Am I a DE or a straight Razor guy? :)

[No1Up]

It’s been years since I fell in to the rabbit hole. I had tons of razors and aftershaves, brushes, and powders, strops, and stones! lol

Then, one day… I just started using an electric razor and over time I’ve lost all my cool’s stuff.

Recently, I don’t know why, or how, but I got the bug again. I found my old Portland Straight Razor and decided to strop it on my original strop man strop (he passed away, may he rest in peace) and use it. Brought me back! I found my old Rudy vay, and Simpson duke brush. I went to town on the neck scruff….

I can’t find my old Gillettes, I had a new, slim, fat boy, and black beauty, all gone… where?!! I regrettably sold my above the tie stuff. I’ve come to find out many of my favorite vendors have not survived.

So I’ve been searching and I found razor rock has some cool stainless DE razors, and at an awesome price, made in Canada! But I can’t seem to pull the trigger.. my favorite razor blades are gone Personna Meds?! It’s almost not worth it to me without those blades, what sucks is I know I had a box of 100 but I tossed it back in 2019.

I feel like with a straight I won’t even have to think about it, just strop the hell out of it and it’s sharp and I have full control.

Is me not being able to pull the trigger just my inside voice telling me I’m no longer a DE guy? Anyone here go through the same? I can say this, I’ve never ONCE cut myself with a straight… can’t say the same for a safety.

 

[BigJ]

Sure, you are a ‘traditional’ wet shaver! And you can be BOTH a DE and a straight razor guy!!

 

[92percententropy]

There's nothing wrong with being a straight razor guy. And, though it may be heresy to say it on this board, there is something to be said for simplicity.

 

[thombrogan]

It doesn’t matter if your razors are straight or otherwise – love is love!

 

[ButterfaceX]

Same here, both are a part of the daily ritual & therapy.

Two things can be true at once​

We humans are multi-faceted beings who walk around trying to put each other into neat little boxes: de/sr, good/bad, right/wrong, broken/fixed, brave/scared, mean/kind.
We lose so much of the beautiful nuance life has to offer when we force everything, including ourselves, into a box.
What’s true is that two things (at least!) can be true at once. Even things that look contradictory on the surface can be simultaneously true.


My Little Wet Shaving History & More...

Started SR's when I was 16, taught by dad close to 50 years ago.
I still remember my dad telling me, it is like learning how to drive the right way!
First, you learn how to drive a manual / the stick ...
Learned on a Falcon station wagon w/ 3 on the column which was given to me.
Six months later, I scoped a low mileage 1970 Mustang Mach 1 428 CJ - 4 speed.
One year after that I totaled it. Some say it was stolen?
I flipped it over going pretty damn fast and walked away unscathed!
Ok, back to shaving....
Around 20, I got into DE's using mainly slants my dad had. Only reason for the DE try: a faster wet shave process.
You know, college, nights out......
Oh, & yes I still flip my DE's also but going much slower and being extremely careful!
Hmm, I am thinking a Cobra Jet R41 Racing Special Edition.
That is exactly what you want to do with an R41, go fast...

Enjoy Each Shave whatever you use...
BFX

 

[ivan_101]

I am afraid you asking us a question, that only you can answer.

 

[No1Up]

I am afraid you asking us a question, that only you can answer.

I suppose you’re right. lol just making conversation I suppose.

 

[helicopter]

Razor Blades Club has Accutec Accuthrive blades. They should be the same exact blade as med prep in a new wrapper.

 

[Doc Dan]

You can be all of the above, if you want. It is a shaving hobby, after all. I can't use an electric. That is the one thing guaranteed to give me ingrown hairs and irritation. While I do prefer a traditional straight razor, I still like to use my replaceable blade straight razors (shavettes) and double edge safety razors from time to time. So, I find I can love using those three and not feel guilty in the least.

 

[House Boy]

Do both, what can go wrong.

 

[Iridian]

I identify as Open Comb, Open/Comb.

 

[Ron R]

The closest shave to a straight razor and a safety razor is just buy a Gem Micromatic or Gem Micromatic Clog Pruf SE razor. You get a great shave and is based off a straight razor years ago. Make sure to use the Gem SS PTFE blades if you go that route.

 

[Brutus]

I feel like with a straight I won’t even have to think about it, just strop the hell out of it and it’s sharp and I have full control.

Is me not being able to pull the trigger just my inside voice telling me I’m no longer a DE guy? Anyone here go through the same? I can say this, I’ve never ONCE cut myself with a straight… can’t say the same for a safety.

Some people may hold a different view, but after having shaved for a while exclusively with DE razors and then for a long time exclusively with straight razors, I now reach for whatever I feel like.

IOW, I no longer feel that I am “cheating” on the other razors…



There is, however, something to be said for using straight razors exclusively in the beginning, as it helps come to grips with the correct technique if one does not use other razor systems in-between.



B.


P.S.
For someone to use a straight while he “won’t even have to think about it” is generally considered bad advice.

 

[mr_houston]

Some people may hold a different view, but after having shaved for a while exclusively with DE razors and then for a long time exclusively with straight razors, I now reach for whatever I feel like.

IOW, I no longer feel that I am “cheating” on the other razors…

Yep, that’s me.

I have more time to shaves these days, so I primarily shave with my straights. However, I finish with a Wolfman against the grain on the goatee area. Why? Because I love my Wolfman and get no joy from the straight ATG in that area. Best shaves of my life!

 

[thombrogan]

Make sure to use the Gem SS PTFE blades if you go that route.

Having used Amazon Basics, Foshio, and High Tech to utter frustration, I agree

 

[jcs266]

I discovered DE razors 10 yrs ago, tried several and settled on the ATT H-1 Kronos. Been using it daily for 10 yrs and have never looked back. Same Simpson Berkeley brush for 10 yrs now too.

One razor... One brush. Perfection!

 

[HDSledge]

If you can wield a straight without drawing blood, more power to you. It's a badass way to shave imo. I don't have the steady hand or experience required and a tiny piece of tissue won't stop the bleeding I would inevitably cause.

 

[KW Driver]

Do your thing. I’ve been a straight user for a good long while. Feather SS was my go to lazy shave/traveler for a long time as well. These days, a Tech or New LC is my lazy shave. I’m perfectly fine with it. They’ve gotten a fair bit more work then back when.

I miss the Israeli reds/Crystals. Bought some advertised as such but I suspect they’re German factory made and nowhere close as good. I’m content running through my older Astra SPs in the New and Feathers I have in the Tech. Once they run dry… I don’t know.

I’ll never use an electric ever again, because they always felt torturous, but again, you do you to your satisfaction.

 

[Manannan]

Wet shaving with anything that is not cartridge-based is good (apart from in the groin area, where I still reserve the right to go over to the dark side); at the end of the day what one uses to keep the length of facial stubble to less than 13.5 inches is a matter of personal choice(s) and preference(s). Having fallen down several seemingly bottomless rabbit holes, I use a variety of vintage and modern SE, DE, kamisori and straight razors. DE and SE razors provide a quick and simple, almost perfunctory, shave; more fun is to be had with vintage SE razors using hollow ground blades and vintage SE/DE razors with built-in or box-based stropping or honing systems. Straight razor shaving involves zen-like concentration and skill to keep one’s head connected to the neck and always gives me a real buzz feeling; shaving with a kamisori takes this to another entirely higher plane and remains my favourite way to fight the never-ending battle against the threat of facial undergrowth in which birds might nest…

 

[frbock]

When I was much younger one of my uncles told me he could relate to me better than my brother or my dad because I was a klutz.
Being a klutz means not doing things like putting razor sharp objects against my throat without taking safety steps.

Having spent months doing the experiment, if you go DE (or SE) your shave will vary based on the blade. I like platinum better than chrome or PTFE, but that's my face with my razor. It makes a difference so it's worth the time.