Hybrid shaving

[mdarnton]

So here's the deal. Today I received a straight razor that I bought on Ebay, and immediately set to getting it right. After I got it all sharp (violin maker: lots of sharpening stuff and lots of experience), I figured just for fun I'd go after a difficult spot on the front of my upper neck that I always have problems with, with the old plastic things, and my new DE razor, too. It worked beautifully, and in one cut I got rid of a big patch that always gives me problems.

So then as the afternoon wore on, I started thinking, why not use both? Safety razor on the parts it works well on like my chin, which I gather is harder with the straight, and the straight on the parts the safety doesn't do as easily.

Is this a totally crazy idea?

 

[celestino]

i think it is very LOGICAL! Do what works best for you and good luck. Pictures of your razors or this did not happen. Hee hee.

 

[clk]

Whatever works for you is the right way!

 

[NCJack]

I use two DEs sometimes, for different spotwork

 

[Toothpick]

i used a Gem G-bar SE today and it worked really well for my upper lip. the DE's i have are sometimes tricky to get right under my nose. i thought about using one of my Gem 1912's just as a mustache razor and DE for the rest of the face, or my straight as soon as i get a strop.

 

[pipskicks]

Funny I can't get my upper lip too well with the gem, just seems like the only way is to go at a very irritating angle.

 

[seattleshaver]

People (including me) do this all the time when learning to use a straight. When one becomes skilled with a straight the DE is no longer necessary for that purpose.

I'm not quite there yet so after getting most areas with the straight I "clean up" with the DE. I'm almost to the point where I don't need it however. I'll eventually use the DE only when I just don't feel like using the straight on that particular day.

 

[GreekGuy]

People (including me) do this all the time when learning to use a straight. When one becomes skilled with a straight the DE is no longer necessary for that purpose.

I'm not quite there yet so after getting most areas with the straight I "clean up" with the DE. I'm almost to the point where I don't need it however. I'll eventually use the DE only when I just don't feel like using the straight on that particular day.

This is great advice

As someone who learned to wetshave on a straight, and uses them primarily, I think the #1 rule of beginning to use straights is never do anything with them that you do not feel comfortable with. If that means using a DE on your chin, use a DE on your chin. With time, you will learn the angle, approach, pressure, feel, and balance of a straight. There is no shame in using a DE on the chin, or cheeks, or neck, etc etc. There is no such thing as "cheating" when it comes to shaving. Do what works best for you.

 

[blackman]

Hold on, you make violins? Very cool.

 

[mdarnton]

I make violins, yes--link in my profile.

Thanks for the great advice, guys--I hadn't thought of the idea that as the straight became more comfortable I would eventually naturally gravitate towards it

Pix this weekend.

 

[gangaskan]

So here's the deal. Today I received a straight razor that I bought on Ebay, and immediately set to getting it right. After I got it all sharp (violin maker: lots of sharpening stuff and lots of experience), I figured just for fun I'd go after a difficult spot on the front of my upper neck that I always have problems with, with the old plastic things, and my new DE razor, too. It worked beautifully, and in one cut I got rid of a big patch that always gives me problems.

So then as the afternoon wore on, I started thinking, why not use both? Safety razor on the parts it works well on like my chin, which I gather is harder with the straight, and the straight on the parts the safety doesn't do as easily.

Is this a totally crazy idea?

nope, not crazy. i dont shave my gizzard with the straight only due to how my neck is structured i have 2 dips that i cant get right, and i'd rather not cut or slice around those areas's so when i do straight i'll shave the sideburns and hit the rest with my DE