Straight Razor Fright...

[Hallucinosis]

It's almost annoying to me that I do not find myself compelled to try shaving with a safety razor, but the issue here is fear. It's something I'm probably capable of, but I'm so afraid of the idea of shaving with a straight edge. Somehow I worry that I am perhaps too much of a klutz to shave with a straight edge razor.

The reason I find it annoying is that I love collecting pocket knives and I love and take pride in keeping them sharp. Some of my pocket knives are sharp enough (or nearly) to shave with, but they are not designed for shaving.

The problem is, if I were to buy a straight edge razor, it would be a crime not to use it, so I would inevitably use it.

Do many of you shave with a straight razor every day, or do more people only shave with a straight razor every once in a while, when you have time and perhaps... trust yourself to expertly coordinated? If you're tired in the morning, do you still use a straight razor?

 

[Kyle Hyde]

I'm just starting to straight shave, but it isn't as hard or as scary as it seems. I say go for it. I've cut myself a few times, but even the really bad ones stopped bleeding with a styptic pencil.

 

[fidjit]

Again I'm no expert.

I've done about a couple of months full on Straight but at the moment only on the weekends ( due to time constraints ).

The first shave is the scariest. It's easier after that ( note I say EASIER, not EASY )

I'd say a majority of the cuts and nicks I've had are NO worse than when I started DEing.

I do have a couple of "larger" scars, but the styptic put pay to them and it's only me that can see them cause I know they're there.

I think everyone's probably pretty scared of putting a straight to their face, but perhaps that's just part of the "challenge"

You're obviously familiar with sharp pieces of metal, so hopefully the first will go easily and quickly

 

[holiday]

I started straight shaving about 7 months ago and have only had one shave with out a straight.
Its awesome.

 

[mdunn]

its tricky and scary at first, but once you get use to it its not a problem.

Just think on your knife collection - some people probably freakout thinking you'd cut yourself all the time - but you dont, because youre aware of the blade and respect the edge. Same deal with straights.

 

[Luc]

I don't know if I could keep some stuff in my place without using them... I was scarded (The exorcist) before I started... In reality (Bruce Campbell vs. The army of Darkness), it wasn't so bad!!

 

[jenik]

I only started with straight shaving a week ago and the first shave was fairly scary. I've only shaved four times so far but haven't cut myself (I managed to cut my thumb but that doesn't count) - which is a lot better than when I started with DEs. I am definitely not good at it but I'm no longer (as) scared. Give it a go, it's a lot of fun, DE shaving doesn't even come close.

 

[jendeindustries]

Once you shave with a straight the fears go away. I only shave 1-2 times per week, partly because of BBS, and partly because I like to take my time shaving, and partly because I don't need to shave for work everyday.

If you read up on things, you'll find that everyone recommends starting off with doing just your sideburns and cheeks with the grain (WTG), then finish with your normal method, and slowly ease your way into a full shave, then branch out into the ATG and XTG.

You will cut your face eventually, but not often.

You will cut your fingers, but not often. I've been straight shaving for 7 years, and just got my thumb on the heel of the blade when flipping it around.

Just be aware and careful and don't shave when in a rush.

You'd be surprised on how easy it can be to get used to using a straight. The first shave is the longest and scariest, after that is becomes a personal challenge to get a better shave than the last.

Good luck!

 

[Hallucinosis]

Thanks for the feedback. I think I may have to pick one up and give it a go.

 

[motero57]

My suggestion is the following,

If you shave with gillette mach 3 or similar, go for DE before. Learn to shave with a single blade. Learn about angles. Once you are familiar with it and shave very confident, you can move to straights.

This is what I did. I have already shaved 4 times with a straight, and I love it. No nicks. I believe that this happens because I learned before DE shaving. I did had a lot of small nicks when I was learning DE shaving. Imagine how bad these could go with a straight...

This is the best advice that I can give you. From my experience, moving from DE to straights is much more easy that moving from gillette-**** to straights directly. It is like getting a Ferrari just after having your new driving license !!

motero57

 

[bluefoxicy]

Do many of you shave with a straight razor every day, or do more people only shave with a straight razor every once in a while, when you have time and perhaps... trust yourself to expertly coordinated? If you're tired in the morning, do you still use a straight razor?

I stumble into the bathroom in the morning groggy and dizzy, with bad lighting and hell I can't see myself in the mirror anyway except to position the blade.

And I shave in 10 minutes.

Unless you slash your face with it, you're not going to cut yourself that easy. It's only a razor, after all; how sharp could it be?

 

[bluefoxicy]

If you shave with gillette mach 3 or similar, go for DE before. Learn to shave with a single blade. Learn about angles. Once you are familiar with it and shave very confident, you can move to straights.

I still don't have the angle right on a DE I think. It's confusing and annoying, and I don't relate it to the straight razor at all. You want a very, very steep angle with a DE razor's handle because you want a shallow angle with the DE razor's blade; however, depending on the razor head and some other factors, the angle of the blade varies. More importantly, at a certain point the blade leaves the skin and you no longer shave with it.

Learn to make lather with a brush and soap. Stick with the Mach3/Quatro/Fusion, until you get that right. Then move to the DE if you want, or directly to a straight razor.

If you come from a DE to a straight razor, it'll take you several months most likely to get good at it. Your first shave will probably pull, cut, not actually shave you (peach fuzz...), maybe give you razor burn, maybe trash the edge of the blade so you need resharpening. You might dull the blade stroping. After a week or two you should start getting a feel for it, and over the course of months you'll get good at it.

If you go directly to a straight razor, you'll still take several months most likely to be functional with it. The only difference is you won't have a DE and a bunch of blades to mess with in the interim.

Seriously I found switching from a DE to a straight razor similar to switching from an electric to a Mach3. Except the switch to a Mach3 was easier.

 

[uppercanada]

I've only been straight shaving for 7 weeks now. I haven't gone back and don't forsee it. I like the ritual of it. I have cut myself twice but... it's just part of the growing pains. The rewards are well worth it.
Keep it up.

 

[Hallucinosis]

My suggestion is the following,

If you shave with gillette mach 3 or similar, go for DE before. Learn to shave with a single blade. Learn about angles. Once you are familiar with it and shave very confident, you can move to straights.

This is what I did. I have already shaved 4 times with a straight, and I love it. No nicks. I believe that this happens because I learned before DE shaving. I did had a lot of small nicks when I was learning DE shaving. Imagine how bad these could go with a straight...

This is the best advice that I can give you. From my experience, moving from DE to straights is much more easy that moving from gillette-**** to straights directly. It is like getting a Ferrari just after having your new driving license !!

motero57

Oh yeah, for sure. Good advice as well--I wouldn't go to a straight razor from a mach 3 either. I started DE shaving about 3 years ago. Right now my favorite shaving combo is a Merkur 38c with Feather blades.

 

[bluefoxicy]

It is like getting a Ferrari just after having your new driving license !!

Ouch, yeah. That'd be like, gee thanks dad, you gave me an overpriced garbage car that's going to break down after a month of driving myself to work. Sell that worthless, overvalued crap and buy a Porsche.

Man, if I had started driving in an MX-5 or an Audi though... something with nice handling, nice controls, a good suspension, a 5 speed or 6 speed... I need a do-over for life.

 

[forum9]

I shave with a straight daily and have done so for many years.

You always have to remember that the razor is a sharp tool, just like a kitchen knife and you must respect that fact.

If my wife walks into the bathroom when I am shaving, I stop.
I never play with the razor, I just use it, dry and clean it and put it away securly.

The shaving thing is just about familiarity. It’s a bit like learning to ride a bike.

When you start, ofcourse it is a little frightening, but no more than using any other type of razor. Just remember that you must keep the blade angle close to your skin and also remember that if the blade is not sharp, it will pull at the beard and not cut. If you feel this, stop until you have got a sharpened razor to use.

The biggest risk of cutting yourself is using a razor that is not sharp enough.
Just remember that a straight cuts through your beard just as easily as a DE razor. If you have to pull, you are likely to cut yourself.

 

[Thebigspendur]

Don't believe these guys. You should be scared because straight shaving is so dangerous rookies kill themselves so often that's why we keep getting new ones to replace dead ones. As a matter of fact most of the guys who post here are really non existant. Joel just makes these posts up to replace the guys who killed themselves shaving so you think there are all these shaving pros.

Seriously though, just do it. It's like learning to use a firearm, if you are afraid of it you will never master it, it will master you.

 

[kwigibocity]

Learning the straight isn't easy. But it truly can change your life like no safety razor can, and is capable of the closest, most comfortable results.

I switched a couple of years ago and would only relegate myself to the safety under great constraint of time. The bar ahead of the blade is too limiting to me now, I can never get as good a shave with it.

I find it hard to believe safety razor users can move from the cartridge/electric world, experience the great improvement, and not wonder for more.