DE to Straight, feedback

[muskokabrian]

I would like to get some feedback from those who have made the great leap from DE to Straight. I have a Dovo Straight and strop in a cart somewhere in the ether waiting for me to hit the buy button... but I'm nervous.

Most of us who have gone from cartridge to DE have never looked back and the experience is almost all good. The reward high and in those first weeks of making that switch the learning curve was not so steep to make us pick back up that five blade monstrosity but enough of a challenge that makes us emerge from the bathroom each morning with a sense of pride.

Is it the same when you go from DE to Straight? Once you made the switch did you stop using your DE or mix it up? Did you try a straight once and never again? How bad did your face look those first few weeks?

 

[life2short1971]

I made the switch. A small learning curve but I don't regret it. I love my straights. And my one de.

 

[Hayden]

Ive made the leap to straights twice, but keep coming back to DEs. Ive had no issues learning how to shave and strop its just the upkeep on the blade(honing and maintenance honing) that I dont like. Lots of people here prefer it way more then a DE so I say give it a shot you might never look back.

 

[TheVez2]

I knew I wanted to try straights right from the get go. I figured I needed to start with DE as a go between. I learned on a DE, then when I felt comfortable, I started with straight.

The step from cart to DE is nothing like the leap to straight, in a good way. Shaving with a straight is an awesome experience. Yes shaving with a DE can take you back in history, but you are still shaving with a razor that has a handle and a head. Shaving with a straight takes you back even further in time. You get a very manly sense of pride when doing it. It is a very primal experience, shaving with a completely exposed edge, it is something completely different.

The learning curve is much higher (I'm still very new at it), but if you go slow it is not bad. I was expecting to butcher my face the first time, but only had a couple nicks. I still use both, and have recently taken up SE, which is closer to straight than DE. I just use whatever strikes me that day. I do plan to eventually lean more towards straights, but I do enjoy the variety.

When you get the technique down, it will deliver the best shave possible. For that reason, some folks never look back after they make the switch.

 

[instpasr]

I made the leap and never looked back although I'm currently using a Feather AC.

 

[RF1963]

I made the leap; dedicated a month to straight shaving after which I haven't gone back. There is a learning curve which is mastered reasonably quickly. I felt the disadvantage of going from DE to straight was that I'd set the bar with the DE, I knew the quality of the shaves I could achieve. Going to straights dropped the quality BUT I think the quality was comparable to a cart and goo shave. In other words I could go out without a bristling face and be unremarkable except in my own mind. My face never looked like a raw side of beef either!

Enjoy your transition to straights, it's well worth the effort.

 

[Bay Rum]

I made the switch. I found the hardest thing was to learn to strop properly. i went litte bit at a time on the shaving. The biggest issue is to lose your fear not respect for the blade.

 

[Shangas]

I made the switch from safety to straight about two months ago. I never went back. Now I'm a straight-shaver through and through. I found the transition rather easy, but that's probably because I spent so much time studying straight-shaving before I ever started doing it.

 

[nate]

I actually had my first straight shave today with a parker shavette. It was awesome, actually, and well worth the investment (less than $25). You also have the advantage of just using a half DE blade (no stropping/honing). I can't afford to get into real straights yet (not enough money or time) but this is looking to be a very enjoyable experience nonetheless.

 

[Timbit]

I'm beginning my journey into straights right now, only two shaves in. It is far more involved than going to DE from carts, but very primal and exciting. I do not know if str8 shaving will become my norm, DE is satisfying and quick after all, but it is something I intend to gain some level of proficiency at.

Give it a shot, if you're on this forum then shaving is more than a chore to you. It is worth the experience even if you come out of it with more respect for those who have mastered the ultimate shave.

 

[BOOURNS]

All I can say is go for it!! I switched almost a year ago and ill never look back. There are so many awesome aspects like honing and stropping. As well as the sense of pride that you get from knowing that YOU made that blade sharp and no one else. There is also no reason for fear respect the blade and it will respect you.

 

[muskokabrian]

Thanks folks...

I I'm going to go for it. I'm going to start with a Dovo basic straight and strop from TESC. It's a reasonable price and I've had good dealings with them.

I have some fond memories of my grandfather shaving with a straight, which he did till he died just before his 94th birthday, 30 years ago. As a kid I used to be fascinated watching him work the strop. In fact, I've looked everywhere for that old strop hoping my dad might have saved it and tucked it away but have had no luck.

However, I do have two of my grandfathers old straights that I'd love to shave with, just once but it's in really bad shape and I don't know if it's restoreable... one day I'll find someone on here and send it off to see what magic they can do with it.

 

[Luc]

I went from DE to Straight razor. It took me a while to do the switch. I didn't cut myself that much, it's later on when I thought: "I know this, it's sharp but I can handle it!" that I had my first cut...

Make sure the straight is shave ready before buying it.

I ended up shaving on week-ends only, which took me longer to learn. I kept using my DE during the week. When I was sure, I kept my DE for 4 months, never touched it and I sold my last DE. I find Straight Shaving more interesting but that a YMMV thing...

 

[life2short1971]

Have them hone it for you.You'll be guaranteed of starting with everything in your favor for a positive experience.

 

[instpasr]

Have them hone it for you.You'll be guaranteed of starting with everything in your favor for a positive experience.

+1 set your self up for success.

 

[Drubbing]

A voice of dissent, just for an attempt at balance.

I switched to a straight, then swtched back. If I can't complete a first pass without help from a DE, after weeks of practice, with a good quality razor, well honed by a pro, it's not worth it.

It's not for everyone. But you rarely hear that side of the story.

 

[Alacrity59]

Glad to hear one more have (has) joined the club

 

[instpasr]

A voice of dissent, just for an attempt at balance.

I switched to a straight, then swtched back. If I can't complete a first pass without help from a DE, after weeks of practice, with a good quality razor, well honed by a pro, it's not worth it.

It's not for everyone. But you rarely hear that side of the story.

Sorry it wasn't for you and you're right we don't hear the other side to often, maybe you'll give it a try again after some time.

 

[alabamalawyer]

The main thing to realize when starting with a straight is to not expect the same shave you are currently getting with your DE. If you have mastered the DE then should be getting great shaves with no irritation. The switch to a straight takes time and much more practice. The straight also has a very different feel on the face than a DE blade. Having said all this, once you get the straight shave down, the shave is great. Just expect it to take longer than your transition to a DE did.

 

[DavidP]

I tried a straight for about 1.5 weeks and then went back to DE. Shaving above the jawline was fine but my neck was a disaster. There are just way too many contours which the long blade physically can't navigate. Hell, they're tricky even with a DE, but at least that's narrow enough to let me wrap it around the corners.