Thread: Are you a straight purist - or do you DE on the side?

I'm still getting used to straight razors, and shaving takes me quite a while- I'm still going for BBS every time, which I could probably stop doing.

The DE comes out every now and then when I'm in a hurry or really tired. Neither of those conditions mix well with a straight.

Also, I'm still learning how to shave my neck (where the hair grows sideways) and sometimes for that final pass, I'll pull out the DE.

Finally, the DE that I have belonged to my wife's father, whom I never met. It makes her feel good when she sees me using it.
J.

I was a wet shaver,using a Merkur Vision,before I took up straight razor shaving. Once I started I stayed with straight razors figuring I'd jump in at the deep end. The shaves kept getting better and eventually caught up to the shave quality of the DE and then surpassed it. It's been almost a year now and the Vision has not been used once since I started using straight razors.

Gentlemen,

For me, it is not a question of purism. Rather, it is one of liking straight and DE to varying degrees. Put another way, I "love" my straights and I "love" my DEs. The DE still gives me a cleaner shave than the straight, although I have used the straight for a while now.

What especially adds color to the straight razor world is the ritual that comes with it. Although the DE has its own ritual — the type of razor, the brand of blade, and so on — it lacks the color of that with the straight.

When traveling, I always carry a Feather AC and a Merkur travel DE. Available time to complete the task of shaving usually dictates which of the two I use. The one thing I refuse to do is to rush the straight shave. Doing so is not only dangerous, but it also loses the grace in straight razor shaving.

It's as bad as scarfing up your food and calling it dinner. I prefer "dining" to "eating," whether I have a Chicago-style hog dog in front of me or some fancy French doo-da and a glass of fine wine.

In two weeks, for instance, I'll be doing some stage work in California, where I know lack of time will restrict me to the DE. Still, I will take the Feather AC along just in case.

Someday I know my shave with the straight will finally surpass that of the double edge. Until then I will use both for the reasons I have mentioned. Someday also I might take a strop along and a real straight instead of the Feather.

Regards,

Obie

I have a DE a Merkur Futur, shaves very well, light and well built, but I NEVER use it (it's my wife's now). I started with a DE about 3 years ago, and loved it, was the best thing since sliced bread. Blew away all my notions about shaving once I got the brush and the good soaps/creams.

However, this is all pre straight razor shaving. About 8 months ago perhaps a full year now. I bought my first Straight, a wapi. ( I think this is a common choice for a lot of newbs)

Ever since I finally got a BBS with my straight, I never looked back, and I won't. I shave every single day, unless Im growing out a stache or a goatee, burns, etc... and I wont go back to DE's unless somebody steals all my straights, but then "hell's coming for them."

When I travel and I haven't been cash full enough lately to take anything more then a 3 or 4 day vac, and when I do, I strop up 3 or 4 straights and take them for the ride.

I know its unpractical, but honestly I would miss the closeness and shave experience if I didnt bring my boys with me.

Cheers
D

I started on a plain Merkur DE after getting away from those miserable, cartridges, then moved to str8s & never looked back. I now shave exclusively w/ a straight unless I simply need to be presentable in a hurry & I'm working a schedule where every minute of sleep counts. (I'm a pyrotechnician, so around the 4th is a good example--some nights, 4 hours is considered a decent amount of sleep).

Otherwise, I'm a straight purist.

Totally Straights. Before that I hated all kinds of shaving. I have only vague memories of using my dad's DE, but at that time shaving was physically painful as I had as many zits as hair.

Mike

I have a Superspeed that I got around the same time I got my first straight. I've used it maybe a handful of times. If I really need to shave in a hurry, I can pull it out for a quick water only WTG and be good to go in less than 5 mins. Other than that, it just sits around.

[QUOTE=Sirshavesalot;429230]
When I travel and I haven't been cash full enough lately to take anything more then a 3 or 4 day vac, and when I do, I strop up 3 or 4 straights and take them for the ride.
/QUOTE]

I'm going a bit off-post but:
When you travel you don't need your strop, because you
strop some straights before going and then when you return?
i.e. one pre-stropped straight per day away?

That's another way to do it - and justification for RAD

All the best,
Michael

Haven't used a DE since I was in high school.

I use both. When I am in a hurry I use my vintage DE. Most of the time, however, I use my straight. Both serve my needs well and both are a pleasure to shave with. Having said that, I am not much in a hurry very often so my straight gets much more use than my DE.