Thread: why do straight shaves last longer?

Anyone know?

it would have to be because its a closer shave your hair is going to grow as it always has but the closer shave of the straight will give you more time in between shaves have a great day and god bless

I'm not so sue that they are the closest. The closest shaves, can leave your skin raw.

I think they are the most comfortable shaves and I think that the angle at which the beard is shaved leads to a less sharp end to each whisker. It therefore feels closer than say a DE or any of the modern Gillette et al razors.

I'm also not sure that they do last longer.

Simple friend. It is what we like to call Magic. Yessir magic juice in the shaving soap, AS, balm, so on and so on hold the whiskers at bay for a few extra hours. Now you may think i am just blowing smoke up your asterisk, but it is a scientificaly documented fact that magic juices exist. So moral is the stronger it smells, the more of the magic juice it contains; meaning LONGER LASTING SHAVE! Hi ladies and gents, Billy Mays here and I want to show you this revolutionary new product! . . . .

A shave feels BBS because the hairs are cut below the normal surface of the skin. This is accomplished by stretching the skin and then cutting the hairs off with a blade that has nothing to obstruct contact with the skin. The farther below the normal surface of the skin that the razor cuts, the longer it takes the hairs to emerge above the surface and the longer the feeling of BBS lasts. Traditional straights shave closer than a DE blade because the edge is supported by thicker metal and so it resists being deflected by the hair. I know this because the god that lives in my razor came to me in a dream and explained it all. This means that my words cannot be challenged, even by a moderator...

Originally Posted by English

I'm not so sue that they are the closest. The closest shaves, can leave your skin raw.

I think they are the most comfortable shaves and I think that the angle at which the beard is shaved leads to a less sharp end to each whisker. It therefore feels closer than say a DE or any of the modern Gillette et al razors.

I'm also not sure that they do last longer.

I gotta +1 with the English man here....

I believe he is on the right track, they feel better because of the angle that the hair was cut, and I believe that the face prep that we do, actually makes for better skin condition, so our faces actually feel softer and smoother longer... But I do think that running 4-5 blades over ones face does give you a "closer, as in below the skin shave" it just doesn't feel as good, for as long, as the straight shave Therefore yes it is done by FM.... (don't know what FM means pm me and I'll tell ya)

I don't know, I think it is fear. my skin is soo sensitive that I cannot shave against the grain, not with any blade. so I never get the bbs (I'm guessing that means baby's butt shave) that others are talking about. My face doesn't feel different that I can tell between the straight and the 3 blade job. BUT, I have noticed and commented to non-straight shavers that ask (a.k.a. sissys) that the next day the growth is not as noticeable if I used a straight.

my only conclusion is fear, the little hairs are worried to come out because the scary big blade is there waiting to whack them down.

Red

i must agree with some of the previous posters. it is the quality of the whole situation that really makes things more comfortable and closer. this includes the quality of the blade, how sharp it is, the attention to face prep that most people do, skin stretching (most cartridge user probably don't do this) and the attention to detail that most admit to. some have said that they get just as close with a DE and i don't doubt that they do if the blade is in condition and their face prep is good. i use a DE if i am pressed for time but really like using the straight better as i feel much more in control and enjoy the experience more. also i don't have enough experience with a DE to get nearly as close as with my straight razor.

What happens if all you have left is regular magic? I'm set on picking up more fm in Tijuana soon. BBS here I come!

Hair is hair - it grows at the same rate no matter what sort of blade you cut it with. If it is pulled forward and cut, then snaps back below the surface that would lead to a lot of shaving rash, wouldn't it? Also, if the blade tugs it, isn't that often taken as a sign that the edge is not sharp enough? I think it is just the attention to detail and the fear of a dirty great big naked edge scything across your face that makes it closer!

Regards,
Neil