Thread: Back to the Mach 3....

I've been 'off the grid' for nearly a year now and the SWMBO and I were doing some spring cleaning this week and low-and-behond I came across a new disposable Mach 3 razor....so tonight I said, what the heck.

Now a year ago, I would have shaved in the shower since I was growing tired to buying canned foams so I usually just jumped into a hot shower for a few minutes and went to work and never really had a problem.

Today, I figured that the shave would be even better considering I was lathering up with a premium soap and brush. And so it started. After two passes, I checked my results and found them unsatisfactory. Did a third pass and found it unsatisfactory...fourth and fifth passes only added irritation so I cleaned up and applied my aftershave. Thirty minutes later, the faceturbation began, but I have....STUBBLE

So here I sit, ten months of straight shaving. I went cold turkey and threw my other razor away and went full-bore. For those struggling to get your technique down or fighting to get a reasonable shave during your first couple months. First, go cold-turkey and rely only on your straight and it will accelerate your learning curve. Secondly, straight shaving is by far the best and cleanest shave you will ever get in this lifetime...

Hello, red96ta:

A story well told. Thank you, sir.

Regards,
Obie

Sometimes you do not realize your progress until you look back. Your straight razor shaving technique must be getting pretty good. I still have some trouble with the under the nose area,especially with a 6/8, also the 90 degree angle of the chin area too. Thanks for sharing that.

I had the same experience a few weeks ago. We recently went to the Corpus Christi area and tent camped on the beach. I took a stainless straight, but also took a couple of the same razors you did. Same results. Thank goodness I took a "real" razor with me too...

Originally Posted by Muguser

Sometimes you do not realize your progress until you look back. Your straight razor shaving technique must be getting pretty good. I still have some trouble with the under the nose area,especially with a 6/8, also the 90 degree angle of the chin area too. Thanks for sharing that.

I have the same issue with the chin, but for under the nose I make a scooping gesture with the blade. So lay the blade flat against the underside of your nose then turn the blade up as you reach your upper lip in the motion of scooping the hairs with the razor. There is a video on youtube I saw it on and for the life of me I can't find it right now. Maybe one of the other guys will have better luck.

_Will

Your story couldn't have said it any better. I think anyone who made the switch to a straight has a similar story. Going from a straight back a mach3, is like going from a Rolls-Royce to a pinto, no comparison.

Great post...thanks for sharing Red

I know how that feels. I shave the back of my neck (once in awhile) to get rid of some of that extra growth and I use a Gillette Fusion 3...I was too lazy to break out my DE and I won't dare do it with my str8 (angle of view is too strange).

I did it today and my neck is irritated ...The DE is definitely coming out next time for this.

Thats the good ol' Mock 3 for you. If I can't shave with a straight, for whatever reason, I'll go to my DE's. But I pretty much draw the line there.

From there the next best alternative to a DE is no shave at all.

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

Great post...thanks for sharing Red

I know how that feels. I shave the back of my neck (once in awhile) to get rid of some of that extra growth and I use a Gillette Fusion 3...I was too lazy to break out my DE and I won't dare do it with my str8 (angle of view is too strange).

I did it today and my neck is irritated ...The DE is definitely coming out next time for this.

I'm a recent convert, and had been worried about getting my neck for some time. Finally it just got too fuzzy to stand, and I asked on the forums about it. Some people use a mirror, others don't, but most said it wasn't as hard as I was imagining it.

So I dove in and did a neck shave and it really was a lot easier than I thought. The skin on the back of the neck is tougher, so its less easily irritated. It is also quite flat and easy to stretch out just by tilting the head forward. The angle is easier to keep than you think, and a light touch isn't a problem at all.

So I'd advise giving it a shot. You may surprise yourself.

I'm like Ryan...I stopped using a multi-blade razor nearly a year ago. If I can't shave with my straight razor, I'll go to my trusty Merkur DE.