Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19

Thread: Straight vs. DE

  1. #1
    Woo hoo! StraightRazorDave's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Toronto, ON
    Posts
    1,257
    Thanked: 309

    Default Straight vs. DE

    Hey all,

    This thread isn't about the pros and cons of using a straight vs. a DE, but just to share my experience. I didn't realize how close and comfortable my shaves have gotten with my straight until I used my DE yesterday. If I go to visit my girlfriend, I can't be bothered anymore to bring my razor and strop (it's mostly the strop I don't want to bring), so I just bring my safety razor. The safety is what begin my quest for the perfect shave in the first place.....

    So my shave with the DE was less than perfect....Looking back it was actually a good shave, but my standards have gotten REALLY high! It was after the shave that I realized that I get a closer, irritation free, and actually faster shave with my straight!!! I didn't know I became so proficient with the straight razor until I compared it to the shaves that I used to get. I'm actually more comfortable shaving with my straight razors too.

    Long story short, I am not against using the DE for convenience/travel, but I will always stick to my straight for a quality shave. There's no competition in my mind. Plus, knowing that I'm shaving with a razor that I honed myself adds an element of pride and ownership in the shave.

    Anyone else share these feelings?

  2. #2
    Senior Member welshwizard's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Bucks. UK.
    Posts
    1,145
    Thanked: 183

    Default

    I've used a DE for most of my life. I had a Schick injector for a while in my twenties, but they seemed to stop selling the blades in the UK. I'm slowly converting to straights. What using a straight razor has taught me is the importance of good preparation. I get better shaves with a DE now than I've ever done, purely because of better preparation.
    Hopefully I'll use a DE less and the straight razor more as time goes on. I certainly don't have any problems with a DE razor that some seem to report.
    'Living the dream, one nightmare at a time'

  3. #3
    I shave with a spoon on a stick. Slartibartfast's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Stay away stalker!
    Posts
    4,578
    Thanked: 1262
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    I can get a very good shave in a short amount of time with a DE.

    One thing i like about the straight is that it is sharp every time i use it.

    On a DE, the quality of the shave is going to deteriorate every shave, unless you constantly change the blade out.

    Plus, it is just cooler to use a straight. It adds to my street cred.

  4. #4
    I Bleed Slurry Disburden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Carmel, NY
    Posts
    2,458
    Thanked: 545

    Default

    The shaves I get from my DE are amazing. I use a 1926 Gillette NEW improved bostonian open comb and it's just always BBS with a feather blade. I use it for days when I have to wake up at 5 AM and I have 30 minutes to get to work, it only takes five minutes to do three passes. I love that DE, and I will keep it forever.


    On the other side of things, there is something just special about using a straight and I use one six days a week. I get really nice shaves from my straights, and with more practice I'm sure I will get the problem areas down better (jawline, etc). Honing is another special thing about straights, it's like a meditation and it takes you away from all your troubles when you're honing.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Central Texas
    Posts
    603
    Thanked: 143

    Default

    Have you ever used a SE razor, specifically the GEM 1912 with stainless PTFE-treated blades?

    I am new to straight shaving and if I want a really close shave I do a final pass with the SE as my straight technique isn't up to the job yet. A SR only gets me to a SAS (socially acceptable shave) and even that can leave a little "reminder".

    I was a recent convert to SE from DE shaving when I decided to give straights a try and at that time (couple of weeks ago) I found that SE shaves were significantly better than DE shaves. I wonder how close an SE is to a well-practiced straight shave.

    Is it SR > SE > DE
    or SR ~ SE > DE ?? (~ meaning similar)

    As a matter of fact it was the experience of SE shaving that convinced me to try SR shaving (after major disappointments with shavettes that use split DE blades). An SE blade is significantly more rigid than a DE blade and I believe that is what makes it shave better. Based on that belief I figured a SR would be even more rigid and might therefore be even better. With my current skill level I can't say.

  6. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    I got good shaves from my DEs. I had the RAD with that too and I have been through all of the Gillettes from '03 double rings to fat boys but my favorite DE is the Merkur Slant with a Feather. I have to be more careful with a DE to avoid nicks oddly enough and I get as good a shave if not better most days with a straight. I haven't shaved with a DE in over a year. Fortunatly for me I have no time constraints when I shave.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  7. #7
    I Bleed Slurry Disburden's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Carmel, NY
    Posts
    2,458
    Thanked: 545

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TexasBob View Post
    Have you ever used a SE razor, specifically the GEM 1912 with stainless PTFE-treated blades?

    I am new to straight shaving and if I want a really close shave I do a final pass with the SE as my straight technique isn't up to the job yet. A SR only gets me to a SAS (socially acceptable shave) and even that can leave a little "reminder".

    I was a recent convert to SE from DE shaving when I decided to give straights a try and at that time (couple of weeks ago) I found that SE shaves were significantly better than DE shaves. I wonder how close an SE is to a well-practiced straight shave.

    Is it SR > SE > DE
    or SR ~ SE > DE ?? (~ meaning similar)

    As a matter of fact it was the experience of SE shaving that convinced me to try SR shaving (after major disappointments with shavettes that use split DE blades). An SE blade is significantly more rigid than a DE blade and I believe that is what makes it shave better. Based on that belief I figured a SR would be even more rigid and might therefore be even better. With my current skill level I can't say.
    I've never used a GEM but from what I've heard they are amazing razors.

  8. #8
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    766
    Thanked: 174

    Default

    I kept up to date with DE razors for a while and used a Swedish Gillette blade in a quality DE razor.

    In February and march this year, I went to India for a long trip and for convenience took the DE with me.

    Big mistake, never again and boy was I glad to get home for a good shave.

  9. #9
    Just a wanderer on this journey mkevenson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Santa Rosa, California
    Posts
    299
    Thanked: 41

    Default

    After 3 full months of str8 shaving I am up to probably 6 days a week with the str8. If it weren't for my chin my str8 shaves would be just as good as the DE. I have a Merkur Futur and a FatBoy. I too really like the whole aspect of using a str8. I am going on vac for a week and plan on taking only the DEs. Will see if I loose anything on the return.

    Happy Shaving to all.

    Mark

  10. #10
    Senior Member sebell's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    San Francisco
    Posts
    928
    Thanked: 144

    Default

    I have a few DEs that I like, and some blades that will do
    a decent job. I do find that the thinner blade doesn't treat
    my skin as nicely as a straight does, so for that reason I
    don't reach for the DE.

    I think that a thicker/stiffer blade on an SE might do the
    trick, but then I would have to worry about blades! So it
    all keeps coming back to the straight...

    - Scott

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •