Thread: DE vs Straight question....

I use straights and a DE. I use the DE during weekdays because it's faster to use. I use the straights on weekends because I'm not rushed on Saturday or Sunday mornings. Here's how I compare them:

DEs require less skill to use than straights and, for me, they often provide a more uniform shave. Straights provide a closer, more lasting shave (less noticeable stubble the next morning). I also think my face looks a little bit better after using a straight, perhaps due to more aggressive exfoliation.

By the way, disposable (tossable) razors require very little skill to use, but often cause irritation when dull--and they dull quickly. They do have their place, though. I still keep them around for quick, post-shave touch-ups or for when I travel.

I was using a DE for a couple of years before I switched over to using a Straight. I had gotten very good with the DE and switching to the straight was a huge step back for me.

However thanks to my stubborn streak (and this board) I stuck with it and got better with the Straight. Eventually they started to parallel and I was mostly happy with the shaves I was getting with the straight.

About 2 weeks ago I was having an issue with one spot on my neck (I have a spot that grows in a spiral) and decided to attack it with the DE because I was positive that the DE could get it BBS. Shaving that day with the DE is when I realized that I get a better shave with the straight now. The DE doesn't even come close.

Still struggling with that spiral but at least now I know I am better with the straight than with the DE. The straight just snuck up on me. Definitely was not an overnight change.

That's a good one Mzarra. Being away from it left you with the fond memories, but in reality it was a different story huh? I'll keep trying. And can anyone tell me the best way to shave ATG from under my ear to under my chin? I can't seem to get any kind of angle there that works.

-= Beer

Yeah, the memory didn't match the reality

As for ear to chin, there is an advanced pass called the "Guillotine" that I use for that direction. It takes some practice to get right. Shaving passes - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Sounds frightful! I'm off to read!

What the DE does with coatings, the Straight Razor shaver does with a strop...
Honing only gets you part of the way there, "Stropping really is King" when it comes to how that edge feels on the face..
If you are not Burnishing in the edge with your stropping then you are never going to get that best edge that many of us brag about...

The Straight Razor also has the advantage of allowing more "Tweaking" then all other forms of shaving. From the hone, to the strop, to the grind, to the angle, the smile, and even the stroke, you have ultimate decision on all that...
The problem is, it takes time, you have to invest that time to tweak your own shave to get that "Ultimate Comfort and Closeness"

I have experienced the same thing with the same razors you have mentioned. I feel that ''bharners'' reply pretty much sums it up. With more practice, they'll get more and more comparable. Good luck!

After nearly a year of straight razor shaving, I am nearly as proficient with a straight as with a DE. However, I love using both straights and DEs, so my usual daily shave consists of two passes with a straight (WTG & XTG) and one pass with a DE (ATG).

Happy Shaving.

GREAT responses to this question. The answer is not that the SR is superior. I get a great shave with my DE. Very fast, and my wife loves the result. It is my daily, fast shave. However, when I really want to enjoy the nostalgia and the satisfaction of a great shave accomplished by my own technique then nothing matches the SR. I can get a fast, good shave with my Braun electric (rarely used anymore). I can get an expensive, great shave with Gillette products. My Merkur DE is almost as fast, less expensive and superior to both respectively. But alas, the SR in experienced hands is almost always slower, possibly less expensive over ten years or more, but nothing satisfies the accomplishment nor matches the result of the SR for your best luxury shave. Sadly, most will never stick with it long enough to enjoy that satisfaction. Don't give up - the best is yet to come.

I thought I'd post a quick update... so it's been 2 months since I posted about a pulling brutal shave. Today I think I had my first real SR shave! No missed spots, mostly comfortable (nicked my @#$%@# ear! LOL) and only took 25 minutes! I'm getting closer! There is sooo much to it. Today I was thinking about all the details as I shaved...the lather, the angle, the stroke, the strop, the sharpness... hell of a juggling act. No wonder it takes a while. I'll keep working it.

I had a question too...I dunno if this is the right place for it but here goes. I have a DOVO Best Quality I recently purchased. I have to guide the blade in when I close it or it hits the side and off to the hone I go. I though this was normal because it's just plastic after all... but then I read something that made me think it's not normal. What's the deal with this? Is it fixable?

-= Beer