Thread: Straight razor = softer stubble?

Just wanted to check if you guys shared this experience.

I just started with the straight razor thing, had my first shave with a honed razor this week. Now i have a 1 day growth. With a cartridge razor my stubble was like 80 grit sanding paper. I could, and i am not kidding, really injure someone with a stubble attack.
With 1 day growth of a straight razor, the stubble very very soft. I am very surprised. I did quite some research before i started this and never come across this observation.
You guys have the same thing?

btw:did 3 passes, quite smooth, bbs sideburns, 3 cuts (to big for comfort). All in all i was very pleased for a first real sharp SR shave.

Yes same here

My theory has always been the the hair is cut at less severe of an angle and therefor feels less sharp, it is not actually softer...

I could of course be way wrong but it sounds good

It's exactly the opposite for me.

Funny thing for me was that when I used a cartridge razor, I would have to shave twice a day if going out in the evening, but when I get a bbs from the Straight Razor, I am good for at least a full day........

...and another thought
I think the cut is more uniform, so the stubble that comes back is not as irregular of height

It sure feels softer to me. That was something that really suprised me about straight shaving. I had never heard anyone talk about softer stubble. Its softer and does seem to take longer to grow back. Or am I just looking forward to the next shave so much that it seems to take longer to grow back?

I think i agree, english is not my native language and all that...

I thought it might be because a SR just cuts the hair clean off, while a safety razor slices it off FIVE times per stroke. just a thought

Anyway, the girlfriend is much more happy!

Mine tends to grow back faster and a little rougher but it doesn't stay sandpaper as long.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes same here

My theory has always been the the hair is cut at less severe of an angle and therefor feels less sharp, it is not actually softer...

I could of course be way wrong but it sounds good

I'm with you Glen. The throw away things only let you shave on a certain angle. Safety razors can be a bit restrictive too

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes same here

My theory has always been the the hair is cut at less severe of an angle and therefor feels less sharp, it is not actually softer...

I could of course be way wrong but it sounds good

I think Glenn is on to something.

I suspect that in some cases a str8 is just sharper
and can slice the bark off a whisker. So the "stump"
is more like a beaver cut it rather than a chain saw.

But some folk have microscopes.... why should we
guess we can look at the stubble on the razor, in the
lather that we wipe off as well as on the face?

A lot may depend on the shave prep. I do know that
if I rush my prep the first half of the shave is not the
same as the second lathering and second pass.