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

Originally Posted by AlanII

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.

I think you are right on the money Alan II!


Good luck Oliver!!

Oliver,

It doesn't matter what grit hones you have over 8k if you con't get a proper edge. +1 on the replys about prep, lather, technique and practice but if you are basing your results on a razor you honed yourself with a few months practice on the hone you are probably not where you think you are. If you want to learn how to hone your own blades get at least two str8s. One honed by a honemister and one to practice your honong with. You will have a standard to measure against in honing and be able to perfect your techinque under optimin conditions, which is a good edge on your blade. Sounds to me like you don't have the patients to handel honing and shave technique at the same time or your are underestimating the skill/art involved in straight shaving and honing. Sorry if this offends you but I am calling it as I see it.

I stoped using my mach 3 razor about 3 yrs ago. I gave it to my wife. From tme to time, I'll try a fresh cartige just out of curitousity. And always, I find that using a straight is always closer. I even tried using the mach 3 with 6-8 passes in various directions to see if that would help. But in the end, my striaght is always closer. As far as my chin, I guess that I was blessed with a easy chin to shave. I've never had a problem with it, just a small part on my neck next to the jugular.

When I switched to just using my striaght (sometimes with a DE), I just made it a rule that I would either go unshaven that day, or use my straight. Those were the choices.

As far as using electrics, I used to use a cheap one about 6 yrs ago when I would to the feild in the Army for training. It worked, pulled lots of hair out, but I didn;t care if it only lasted for a month. I wouldn't use an electric if one was given to me.

Yes, I get a closer shave with a straight. It took me 6 months to get that close, another 6 months to get that close without irritating my skin.

I've never gone back to cartridge, so perhaps my memory serves me wrong? Nope. Because with Muck III I used to need to shave every 2 days. Now it's every 3.

But I have to admit, it is a long journey to smooth, burn-free easy shaves with a straight. Technique, prep, honing, stropping and patience need to be mastered in turn. If you don't like the journey, it might not be for you.

I've been straight shaving now for 18 months, and can honstly say that I had an easy start getting straight into it with little difficulty. I have a story that may be interesting though...

I went on a stag do on canal barges to Holland - no Its not that sort of story. Rather then take a straight with me - as I know how a bunch of guys can be when they are drunk - I took my old muck 3 with me to shave.

It took my skin about a month to recover from the two shaves I had on that barge. My neck was covered in a rash after the first shave (and these were brand new cartridges) and I had ingrowing hairs on my cheeks after the second.

Seriously - the cartridges just wreck your skin. I am not sure I can say with hand on heart that the result is any different with straight or with muck 3. Smooth skin is smooth skin right? The straight shave certainly lasts longer, as many have already stated, but the differece straights make to your skin is phenomenal.

Sunsi

Originally Posted by Sunsi

Seriously - the cartridges just wreck your skin. I am not sure I can say with hand on heart that the result is any different with straight or with muck 3. Smooth skin is smooth skin right? The straight shave certainly lasts longer, as many have already stated, but the differece straights make to your skin is phenomenal.

I agree. I've been shaving with a straight for about two months now and even though my technique cannot possibly be that great yet, the shaves definitely last longer than with Mach3 and I have much less skin problems (at least when I remember to shave using very little pressure ). I think I get a bit smoother shave with a straight, but that is not the main point as it is possible to get a very smooth shave with a cartridge razor, too.

But why you actually get a longer lasting smoothness after shaving with a straight razor, remains a mystery to me! I didn't really believe it until I experienced it myself, because it makes more sense to get a longer lasting shave with the cartridges. They are supposed to lift the whiskers and cut them with the extra blades under the skin surface level, right?

Originally Posted by Nulq

But why you actually get a longer lasting smoothness after shaving with a straight razor, remains a mystery to me! I didn't really believe it until I experienced it myself, because it makes more sense to get a longer lasting shave with the cartridges. They are supposed to lift the whiskers and cut them with the extra blades under the skin surface level, right?

the whiskers are more afraid to resurface after being shaved with a straight razor

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

the whiskers are more afraid to resurface after being shaved with a straight razor

Hmm... I've got a quite decent axe.

Maybe I'll hone it to shave ready and just hang it next to my shaving mirror just to scare the whiskers into hiding. BBS for weeks?

Oliver: Give it some time and you will see for yourself. If you want to be convinced right now, find an old fashioned Barber and let him give you a straight razor shave.

Originally Posted by Otto

Oliver: Give it some time and you will see for yourself. If you want to be convinced right now, find an old fashioned Barber and let him give you a straight razor shave.

This is way true.. The first time I had my barber shave me I didn't have to shave again for 3 days.