Does using a Slant impove overall technique?

[Kevan]

Conventional wisdom says (I think, anyway) that Slants demand good technique to start with, and they may teach you bad habits because of the completely open blade guard. I don't know about that. What I do know is that I originally got a Slant several months back because I was dissatisfied with the shave I was getting with open combs and straight-bar razors. The Slant blew me away. It gave me the best shave ever. It cemented my faith in DE shaving. So much so that the Slant has been the only razor I used from about October to last week.

Well, I decided to use my Muhle R106 (with the redesigned head) instead this weekend. I always liked this razor and found it superior to any straight-bar razor (Merkur or Gillette or Parker) that I have tried. I was able to get a DFS with it, but never BBS. For BBS I had to use the Slant. But now, I'm sitting here confused because I've just had the second BBS shave in a row using it. And that never happened before. Two BBS shaves with ZERO irritation. The alcohol AS didn't even burn.

So I'm wondering if almost four months of shaving with a Slant exclusively taught me better technique so I can now use straight bar razors more effectively. It certainly seems that way.

 

[mdunn]

I would think that a few months of DE shaving with any razor would give you better technique, and it just so happens that you were using a slant for that time.

 

[mblakele]

What's that about a slant teaching bad habits?

 

[maj_planb]

I've had a Merkur 39C for about a month now. I don't know if it has made my technique better but it has definitely contributed to my being more careful and deliberate in my shave. I've had to slow down and pay close attention to my current shaving stroke. I also consider my next stroke in advance before I start it in order to minimize chances of nicking myself. I can't get away with slips in technique like I could with my other DE razors.

 

[Disburden]

I would think that a few months of DE shaving with any razor would give you better technique, and it just so happens that you were using a slant for that time.

+1 to that.

 

[CloseShave]

My Slant is my favorite alternative to my daliy straight shave. The Slant is definitely as close and takes less time. I also have a Futur and a two Gillette TTOs. The Slant requires more attention and a light hand in comparison than these but it's almost as satisfying to use as a straight.

 

[Walt Whitman]

I've had a Merkur 39C for about a month now. I don't know if it has made my technique better but it has definitely contributed to my being more careful and deliberate in my shave. I've had to slow down and pay close attention to my current shaving stroke. I also consider my next stroke in advance before I start it in order to minimize chances of nicking myself. I can't get away with slips in technique like I could with my other DE razors.

Big +1 to that. My experience exactly!