should I just give up?

[CzechCzar]

So, I have been quite happy, after a spate of RAD, with my Merkur HD. After trying a number of supposedly better DEs, I concluded that the Merkur was ideally suited for my face, and let that be that.

For awhile. Now I am getting interested in buying the Pils, or a straight. I am already getting BBS almost every time, so I think it'snot that I want a better shave, I just want something new to learn.

With the Pils, I know I can convince myself to wait until Christmas, if I get it at all. But the straight is so tempting! HALP!!

 

[southernmail]

The Merkur HD is remarkable, and in my den is hands down my favorite, in spite of having some really nice alternatives. For example, I bought the newer version of the Muhle R89. As numerous others have noted, the chrome plating, fit, and finish are top notch; but it doesn't shave me better than the HD, and in fact I prefer the HD.

The Pils is a beautiful instrument and may be quite a nice shaver to have in the arsenal; what's not clear is whether you would get a better shave. You might simply enjoy the aesthetics.

On the other hand, straights offer an entirely new dimension, with new skills to master.

Seems to me that straights open up a much wider vista for RAD, not to mention strop and hone AD.

One final thought is that you could started with a straight and a strop for no more than the Pils.

 

[ateace]

the merkur hd is remarkable, and in my den is hands down my favorite, in spite of having some really nice alternatives. For example, i bought the newer version of the muhle r89. As numerous others have noted, the chrome plating, fit, and finish are top notch; but it doesn't shave me better than the hd, and in fact i prefer the hd.

+1

 

[MajorBurnz]

Believe me, the downward spiral starts with wanting to try out 'just one other product'.

Let's say you want to try a straight - you get a shave-ready one. Now you need a strop: you get one. Hey, maybe you need a hone: you get a barbers hone. Of course, you dull your razor while learning to strop. You could get it honed, but it's easier to get another razor (and you'll have a spare), so you get one more razor.

.......and so on. Maybe this will shave me better, maybe that size will suit me better. Before you know it, you have 35 straights, 6 strops, and a dozen hones.

Then you think: Maybe I should try SE razors ----- maybe injectors.

I'm speaking from experience here. I've used most types of razors (cartridge, DE, SE, injectors, straights, you name it). I'm not counting cartridge razors, because they sucked for me. I get great shaves with my straights; but I get great shaves with my SE razors, and I get great shaves with the DE head that was given to me for free.

It all devolves to wanting to try something I haven't yet tried. I'm no longer expecting a magical razor to appear that gives me better shaves than the rest. That would be hard to do, all the razors and blades work so well.

If you can avoid the AD's, do so. It will save you time and money. It is a lot of fun to play around with shaving stuff, but it is a slippery slope and can quickly get out of hand.

Take it from a man who knows.

 

[dpmtherrien]

+1 here. +1 many times over.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt to prove it.

 

[mkevenson]

If you are already getting great shaves with what you have, you have no reason but to EXPAND, learn a new skills set. Go for a straight, learn all you can, buy a few beautiful blades and all the trimmings. If in the end you decide you want to return to BBS with your old stand by you can and have lost nothing. You have however gained experience and took an adventure.

 

[gsurko]

This is what makes the world go around and put people to work. Do what you want and what makes you happy, your not hurting anyone in fact your helping in the purest way.

 

[moonshine44]

You're asking us to help you just buy one razor? That's not really all that likely, is it?

I say, get 'em all, try 'em out, then sort out the rest...

 

[Sueto]

If you go with a straight, which is kinda fun, know that there is going to be additional equipment, not just the razor, to account for. If you can hold out on the Pils until Christmas, then just get a straight to get you to Christmas. I mean there are plenty of Hallmark holidays in between now and Christmas if you need an excuse to yourself to get one heh. Go on... it doesn't look that deep down there... it worked out for the coyote.