Thread: NEWBIE VERDICT IN: SR8T SHAVING vs. CARTRIDGE SHAVING- WHICH REALLY SHAVES CLOSER?

A two pass shave with a M3 with proper prep can be BBS and as a close a straight. The problem is that repeated use of this or other multi-blades in this fashion inevitably leads to in-grown hairs as the beard hairs are pulled above the skin line. A three pass straight shave conversely will yield BBS shaves daily with no in-grown hairs.

I can't remember the last time I used a cartridge razor. I didn't even start SR shaving because I was getting bad shaves, I didn't think I was, I just wanted to SR shave.

I still enjoy my shaves, I have learnt other skills and picked up other interests as a result of this site, which is a huge bonus I think.

That was great Obie, you're a true writer indeed.

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, Mr. Toplin,

The way I compare a cartridge razor to a straight razor is this way:

Scarfing up a greasy hamburger in a fast foods joint or feasting on a steak with wine in a fine restaurant; guzzling a tasteless light beer from the can or savouring a cellar temperature hearty beer in a beer mug; listening to Beethoven and John Coltrane or to a symphony of tin cans rattling in the backseat; and so on.

I look at straight razor shaving also as an art and a craft, something that takes time and discipline to learn, something that eventually says something about your inner voice. You can get a good shave with a cartridge razor in 90 seconds, or you can spend a bit longer and get a great shave with a straight razor.

You might think I am pumping a little too much philosophy in this. Perhaps I am. That's because I view the straight razor world also from a philosophical perspective — while getting a great shave.

Regards,

Obie

My dear Leon,

Bless your heart and thank you for the kind words.

Regards,

Obie

During my teen years, much of the "acne" that I suffered was simply ingrown hairs from using a Mach 3 that chose to pull out my whiskers rather than slice them. Electrics did much the same.

Fast forward a couple years, and I was introduced to DEs. I thought the shave couldn't get much better, but couldn't get over the beauty of the straights in all of the SOTD forums. DEs were great, yes, but the inconsistencies in the blades, even in more expensive ones, left me a bit disenheartened and yearning for better.

After a little deliberation, a little patience and a lot of reading, I decided to give straights a try. I was hooked. Soon enough, I was getting shaves comparable to a DE, but the feeling was just "better", for lack of a better term.

Now, my shaves can't get much better. The only thing I can imagine being superior to my current predicament is simply a better shaving straight.

That's all.

Originally Posted by Obie

listening to Beethoven and John Coltrane or to a symphony of tin cans rattling in the backseat

Off-topic: I'd have to hear this symphony of tin cans first before making my choice. There is music in noise.

I went from a Mach 3 to straight shaving and there is no comparision. Mach 3 did give me a speedy shave, but left me with ingrown hairs and annoying pimples. Once in while, I would get a good BBS shave off a fresh blade, but the ingrown hairs and pimples were inevitable.

Straight shaving solved my ingrown hair and pimple issue. It also is superior in exfoliating the skin. The control you have in keeping your blade sharp and the shaving angles and techniques contributes to a superior clean shave.

Head to head in terms of closeness:

Straight Straight shaving leaves my skin so smooth, there is nothing to shave until 36 - 48 hour later.

Mach 3, 20 - 24 hours, I had enough growth that I need to shave again for work.

When I moved to straight shaving, I solved the ingrown hairs and pimple issues, I look better, feel better, and financially, I am coming out ahead. Not to mention, the satisfaction feeling with straight shaving and knowing that I am not adding cartridges to the landfill.

The Mach 3 was speedy, but that isn't what my face ever needed.

I hope this helps any newbie who is thinking about making the switch to Straight Shaving.

Pabster

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, Mr. Toplin,

The way I compare a cartridge razor to a straight razor is this way:

Scarfing up a greasy hamburger in a fast foods joint or feasting on a steak with wine in a fine restaurant; guzzling a tasteless light beer from the can or savouring a cellar temperature hearty beer in a beer mug; listening to Beethoven and John Coltrane or to a symphony of tin cans rattling in the backseat; and so on.

I look at straight razor shaving also as an art and a craft, something that takes time and discipline to learn, something that eventually says something about your inner voice. You can get a good shave with a cartridge razor in 90 seconds, or you can spend a bit longer and get a great shave with a straight razor.

You might think I am pumping a little too much philosophy in this. Perhaps I am. That's because I view the straight razor world also from a philosophical perspective — while getting a great shave.

Regards,

Obie

Beautiful as always, Obie.


However, driving to the sound of a bunch of empty beer cans in the backseat on the way home from scarfing down greasy burgers at some hole-in-the-wall diner accompanied by cheap beer is one of life's guilty pleasures!

Originally Posted by Seraphim

Beautiful as always, Obie.

My dear Seraphim:

Bless your heart for the kind words. Thank you, sir.

"However, driving to the sound of a bunch of empty beer cans in the backseat on the way home from scarfing down greasy burgers at some hole-in-the-wall diner accompanied by cheap beer is one of life's guilty pleasures!

"

I know exactly what you mean and am with you all the way. I've had a few of those colorful journeys in my life, too.

Way back in the 14th century in Chicago, one night I soared with a deadly cheap scotch washed down with even a deadlier cheap beer.

Oy . . .

My skin stank for three days. Fortunately I did not own a car, with or without a backseat. Imagine what would have happened then.

Stay well, my good friend.

Regards,

Obie

A little skill and fun with Photoshop, and voila! the "Mock 16!"

I've surrendered my Phillishave three-headed (did someone say, "Medusa"?) lift and pluck instrument of torture. I took it on vacation over the holidays -- it actually makes my face feel ... I'm not sure. Numb, I think, after using it. There's some kind of pulverizing going on there.

I've tried, for fun, a Gillette "Good News" --the good news is I'll know better than to do that again. ;-)

I love the str8 shave with my T-I -- it's a work of craftsmanship, though my shaves really aren't. I can't get as close as my DE, though I see it's at least partly because I can't get it nearly as sharp.

Thanks for this reminder. I really need to elevate my honage and stroppage.

Like any skill/craft/art ... the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.

...and I'm still learnin'.

Cheers, boys.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I seriously get nothing out of a Mach 3. Never have. But I would prefer they started calling it the Mach "5 or 6". Or perhaps the Mach "How ever many blades we need for you to send us your damn money". How many blades do those things have now?

Getting a closer shave than a cartridge takes quite a bit of skill I think. Especially if you turn right around and apply your new skills like beard prep, skin stretching, traditional creams, etc., back onto your cartridge system.

I can get an equal shave without much effort though.

I can get a smoother shave with a straight, by far.

Oh sorry, nobody cares about that. The key I think is to learn to hone the razor into a really sharp/smooth pinnacle of shaving perfection and then learn how not to dull it with a strop prematurely.

Once you really learn to apply a Mach 3 like edge to your straight blade you can have unimagined success. This is because you begin to realize just how much those other blades get in the way of the first one.

The other big advantage to a straight is that once you really are atuned to what you're doing you can literally see a series of whiskers and shave them off without actually touching the skin at all.

It takes a lot of effort though to dial in a edge. Once it is right, it stays right almost effortlessly though.