Gents, I'm just 4 shaves in to the straight razor adventure. I have just a few questions, with more later on I'm sure!
A few brief questions for you
- Thread starter Vlad
- Start date
Reading between the lines in your poll....
I think it is just fine to augment straight shaving with a DE. I sometimes use my DE for touch up - especially after I've wiped the straight down and put it away. I also use the DE for head shaves when I'm in a hurry. My travel kit has a Feather AC non-folder and a Red Tip with a couple of spare blades in a small container. I take it everywhere even if I also pack a regular straight (which I often do).
Some say that you should go hard over on straights and not look back - but I'm not so hard core. I like to use what makes sense and not fight it - this hobby is fun and I want to keep it. Even when learning, I didn't hesitate to do a final pass with the DE. I learned quite quickly and I often don't need the DE - and a blade will last several weeks because it seldom gets used. However, it is there if I want it and so far, the straight razor police haven't knocked on my door. The Kamisori police have. But I confused them with my near English (I'm illiterate in three languages).
I think it is just fine to augment straight shaving with a DE. I sometimes use my DE for touch up - especially after I've wiped the straight down and put it away. I also use the DE for head shaves when I'm in a hurry. My travel kit has a Feather AC non-folder and a Red Tip with a couple of spare blades in a small container. I take it everywhere even if I also pack a regular straight (which I often do).
Some say that you should go hard over on straights and not look back - but I'm not so hard core. I like to use what makes sense and not fight it - this hobby is fun and I want to keep it. Even when learning, I didn't hesitate to do a final pass with the DE. I learned quite quickly and I often don't need the DE - and a blade will last several weeks because it seldom gets used. However, it is there if I want it and so far, the straight razor police haven't knocked on my door. The Kamisori police have. But I confused them with my near English (I'm illiterate in three languages).
What ^ said.
As a recent straight convert, I'm going to refrain from voting, as I think they all apply to me right now.
I used a honing service to start, then purchased some lapping film. I haven't gotten the opportunity to try the lapping film yet, but being able to care, completely, for my own razors is something important to me. I have used a straight for the past 2 weeks, but anticipate using my DEs again since I can shave so quickly with them.
Interesting poll, though.
I used a honing service to start, then purchased some lapping film. I haven't gotten the opportunity to try the lapping film yet, but being able to care, completely, for my own razors is something important to me. I have used a straight for the past 2 weeks, but anticipate using my DEs again since I can shave so quickly with them.
Interesting poll, though.
I use straights/DE/SE interchangably. When I was at the height of my straight adventure I bought a coticule but never did master it.
so I try my best to maintain them but I use a honing service for the heavy duty stuff or if I mess things up.
I'm not too interested in learning and spending the money on hones and what not.
so I try my best to maintain them but I use a honing service for the heavy duty stuff or if I mess things up.
I'm not too interested in learning and spending the money on hones and what not.
My DE's are just dust collectors. Well, not really as they are all boxed away, the only razor that is out is a new deluxe, that I think I have used maybe twice since the beginning of the year.
Part of the fun for me is trying different finishing techniques on different razors.
Part of the fun for me is trying different finishing techniques on different razors.
Go with whatever floats your boat. There is no reason you can't use DE's injectors,Straights and whatever takes the hair off you enjoy. I enjoy straights and they give me the best irritation free shave but I would not be opposed to using a DE if the situation presented itself that required it.
I am six months into my straight razor adventure, but have many years of DE wet shaving experience. I use a straight almost every day. Unfortunately, I cannot yet get the same level of closeness as I get using a DE. For this reason, I do cleanup using my DE after each straight shave. With the DE as backup, I can go at whatever pace is comfortable without worrying about butchering my face trying to get an acceptable shave with the straight. The DE cleanup goes really easy as almost all of the hair is already gone from using the straight.
As I gained proficiency with my straights, I learned that my stropping and honing needed improvement. I get my razors honed initially and then maintain them afterwards for a long time using strops.
My every day strop is an unpasted TM latigo. I also have many hand made 3x12 inch bench strops assembled from 3x24x3/4 hardwood boards and 12x6 inch HandAmerican leather. I keep knife and razor strops seperate. I also use a 4-sided TM paddle strop which came pasted on three sides with diamond paste.
Currently, I am getting good results from a few passes on 3, 1, 0.5 micron diamond paste on my 3x12 inch strops when I need touch up and use the unpasted TM hanging strop laying flat on a counter top for my every day stropping. I strop on the unpasted strop after each shave and before each shave. Carbon blades are wiped with Carmilla oil after each shave before storage in a pen display box. I try to minimize stropping on diamonds and honing as all razors will eventually dissapear into the hones and I want mine to last as long as possible without showing heavy hone wear.
Beware catching RAD, I am now up to 11 straights, 8 DEs, 2 injectors, and 1 SE. I have only 3 brushes but am getting over run with strops and stones. Fortunately, my RAD is still mild and there is still hope for a recovery.
As I gained proficiency with my straights, I learned that my stropping and honing needed improvement. I get my razors honed initially and then maintain them afterwards for a long time using strops.
My every day strop is an unpasted TM latigo. I also have many hand made 3x12 inch bench strops assembled from 3x24x3/4 hardwood boards and 12x6 inch HandAmerican leather. I keep knife and razor strops seperate. I also use a 4-sided TM paddle strop which came pasted on three sides with diamond paste.
Currently, I am getting good results from a few passes on 3, 1, 0.5 micron diamond paste on my 3x12 inch strops when I need touch up and use the unpasted TM hanging strop laying flat on a counter top for my every day stropping. I strop on the unpasted strop after each shave and before each shave. Carbon blades are wiped with Carmilla oil after each shave before storage in a pen display box. I try to minimize stropping on diamonds and honing as all razors will eventually dissapear into the hones and I want mine to last as long as possible without showing heavy hone wear.
Beware catching RAD, I am now up to 11 straights, 8 DEs, 2 injectors, and 1 SE. I have only 3 brushes but am getting over run with strops and stones. Fortunately, my RAD is still mild and there is still hope for a recovery.
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I use a straight about 4 days a week and a DE the remainder. When I'm up at 3:45 AM to get ready for work I don't have the extra time it takes to use a straight. I also clean up swith a DE to get BBS....I'm not there yet with a straight.
When I started my straight razor journey I was completely give up my De's just for the sake that I could use a straight many times over that way i do not have to spend money on blades. That and I wanted to try out straight razor shaving and I must say that I am getting the hang of it fast and liking it a lot. The only thing is learning how to maintain the razors, that is why I acquired three and use two as a learning platform for honing.
I have only used a straight razor for seveal years. I have never used a honing service and have always maintained my own razors.
What he said, except I've used honing services twice. Now I maintaint my straights myself.
i have used straights only for 4-5 years. never a honing service. i honed the first straight i ever shaved with (not advisable). i have not looked back until recently. i still always use a straight if my health permits if not i use a DE, SE or injector. tom
I use and maintain my own straight razors. I have used a DE but it's a rare thing, I can shave faster with a straight razor.
I use straights about 80% of the time. The rest I mix up with DEs, SEs, Injectors, or my Rolls. I get the best shaves with a straight, but I like the variety and some days I'm just too lazy to strop
Str8 only and maintain them - I used my one and only DE after a very very very long time and quickly recalled how much better my str8s shave. The str8 shave is far better and with enough practice quicker than the DE
I wouldn't dream of going back to DE - straights are too fulfilling to use.
Use and maintain straights. sometimes use a DE if I am in a real hurry, or as is the case at the moment, deciding what I might want to thin out of my collection.
use and maintain my own straight.
Have only been shaving with a SR for 7 months. In this time would have used a DE about 5 times.
Just find the straights more rewarding to shave with.
Have only been shaving with a SR for 7 months. In this time would have used a DE about 5 times.
Just find the straights more rewarding to shave with.
