
- good edge
- good lather / prep
- good technique

I will admit that it takes longer with a str8 than a mock3 but I can get my chin just as smooth. It is a matter of experience and patience. I will never go back to a cartridge razor.

Yes. The straight gives me a smoother shave than electric or modern "saftey" razors. I sometimes use my old Rolls Razor (which is almost a straight) when traveling.

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Pardon me if this is a repeat. I'm not sure how to post replies. Yes. The straight gives me a smoother shave than electric or modern "saftey" razors. I sometimes use my old Rolls Razor (which is almost a straight) when traveling.

About 4 or 5 months into shaving with a straight, I was finally able to get my chin smoother and more comfortable than I ever was able to with cartridge razors.

I never achieved bbs with cartridge razors. There was to much blood and irritation although that was years ago and maybe I've learned better tactics since then

I returned to straights a couple of months ago after a long hiatus. Only now am I starting to get the hang of shaving my chin again. It'll come with practice.

It's still most difficult for me to get BBS on my neck as the grain there runs left to right with a slight downward angle. BBS there is easy with a multi-blade as I can go ATG. With a straight, I usually just go XTG on the neck unless I have a lot of time on my hands. Going ATG there with a straight usually results in my nicking, no, lacerating myself. Hoping that smiling blade that I'm restoring will help there.

I can get a smooth chin with a m3, de or a straight. I only do two passes with any razor because any more and the razor burn kicks in bad. My whiskers grow pretty fast as well, I have noticeable stubble by 4pm after a 7am shave.

Stick with it, you'll be getting that chin smooth before you know it.

No problem getting my chin BBS. Just stick with it-practice makes perfect. Slow deliberate technique and a VERY sharp razor and you too will be good to go.

Don't judge your shave by how it feels afterwards. Judge it by how it feels the next day. Everybody is different but with a mach 3 I get very sharp dark regrowth, and the skin is very red and sore the next day. I get similar with a DE. With a straight the regrowth is even and doesn't look as bad, my skin doesn't get sore or red.
After the shave, no it isn't as smooth for me but the overall experience is better. Try to judge the shave by long term experience and not just by how it feels right after you finish. As you get better you will appreciate it. For me It took a long time to fully enjoy it maybe 4 months, but I am still improving now.

Originally Posted by Oliver

Seriously, can a straight make my chin as smooth as a modern razor? I mean, the makers spend millions on research or something like that, right?

I have been using straights for a few months now and have been learning a lot from this forum (about shaving and honing - thanks!). But even after using a 16k shapton for honing, my chin will never be as smooth as with a modern razor, no matter if I stretch the skin, shave up, down, left or right, at any angle and any pressure. It will always be acceptable and sometimes quite good but compete with the modern one? I don't think that's realistic.

Does anyone think they actually get the same smoothness at the edge of the chin regardless of which kind of razor they use?

In answer to the question posed in the header, easily. Give it time. I'm eight months in and still learning. Alternatively, give it up. Not trying to be funny here, but perhaps it's not for you. Only just got the hang of honing (retouching on a coticule, nothing serious). Seriously, enjoy the ride. Do you still touch up with cartridges? Maybe time to put them aside for a while?

If that comes across as agressive, please ignore. Honestly not meant that way.