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

It's been 3 weeks of continuous straight razor shaving for me and my DE has been sitting lonely and unloved in the corner of the bathroom cabinet.

It got me wondering - are people here straight razor purists or do they mix it up?

Maybe DEs for quick workday shaves and straights for weekend pleasure?

I've noticed some people take DEs travelling if a straight is too much hassle on planes.


Sometimes I think I should use the DE when I'm in a hurry... but then the stubborn learner in me wants the challenge (and satisfaction) of the straight shave.

Interested to hear your thoughts,
All the best,
Michael.

When i started out i stuck entirely to straights. It seemed the best way to learn. Now i'll use a DE again occasionally. Probably once a month, or maybe six weeks. Sometimes it's just nice to have a change.
I went from the UK to South Africa recently & took the straight, strop etc. It was great to be out in the veldt & have a proper shave, but there's always the risk it'll go astray when in transit.

I'm a pediatrician trying to retire I presently work two days a week and on those days I use a DE. The day starts very early and even though using my straights are more relaxing, I always feel rushed on those mornings. When I travel I use my DE. It is just more convenient and I don't run the risk of loosing a razor in my checked bags.

Lewis

Not shaved with anything other than a straight for one and half years now.

I use a DE when I travel too. The reason for this was that it gave me an excuse to buy more razors.

Well, I started with a DE, and it was a massive imrpovement over anything else I'd previously tried. When I switched to straights, I used them exclusively for 6 months, just to get the technique more or less right.

I occasionally use a DE again now, mainly when I have to get up very early, or have to travel. It has nothing to do with purism, or the lack thereof, but with efficiency.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

It has nothing to do with purism, or the lack thereof, but with efficiency.

I'm moving slightly off-topic, but:

Regarding efficiency and shaving - that's something I'm working on with my straight razor shave routine.


-technique
-time taken
-amount of soap / cream used
-amount of water used (-('m trying to reduce - we've got a drought here in rainy Melbourne!)
-lathering (time taken, stuff used)
-amount of shaving paraphenalia used (even if it's fun to have lots of stuff!)


It doesn't mean the ritual, the relaxation and meditative aspects aren't there - I think in some ways it is more so. Probably good to have routines for the workday and something different for the weekend.

So yes - sometimes the DE will do and that's ok. (Gets back on topic)

All the best,
Michael

I've used a DE once at the one year point of the last year and a half due to time constraints and a curiosity to see how it felt after a year with straights exclusively. It was alright and I would use one if I were to travel but I vastly prefer the straight and that continues to be my daily driver.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

It has nothing to do with purism, or the lack thereof, but with efficiency.

I agree, though I'd replace 'efficiency' with 'preference'.

I've learned (the hard way) that it is good to have a DE and some blades standing by, just in case. I love the straight razor but they tend to be - at least for me - a bit unpractical when traveling. If I had a box paddle strop, that would be different, namely when traveling by train or by car or even if you have to check your luggage when flying.
However the whole routine of shaving with a straight razor, even if you are proficient, takes longer than the one with a DE. So, for those rushed mornings I will choose to pick up my DE instead of any of my straights. The reason is the following: hurry + sleepyness = nasty cut on left hand's pointing finger...