Straight Vs. Safety - Inquiry

[Skyfaller]

Hello,

I've been using a 5/8 full hollow straight razor for almost 2 months now and sadly I'm realizing that as much as I like the straight razor, it simply is not very convenient due to the constant stropping and I certainly do not enjoy the cuts. I understand it takes time to learn yet time is something I don't have every morning before I head to work. Lately it has become very frustrating to be shaving in the exact same way I did the day before (in which I got a clean shave with no cuts) and end up cutting/irritating myself badly. Stropping the thing is quite tedious.

I am VERY pleased with the smooth shave of the straight razor ..something that the cartridge blade mach3+/fusion,etc have never achieved... but time and frustration are getting the better of me now.

I've been looking at the double edge safety razors as an alternative. I've never owned one but seeing videos of it seems to have the best qualities of the straight razor (1 blade,smooth cut, no irritation) and the ease of use of the more modern disposable cartridge razors... plus its cheaper (blades) than the 3+ blade cartridge that are sold today.

So my question is.. how would you compare the shave with a double edge safety razor with that of a straight razor...and that of a modern disposable cartridge razor?

 

[Labowski]

I'm still new to straights so I'm still getting better shaves with my DE razor. The DE razor gies me waaaaaay better shaves than my Gillette fusion did.

 

[Cacique]

I haven't tried a straight razor, but comparing DEs to cartridges is like night and day for me. I'm hispanic, so I guess my beard is a bit thick and curly, grows in all different directions. Cartridges lasted once and gave me a lot of irritation, but using a DE with a feather blade I've eliminated irritation and almost got my technique down to where I don't nick myself with them. Still need a bit of practice, but it's the smoothest my face has ever been.

 

[aihpcfl]

I'm possibly outside the mainstream on this. I was happy with carts (except for the cost). I have used a straight, but like you didn't get into the upkeep. I think you will like a double edge safety razor if you try it. You are ahead of the curve by having learned to pay attention when you were using the straight. And odds are you will be happier than you were with cartridges.

 

[NSmalls]

You could try the Feather Artist Club. Very close to a straight with no upkeep. Or you could try shaving at night when you're not in a rush.

 

[Vercin]

you could also try Weck Sextoblade .. or some other shaveate.

 

[Snikkeren]

What NSmalls said.
I've got a Feather Artist Club SS, and I love it. You don't have to strop. Just change the blade when it starts pulling instead of cutting the whiskers.

 

[TacticalPanda]

As NSmalls said you could try a shavette of some sort where you would just buy blades, a Cobra Classic razor which is like an injector that takes the Artist Club blades, or you could try an SE razor. SE razors are supposed to feel a little more like a straight than a DE razor from what I have read. I certainly enjoy them.

 

[Shutterbug57]

SE razors have been called a straight on a stick but they are still safety razors. I like both DE & SE, but the. SE has more of a straight feel. The blade is not curved so you can more easily see the cutting angle. SEs can also be had cheaply on the bay.

 

[u2u]

Straights are king if you get the hang of them. Might not be for you given the time you have put in and issues you are having. A disposable blade straight such as a shavette or Feather take more skill than a regular straight so I would not recommend one as you are still having trouble with cuts and irritation. A DE will do almost as well and might be your best performance/cost/benefit choice.

 

[fsturnz]

I started DE shaving in January, and a couple months later began experimenting with straights. Before that, I was a cartridge user since I first shaved that peach fuzz on my upper lip. I tried all the latest Gillette cartridge systems over all these years and was never really satisfied. When I started DE shaving, and after (for me) the short learning curve, I was getting the best shaves of my life. When I started with the straight, I swore I would never give up my DE's. I'm now on 150 +/- shaves with the straight. I haven't touched the DE's in that time, and I'm getting better shaves than I was with the DE.

You'll enjoy DE shaving...and you may decide to stay comfortably there. But for me, once I figure out the straight, it only takes me a few minutes longer, and the shaves are wonderful. Either way...you'll never go back to the carts once you've seen the light!

 

[Black Adder]

I agree with everyone who recommends the Artist's Club, and I'd suggest you try it, too. I see it as a happy bridge between what you can achieve with a DE and a straight. I use it exclusively now. Blade upkeep is a non-issue, and they sure can cut the whiskers. You can still get cut pretty badly with them if you're not careful, but I find the handling a little bit more predictable than what you get with a traditional straight. The smooth shave lasts longer than a DE, but not as long as with a traditional straight, in my experience.

Don

 

[Amzimbo]

I'm also new to straights, so my routine is to use the DE on workdays and a straight on weekends, when I have more time. I'm getting better and faster with the straights as I gain practice, and I like the satsfaction of improving my honing and stropping techniques as well. The DE is certainly faster, and at this stage probably even closer for me. But I find that my smooth shave lasts longer when I do three passes with the cut throat and then polish with my DE. I enjoy different aspects of both methods. A shavette certainly has some qualities of both and is a useful compromise, but like all compromises, it doesn't have the best aspects of either.

 

[Aristeros]

Heya. Nothing keeps you from having both, you know. I would say pick up a DE (I have several straights but only shave with one a few days a week due to the maintenance factor) for weekdays. After I became comfortable with a straight I ended up not cutting myself, but you won't escape stropping. You won't really escape lathering the soap and face prep, either, of course; would you want to?

I would caution you--by removing these pieces from the process you are taking away bits that many folks on here find enjoyable. Don't take time you don't have or shred yourself, but rather make it something you enjoy. Is that a shavette (which I cut myself with a LOT, so I don't recommend), a SE, or a DE? I dunno. I'd say it would not cost you much to find out.

 

[Mr5x5]

Heya. Nothing keeps you from having both, you know. I would say pick up a DE (I have several straights but only shave with one a few days a week due to the maintenance factor) for weekdays. After I became comfortable with a straight I ended up not cutting myself, but you won't escape stropping. You won't really escape lathering the soap and face prep, either, of course; would you want to?

I would caution you--by removing these pieces from the process you are taking away bits that many folks on here find enjoyable. Don't take time you don't have or shred yourself, but rather make it something you enjoy. Is that a shavette (which I cut myself with a LOT, so I don't recommend), a SE, or a DE? I dunno. I'd say it would not cost you much to find out.

+1. I enjoy my straight much more. I don't enjoy honing and am not good at it so I have pretty much settled into saving the straight for weekends/vacations when I have time. For travel/weekdays/busy times I have a Tech, a Krona or a Berkshire to rotate among. I still get to use the soaps everyday but I haven't added extra stress to my life this way.

 

[hillbilly pick]

All in what you get used to. They can both be gratifying in their own way as well they can have their drawbacks. Like soaps, creams, blades, razors, and the like, one must try to draw your own conclusions. That said, I enjoy both and enjoy the option.

 

[markg]

I would consider Cobra Classic or Feather Artist SS before DE.

 

[Member357]

My opinion is that a damn fine shave or BBS is the same whether you obtain it with a DE, SE, or straight/disposable straight razor. I don't find the smoothness of a BBS obtained with a DE lasts any less time than a BBS obtained with a straight, Cobra classic, SE, or a shavette.

As always, YMMV.

 

[john shea]

I shave with a SR before bed so no rushing needed or skimping on maintenance. I shave 1st with a SR and relather and do one cleanup pass with my DE. This gets me the close long lasting shave of the SR and allows me to cleanup what I cannot get with my SR. If the SR shave is not going well, I know that it will finish OK with the DE..

 

[BillC]

I started shaving with a DE looking to save money and get a better shave. I didn't save any money ;-) And now that I actually know how to shave I can get a good shave with a cart. :-\

But I really prefer shaving with vintage razors. For the past several months I've been exclusively straights - took a few weeks to be quick enough for weekday mornings. If you're looking for the feel of a straight, try out a good SE. The SE blades are rigid like a straight. If you're just looking for a fast, comfortable shave, check out an injector. They give me great shaves and are really easy to use