After a few weeks of shaving with straight razors, with some pretty good results actually, I went back to my 40s Super Speed and got every bit as good a BBS in a lot less time with nowhere near the risk.
Hmmm.....
Hmmm.....
Second thoughts about going straight.
- Thread starter Rick Sparks
- Start date
Congradulations on not being a little rusty with your technique.Come back to straights soon it's alot of fun.
I get where your coming from. I'll stick with the Safety Razors.
Like I have said before, It takes a special something (which I don't have) to take a bare razor sharp blade to your neck and face.
I salute those who have it, but I'm staying over here where it's safe and warm.
Like I have said before, It takes a special something (which I don't have) to take a bare razor sharp blade to your neck and face.
I salute those who have it, but I'm staying over here where it's safe and warm.
Are you sure you don't wanna be where it's dangerous and cool. I hear chicks dig it.
Though I do not shave with a straight I would think there is a learning curve and would not expect myself to be a speed shaver in two weeks....
I'm way past the age where I'm doing stuff because chicks dig it, LOLMy friends once sent a woman to my room dressed in a Supergirl outfit.
She told me that she was there to give me Super sex.
I thought about it, and told her I'd take the soup.
I know that using a straight is kind of "cool", but I'm just too old a dog to teach that new trick to.
I just wanted to say, I got a chuckle out of the title.
Well I had to try.
Depends on what you mean by risk. There is practically no risk that you will hurt yourself in any significant way. Sure a nick here and some razor burn there but I bet you had some of that before you got really comfortable with a DE. If not you, most people do.
The only down-sides I see are more work and more cost -- initial learning curve, stropping, cleaning the razor, and eventually honing or cost for someone else to do it for you. The extra cost for a strop isn't much more than a really nice DE razor. Eventually, if you decide straight razors are for you then you can (likely) buy a few hones. That can get expensive but you don't need to do this up front.
In my case I saw the extra work as extra fun. The extra costs did sneak up on me!
It's your call.
However, you might want to think about what you want to get out of it.
If you just want a good shave, don't need to think (much) and be out of the bathroom asap - DE.
If you like learning, like the process involved, keeping focused on the shave - Straight.
Timewise, I'd say the actual shaving time can be comparable between the two. Then you add another 4 or 5 minutes for stropping before and after - not a big deal really.
All the best,
Michael.
However, you might want to think about what you want to get out of it.
If you just want a good shave, don't need to think (much) and be out of the bathroom asap - DE.
If you like learning, like the process involved, keeping focused on the shave - Straight.
Timewise, I'd say the actual shaving time can be comparable between the two. Then you add another 4 or 5 minutes for stropping before and after - not a big deal really.
All the best,
Michael.
- Thread starter
- #12
Part of what I'm dealing with right now is just taking a step back to reassess why I'm pursuing the straight razor shave. I don't think it's got much to do with being cool. I'm pretty much unconcerned with that anymore. But if I can get just as good a shave with a DE, then I must be after a sense of accomplishment. Doing something not many guys do. I don't know. But I'm not going to try and reason this out. I believe in what I think of as the 'iron filings' approach in life. Going with what I feel drawn to. So I'm going to take Ambrose's suggestion and just wait and pick up a straight when the spirit moves me.
Gees, I think I just left one hell of an opening with that last line.
Gees, I think I just left one hell of an opening with that last line.
I've been tossing this about in my noggin for months. I've decided to try a str8 combo this Christmas...see where it goes. I dont really have more time to add to the morning "ritual" as my wife calls it....
But really she's right. I already spend more time on my shave than anything else in the mornings...do I really want to add more time? Further, I've read that it can take up to 6 months to perfect the technique.
All I think about when I hear that is YUCK! Who has six months to experiment with? I cant afford to be called "meatface" during my next big briefing or meeting...it kind of takes away from whatever message you're trying to import with your brief LOL!
But really she's right. I already spend more time on my shave than anything else in the mornings...do I really want to add more time? Further, I've read that it can take up to 6 months to perfect the technique.
All I think about when I hear that is YUCK! Who has six months to experiment with? I cant afford to be called "meatface" during my next big briefing or meeting...it kind of takes away from whatever message you're trying to import with your brief LOL!
Im really glad you are deciding to keep at it. We need to preserve and enjoy the art of a straight shave. To be honest Rick the first time I tried straights I gave up in about 2 weeks. I couldn't hone and my face was a huge mess full of razor burn, irritation and cuts. I didnt try it again for about 1yr which was too long of a wait. I came back to it after not finding the enjoyment and shave I was looking for with DE's razors. Just look at me now, honing and doing full restorations on straights.
Hang in there bud.
I found simply getting to know a straight razor makes me a better DE shaver.
Go for whatever you like. You can always switch later!
Go for whatever you like. You can always switch later!
keep at it, I say!
It will take a fair bit more than 2 weeks before you can make a fair comparison, its harder to learn straight than DE, and you need to give it more time.
It will take a fair bit more than 2 weeks before you can make a fair comparison, its harder to learn straight than DE, and you need to give it more time.
It takes most of us more than "a few weeks" to achieve the sort of comfort we straight razor users talk about. It is something that you see as a challenge.
In my youth, I wouldn't say it was common for men to use a straight but many did and most barbers still gave a cut throat shave. The only advantage of a DE razor was speed and convenience. It was generally accepted that the straight was better. Many men would use a straight at the weekend. They all complained at the price of blades. I recollect they were Gillette blue. I don't think the pecking order has ever really changed.
I do know my son thinks I'm mental to use a straight and he only used the DE I gave him once or twice. He thought it was fierce.
I think your face needs to acclimatise to a straight, your confidence in using it needs to be high and the blade has to be of a good quality and shaving sharp and your preparation must be good.
Quite a lot of variables and quite a lot to master in a few weeks.
You wil find when you come back to it, the rest will have done you good.
In my youth, I wouldn't say it was common for men to use a straight but many did and most barbers still gave a cut throat shave. The only advantage of a DE razor was speed and convenience. It was generally accepted that the straight was better. Many men would use a straight at the weekend. They all complained at the price of blades. I recollect they were Gillette blue. I don't think the pecking order has ever really changed.
I do know my son thinks I'm mental to use a straight and he only used the DE I gave him once or twice. He thought it was fierce.
I think your face needs to acclimatise to a straight, your confidence in using it needs to be high and the blade has to be of a good quality and shaving sharp and your preparation must be good.
Quite a lot of variables and quite a lot to master in a few weeks.
You wil find when you come back to it, the rest will have done you good.
I wish I had the inclination to try straight razor shaving, but simply cannot get up for it due to the added expense, equipment, time and difficulty. This and other similar threads confirm to me that it is something I do not need to add to my life, even though I may be missing out on an interesting experience. At least for now, I am more than satisfied with DE and Injector razor wet shaving.
Thought I'd try and address some of the concerns raised:
Messing up your face!
Yep - there is the risk of extra nicks / cuts with the straight, especially when you're starting (or whenever you get blasé and don't pay attention - respect the blade!!)
If that's a concern, you can always do your straight razor shave on the weekends and DE during the week.
Expensive!!!
Yep - potential to be pretty expensive, particularly when getting started.
However - after initial outlay, if you can resist the urge for RAD, HAD (and so on!), it should work out cheaper in the long run - once you've got your set up, there's no more blades to purchase.
Also - doesn't have to be expensive outlay.
Check out the Buying / Selling forum
- you can pick up a straight razor quite cheaply (comparable to a DE).
Strop doesn't have to be expensive. (Check out strop posts)
Maintenance
-initial honing can be from $20 (though a razor bought on the forum will usually be shave ready)
-barber / razor hone for touching up edge occasionally - between $20-60 (they're fairly common, so you can wait for one to turn up at a price you like)
Time
-made comment earlier. Ok - probably not good to rush a straight shave (unless you're really experienced maybe), but I'd say the actual shave time can be comparable to regular shave. Then add a couple of minutes before and after for stropping.
-time to get the skills. Sure - more time than for DE, but learning is part of the fun!
It all depends on what you're after from your shaving experience. You can browse lots of posts on straight vs DE and get all sorts of responses - I think a lot of people see it as more than just the shave itself. (And I think image / cool factor isn't the biggest attraction either).
Hope that helps,
All the best,
Michael.
Messing up your face!
Yep - there is the risk of extra nicks / cuts with the straight, especially when you're starting (or whenever you get blasé and don't pay attention - respect the blade!!)
If that's a concern, you can always do your straight razor shave on the weekends and DE during the week.
Expensive!!!
Yep - potential to be pretty expensive, particularly when getting started.
However - after initial outlay, if you can resist the urge for RAD, HAD (and so on!), it should work out cheaper in the long run - once you've got your set up, there's no more blades to purchase.
Also - doesn't have to be expensive outlay.
Check out the Buying / Selling forum
- you can pick up a straight razor quite cheaply (comparable to a DE).
Strop doesn't have to be expensive. (Check out strop posts)
Maintenance
-initial honing can be from $20 (though a razor bought on the forum will usually be shave ready)
-barber / razor hone for touching up edge occasionally - between $20-60 (they're fairly common, so you can wait for one to turn up at a price you like)
Time
-made comment earlier. Ok - probably not good to rush a straight shave (unless you're really experienced maybe), but I'd say the actual shave time can be comparable to regular shave. Then add a couple of minutes before and after for stropping.
-time to get the skills. Sure - more time than for DE, but learning is part of the fun!
It all depends on what you're after from your shaving experience. You can browse lots of posts on straight vs DE and get all sorts of responses - I think a lot of people see it as more than just the shave itself. (And I think image / cool factor isn't the biggest attraction either).
Hope that helps,
All the best,
Michael.
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That was actually a big part of it for me -- the sense of accomplishment -- a new skill learned. At age 23 getting to work on time was enough of a challenge. At 63 it is nice to find new challenges.
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