Did you only consider DEs and straights?

[Slivovitz]

These questions are for those of us who are "converts" to shaving with straights or single blade safety razors. I realize that some members have never used anything else.

When you started down this path, were you aware that there were options other than cartridges, DEs, and straights? Did you consider a single edge or injector razor, or something unique like a Rolls?

I was just thinking that, although I like my DE razors, and some are still in the rotation, I might have gone directly to injectors or Gem SE razors if I'd been aware of those as an option.

I'd known about B&B for at least 8 months, maybe more, before joining, but believe it or not, it never occurred to me to look at the forums for the first few months. I just sampled parts of the wiki, and even then, hadn't bothered with the non-DE information.

 

[ackvil]

As an "older" member of this forum I started with DEs and then tried everything that came along: electric (at least three different makes) and every multi-blade that Gillette came up with.

When I used a DE a century ago I did not use it properly since there were no instructions and my father, who was my teacher, was not particularly adept at getting cut free shaves.

Thanks to the Internet I discovered this forum and mantic59's videos and learned how to use a DE properly. I have not looked back!

 

[proxymoron]

To be honest, I only really considered DEs (give or take the urge to own a Feather AC) until I started spending time on the boards here. Now I've got a couple of Gems coming in the mail (a 1912 and a Featherweight).

I'm keen to try them but sometimes wonder if a little knowledge isn't a dangerous thing.

 

[brianw]

Learned to shave oh so many years ago with a straight..... went thru the Gillette multiblade BS for far to many years before coming back to DE. Now my DE's get no use as Straights, Gem/Everready, injectors are the only things in my rotation. Wish I would not have gone to DE's ????? No... it only caused me to see how superior a Straight or SE can be...as always YMMV

 

[Xezmer]

I have cartridges, injectors, double edges, straights, single edges, and I just added an auto-strop to my rotation.

 

[Defend Tacoma]

DE's and straights are all I really looked into. I guess my theory is that each brand of shaving had been around as the most popular method of shaving for a hundred years or so. There must be a reason for their longevity, in my opinion, it's cause they work. And work well!

 

[rickboone1]

I only knew about (other than carts) DE's and Straights. The site introduced me to SE's and Injectors. Neither of which I care about though. Well, I guess the site had refreshed my memory of injectors. Seems I recall seeing them around and always have seen the blades, etc. The SE's were totally new to me. I've tried them all. Straights are by far my fav.

 

[Picaro]

I like to keep it simple with the DE's. I know there are blades everywhere, and dont expect that to change too soon.
I like the 'arty' look of some of the Gem types, but doubt I'll bother trying one.
Injectors? I watched a recent thread where some of the local ( Aussie ) boys are working on a group buy for injector cartridges from overseas. Thats not freely available enough for me.
I know I will try straights at some stage, before my eyesight gets too much worse, lol. But it wont be for a while yet.

Cheers

 

[Cheesehead Transplant]

I only thought of starting with a DE. A straight and a SE didn't even enter into my mind. I stumbled on the DE idea when I was at Walgreens staring at the price tag of a package of Sensor Excel cartridges and thinking there has got to be a cheaper option. Then I noticed a package of DE blades and the price, which was much cheaper. I went home immediately got on the internet to see if they still made the razors. I ordered a Paker 96R from Amazon. The rest is history. Now all my savings are being used to feed my AD.

It was only after using my first DE for about a month I stumbled across B&B. Now, I actually have a SE in my rotation. To be honest, I'm glad I didn't start with this kind of razor. My neck doesn't like it at all. When I use it, I have to use a DE on my neck.

 

[johnmrson]

For me it's been a pleasureable journey to try them all.

 

[michiganlover]

I came here looking for a cheaper alternative to expensive Fusion Carts. I had a vague knowledge of DE razors, and Straights. I may have run across Injector blades at some point. I had no idea the Gem razor existed.

Upon posting here (asking which was best the Atra, Trac II, or Sensor), I was quickly PIFed a Gillette Tech/ Blades/ and VDH Deluxe. I acquired a VDH Boar, and for the most part have not looked back**.

I have since been introduced to Gems, Injectors, Straights, and had a Rolls for a short period of time.


**I enjoy using the Trac II/ Atra and shave with them about once a week.

 

[Uncle Erik]

After goin through carts and an electric, I switched to a straight back around 1993. I liked it (and still have it), but the maintenance and length of time needed to shave took too long.

More recently, I switched to DE to save money, then was pleasantly surprised at the quality I got. The single edge and injectors are interesting, but I'm not keen on the availability. DE blades are plentiful and easy to get.

I will go back to straights in retirement or if a lot of time frees up. I love them, but am a lot happier pitching a used DE blade than maintaining a straight. But when time isn't an issue, I think it would be fun to go back.

 

[Ignatius]

Never really thought about a SE/Gem/Injector etc. They're not available here. I wonder if some of the them were even sold in England? I've read here that SE are still available in shops in the US, don't think they ever have been here.

p.s. I would love to try a Rolls razor but they seem difficult to get hold of in usuable shape.

 

[Sydney Guy]

Ahem! While they may not have been available in England, they were most certainly available in Britain aka the United Kingdom.

The GEM/Eveready were made in the UK as well as the US, and my father tells me that Schick injectors were available in the UK as well. As a Gillette sales rep in Scotland in the '50s & '60s he ought to know, since they were the competition.

See this closed Ebay listing for photos of a "Made in England" GEM, as clearly stated on the packaging, razor and case.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150473049111&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

As for Rolls Razors, most of them seem to have seen little if any use by their original owners, judging by the number of them that show up with box, instructions and even inspection slips intact. It seems the original owners found them unusable when new!

 

[kadett]

I started only on DE's as that was all I was familiar with. When I came to use this site I was introduced to the other types. I used a straight, Rolls Razor, Ever-Ready SE and Injector. In the end the Injector was the razor mean't for me

I now use an Injector almost exclusively (with the occasional shave with my Ever-Ready) and I wish I had known about them much much earlier.

 

[PhatMan]

Hi,

Started with a Schick SE in the 1970s, moved onto a straight in the early 1990s.

When the old barber who honed my razors died in the late 1990s, I found that SE and DEs seemed to have 'disappeared' off the face of the Earth in the UK !!

Had to use cartridge razors

Took up DEs & SEs again in 2008, and then straights in 2009.

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

 

[O.G.]

I only considered straights. My barber was doing a razor line on me and lining up my mustache and sometimes goatee with a disposable straight so it picqued my interest. I researched and found the feather ac and all the various blades. After a year im still honing my skill in creating a good lather, and using the AC but my shaves have come full circle. I didnt think of the DE route because I used Andis T-ouliners for years and then went straight in, pun intended.

 

[taffy]

I only knew of de's, and had heard of straights, though knew nothing about them, single edge, rolls, gems etc, i had never heard of until jioning up on here, i have got a few of each now, but still rather my de's and straights.

 

[Slivovitz]

I never made it clear in my original post, but I had started with a DE around 1971 or 1972. Within a few years I went to Trac II, then Atra, until I was reminded of DE razors in early 2009 and went back to them.

In the 70s and 80s at least, I was vaguely aware that something called an injector razor existed, but it was not until this site reminded me of it that I really looked into it.

The existence of single edge razors was something I inferred from the fact that there were single edge razor blades. It was this site that gave me my first solid information about them.

I guess I've always been aware that "some people still shave with straights". Not really interested at this time, but there's no need to say that I'll never try one.

 

[Groat]

Honestly I only considered DE razors when switching. Straights seem like a lot more work to keep up than I'm willing to perform, and it doesn't seem as though they'd give you any closer of a shave. I can't say that I'd heard of SE or injector razors before getting my DE, but I don't think that they would have swayed me. DE razor blades are plentiful and cheap, and it seems as though you have far less options for injector razors especially.