rotating DE & straight?

[gurana]

I'm probably talking to the wrong crowd here.... but here goes.

I just recently got my first DE razor -- like a week ago. I was talking to my wife about it, and she asked if I considered one of the straight razors she saw on the site where she got my shaving kit last Christmas.

"Do people still use those?", she inquired. "I guess.", I replied, "But I believe they're more for professional barbers that specialize in shaving. I can't imagine there are too many people out there willing to apply a naked blade to their own necks..."

While I was waiting on my DE to arrive, I posted on FaceBook about how excited I was about this new acquisition. An old friend from high school commented that there's no closer shave in the universe than a straight razor shave, and that he used to use one for a while (before he decided to go the Grizzly Adams route.)

"***?! Really?" My mind was blown. To further its destruction, I decided to actually look into straight razors. I found this forum, as well as a million videos on YouTube. Obviously I decided that I too will someday join those ranks... it's just a question of when, and under what conditions.

So, my questions for you pros: How many of you started out DE shaving before moving to straight? Do any of you alternate between the two?

I'll be honest, I'm really intrigued by the whole idea, but I'm already loving my DE. It seems most DE users have multiple razors that they rotate for various reasons (sake of variety, or different tasks), and it seems it's the same with straight razor users. I've yet to see any posts on people rotating DEs with straights.

 

[r0ckrat]

Me. I'm still learning to shave with a straight, and do so 2-3 times a week, the rest of the time with a DE or Schick Injector. I have 4 or 5 DE's, 4 or 5 shave-able straights, and a couple of Schick injectors to round out my rotation. First started DE shaving last fall, I think. I have a total of 9 straight razors, some of which aren't yet shave ready.

 

[leighton]

Nope, just made the leap from the junk.

 

[chfair]

started with a straight, decided to try out DE's. used em for a while went back to straights, have a DE around incase i need to shave a bit quicker (my straight shave time now hoever is almost the same as DE shave time). and as a backup for when my straight goes off to be honed.

 

[gurana]

I thought about this possibility after I clicked submit: I'm willing to bet that most people continue with the DE (or whatever they had) while they were learning on their straights. I was more wondering about people that have been doing it for a while, yet still choose to also shave with DE for whatever reason.

The reason I'm curious is that I've already looked into the future and seen that I'm most likely going to acquire several DE razors... I may not keep all of them, but certainly I'll have a collection. I'm worried that if I get into straights too, I'll have two obsessions to zap my bank account.

 

[daven1986]

As a new DE shaver I was considering this at some point. I am enjoying the DE shaving experience but I guess for me the straight shave is going to be a luxury more than just a day-to-day shave. I.e. at the weekends / special occasion. I would love to learn to straight shave as it looks fun

But first I want to be able to get a good shave with my DE.

 

[Luc]

Me. I'm still learning to shave with a straight, and do so 2-3 times a week, the rest of the time with a DE or Schick Injector. I have 4 or 5 DE's, 4 or 5 shave-able straights, and a couple of Schick injectors to round out my rotation. First started DE shaving last fall, I think. I have a total of 9 straight razors, some of which aren't yet shave ready.

That's pretty much my story.

I've been wetshaving with a DE for less than a year and I'm now learning with a straight. I'm getting decent times with a straight so I might make the move soon to be 100% on straights. I currently own 3 DE. 1 of them is used every day, one is the backup DE and the last one is supposed to be the travel DE, that I never used.

I might have to sell it.

Straight wise. I currently own 5 that are shave ready and I have 7 not shave ready (I need to send them to have them honed). I got 1 in the mail that will probably come out of custom between today and Christmas (I hope). I have a barber hone on the way to do some touch-ups.

I'm looking at getting a 3" strop to avoid the X pattern while stropping.

Pretty much it. I'm not having a closer shave at the moment vs a DE because of my inexperience. I'm getting there, slowly!

 

[The Mick]

I use my straight as much as possible but if I don't have the time to enjoy my shave I use an old style ball end to get it done quick.

 

[mdunn]

since i started using straights more than a year ago, ive used a de about 6 times

 

[professorchaos]

Since my first shave with a straight, I've used nothing else. At first it was because I believed that using a DE would slow my progress. Soon after, I had no interest in using anything else.

 

[Tolduonce]

Since my first shave with a straight, I've used nothing else. At first it was because I believed that using a DE would slow my progress. Soon after, I had no interest in using anything else.

Same here. Started out DE exclusively and accumulated about 12 of them. Some of them were never even used. Odd thing is that I can't seem to part with them. Two will probably go to my brothers as Christmas gifts. The others sit in the den and every time I walk in, they look at me expectantly. When I break out the strop, they sigh audibly. I avoid making eye contact with them. Meanwhile, on the far side of the counter, the straights puff out their chests and grin at the DEs.

 

[Starcar]

Since my first shave with a straight, I've used nothing else. At first it was because I believed that using a DE would slow my progress. Soon after, I had no interest in using anything else.

My feelings exactly, I would rather not shave a day than go back.

 

[gurana]

This is all what I feared... though I still want to try it. I think I'm going to give DE at least a little while, though with the holidays around the corner, that might get brought up somewhat.

I didn't spend much on my razor, and only a couple of packs of blades. And it'll always be good as a back up, or perhaps travel, though I know it's not impossible to travel with your straight. If I end up never using it again because of it, so be it. I just know not to go crazy getting razors. Honestly, I don't feel the urge (yet?) to get multiple razors, unless I'm just trying to find a really good one. I've got my eye on perhaps the futur, but I'm really satisfied with the one I have now.

Now, to peruse a selection of straights in my price range...

 

[Thebigspendur]

I've been using a straight for years now. However, if I'm in a hurry or not able to give full attention to the shave I will still use a DE now and then.