From a straight to a DE

[misterelie]

I've been using a straight for about 18 months before finally adding in a DE to my repertoire. I'm doing a lot more travel now and the straight, besides having a lot of family value to me, takes up a lot more room when I travel than a DE does. So I've been reading a lot about DE's here and in the Straight Razor Place forums. I finally got a collection of 5 DE's on Friday and last night I did my first shave. Like my first straight shave, I got a bad first shave out of the DE as well, but with no blood . The interesting thing is, after using a straight for a year and a half, I'd apparently already learned to take the pressure away, and so I needed to actually put a little pressure back on! I went through a complete circuit on my face and it hardly cut anywhere. Some had to do with the angle, which I'm still learning, but it looks like a lot of the bad habits I learned from modern razors I've already lost.

 

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Coming from a straight to DE could present it's own hardware problems. Have you sought out a more aggressive DE razor? Possibly an adjustable?

 

[misterelie]

I wanted an adjustable, but none of these are. It's on the shopping list once I get the hang of this.

 

[dpmtherrien]

Nothing at all wrong with a good DE shave.

I started this wet shaving thing with the DE, and then progressed to straights. However now I'll use whatever razor I feel is needed for the shave just before I start. Since I only shave every 3rd or 4th day, I'll often use a DE for the first pass, and finish up with the straight. Doing this combo gives me at least a DFS every time, and often a BBS.

 

[Rob72]

I've been using a straight for about 18 months before finally adding in a DE to my repertoire. I'm doing a lot more travel now and the straight, besides having a lot of family value to me, takes up a lot more room when I travel than a DE does. So I've been reading a lot about DE's here and in the Straight Razor Place forums. I finally got a collection of 5 DE's on Friday and last night I did my first shave. Like my first straight shave, I got a bad first shave out of the DE as well, but with no blood . The interesting thing is, after using a straight for a year and a half, I'd apparently already learned to take the pressure away, and so I needed to actually put a little pressure back on! I went through a complete circuit on my face and it hardly cut anywhere. Some had to do with the angle, which I'm still learning, but it looks like a lot of the bad habits I learned from modern razors I've already lost.

Which DEs? I'm only keeping those that are considered fairly "aggressive", or especially unique/rare, anymore. It isn't worth having something only marginally better than a Bic disposable, for me (as cool as the whole Gillette line is...)

 

[misterelie]

Well, I got these as a lot of 5 for only $30. But I expect I'll do the same; keep the ones I like and get rid of the rest. There are two gold 3-piece razors, one with combed sides. The one without has the Gillette stamped on the top. One silver three piece with no stamp. And two TTO's. Non adjustable, one is stamped X-3 which is 1977, I think. None of the others have either serial numbers or date stamps.

I really want a nice aristocrat and a "fat boy.". For for starters, I can't complain with these 5.

 

[Parallax]

I love my Fat Boy. Of my 30+ razors, it's my favorite. Have not tried any modern razor except the DE89l, which is wonderful but too mild for me.