Thread: Straight razor shave not as close as DE

Don't quit yet. I was raised on a DE, and I am now a SR shaver. IMHO SR is better, but longer to learn and actually perform.

I actually think a contest between say an open comb Gilllett with a feather blade,or a Hoffritz slant VS an SR,would be interesting.
To say an SR will trump a D.E is a pretty broad assumption.JMO

Originally Posted by Bamicus

Thank you, How did you hone your razor? Mine was honed by Lynn, but being a newbie, don't know if I've screwed it up?

I still wonder if I screwed up my edges too. I started honing early on which was stupid really. Unless you have someone to mentor you close by. It is not hard but can be vexing sometimes. I really wore out some razors too. The most stress free option would be to send it back to Lynn, have him evaluate it. Or maybe one of the more experienced folks on here could do that. They could let you know how the edge is doing.

Stropping 50 laps daily for 9 moths is like 15000 laps? I just in the last two weeks have let the strop a little slack which IMO has given the edge a boost. It takes a while before the hands pick up the motion and everything goes great. Same thing with honing. The more you do it the better you become. I'm no expert but I have seen the edges improving every time. The shaving technique, it all improves. I'm looking forward to next years shaves!LOL.

Yes, I have a slant with a feather and the shave is awesome! Can't get that yet with a straight!

Originally Posted by Bamicus

I've been shaving with a straight for about 2 months. Had to shave with a DE the other day and it was much closer. Shaving with a Ralf Aust razor honed by Lynn. I think I'm doing the right things such as stropping and also have .5 micron paste on one side of my canvas strop. Shaving my chin has never been easy since my face is very angular. Any advice?

Thanks

It took me two years to master a straight. Once you do that, nothing's closer than a straight.

I have been in a class from 6 AM to 5 PM for the past week and used a DE, and my shaves weren't as close as I am accustomed to having.

Originally Posted by Bamicus

Yes, I have a slant with a feather and the shave is awesome! Can't get that yet with a straight!

Relax and take your time, it'll come. I shave with a straight most days -for the past decade- and with one of my DE's equipped with a Feather blade when time is short. Personally I think that in terms of smoothness of the shave (ease and speed of the movement) then no, a straight cannot trump a quality DE. But all other things being equal, my straight will give me a closer shave any time. The main issue with straight shaving is that the learning curve is long and certainly in the beginning, brutal. That's why so many people give up after a couple of weeks/months. Just hang in there, make sure your razr's properly honed and stropped, take your time on problem areas such as the chin and you'll get the hang of it.

2 1/2 years with a straight & I get great shaves,,,,but I have yet to beat the shaves that I get with my vintage Gillette, loaded with a Feather.

At least I am not the only one who can still get a better shave with my old short comb Gillette GE and Astra blades than with straights. It is a close race though with the chin being the losing spot for the SR for lack of being able to go ATG there with much success. Still enjoy using a straight more despite that.

Bob

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I actually think a contest between say an open comb Gilllett with a feather blade,or a Hoffritz slant VS an SR,would be interesting.
To say an SR will trump a D.E is a pretty broad assumption.JMO

It has been my experience that shaving with a SR gives a closer shave more comfortably than a DE. I always get ingrown hairs after a close shave with a DE and small cuts where the DE doesn't slide over a bump or scar. I can avoid trouble with a straight because it is so precise! I still would tell people hesitant to use a SR to switch to a DE but for best comfort and longest lasting BBS shave I say SR is still tops!

Geez, I was just reading above and maybe I have to give feathers another try. I swapped out for the personna labs which I really like but you guys are selling me on giving feathers another try.

Will Whisker eat crow? I have before and I probably will again!