Anyone start shaving with a straight razor and then stop? If so, why?

[Goblin]

A straight razor edge should last well over 7 shaves (assuming you do 3 passes). I don't see why a regular user would need to hone that often, assuming it does not want to have a fresh edge on purpose....

...If sharpness was not the problem, then what else could have caused this?

These are a few (perhaps rhetorical) questions, but maybe they will help you in finding what is the problem.

I think there's a lot of truth in all of this. I usually found that a blade lasted around 8 shaves before it needed to be touched up on the stones. That includes with some laps on CrOx after a few shaves to refresh the edge. Bear in mind that my dalliance with straights was in the days before diamond paste became popular, so when I say pastes I mean CrOx.

It was the same story when I sent some razors out to be professionaly honed. I could definitely feel the difference in the qualities of the edge, but it didn't last any longer.

I used to use a bevel setter and then a coticule. The goal was to take blades from bread-knifed blunt to HHT 4/5 and tree-topping arm hair. Whilst I didn't get it perfect every time, I could achieve this after stropping on canvas and leather, and get satisfactory shaves from a freshly honed blade.

Bear in mind, I really do like my blades sharp and fresh. I find lack of sharpness to be a significant cause of irritation for me, so I often do one-and-done for DE blades, and on AC blades I like to run them for somewhere between 4 and 6 shaves. I think I am probably a lot fussier than many people about switching out blades as soon as they become tuggy or uncomfortable, and this affected my perception of how long a SR edge was lasting.

Another thing I start to suspect is that my stropping technique was never where it needed to be, and perhaps my edges weren't lasting as a result of that. That's potentially a really important factor!

I kept my favourite straight and recently made some paddle strops with CrOx and FeOx then rehoned it. I was obviously out of practice, but managed to get to HHT 4/5. It still wasn't really sharp enough for comfort in the actual shave.

There's definitely an aesthetic and romance to using straights that appeal to me, but I can't deny that the ease of use and consistent sharpness of shavettes and barber razors seems to result in better shaves for me.

 

[ZeelandsRoem]

Bear in mind, I really do like my blades sharp and fresh. I find lack of sharpness to be a significant cause of irritation for me, so I often do one-and-done for DE blades, and on AC blades I like to run them for somewhere between 4 and 6 shaves. I think I am probably a lot fussier than many people about switching out blades as soon as they become tuggy or uncomfortable, and this affected my perception of how long a SR edge was lasting.

All are valid points and from the beginning of the message it gave me the impression you're one of those who prefer a sharp & fresh edge all the time. Nothing wrong with this though, it is just a preference. Stropping is also super important, it can make or break an edge if done correctly or incorrectly. I have two question. Did you use softer steels or harder ones? Did you try the hardest steels used for SRs (such as TI C135)?

Anyway, from what I understand from your message, I would say a hard steel, a fast cutting and ultra high grit honing compound would probably be the only way to go for someone like you (if you'd still give it a go). With this setup is easy to achieve a fast and uber sharp edge and paired with a hard steel, it should last longer. And even if it doesn't last that long, it only takes a hand of laps on the strop to bring back. A note though, I am not a fan of paste/compound, especially not diamond but it seems to work for some people, especially for the ones which like these kind of uber sharp edges.

 

[Goblin]

Anyway, from what I understand from your message, I would say a hard steel, a fast cutting and ultra high grit honing compound would probably be the only way to go for someone like you (if you'd still give it a go).

You are not the first person to suggest this. All my razors were vintage Solingen and Sheffield steel. I did buy a new Dovo and found it a pig to hone, perhaps due to being a harder steel, so I sold it! I probably should have persevered.

Perhaps one day if the bug bites again, this is the route I need to go down, but given the costs involved I think it will be a while. I feel that straights are like golf - something I might return to in retirement, when I have more time!

 

[ZeelandsRoem]

All my razors were vintage Solingen and Sheffield steel. I did buy a new Dovo and found it a pig to hone

In my experience, these are on the soft side if not the softest steels you can get.

but given the costs involved I think it will be a while

Paste/honing compound is usually very cheap and does last for a long time, especially something like diamond compound. I’d recommend trying CBN or FeO before diamond though, the first two are more comfortable (by a large margin based on an experiment I did some time ago).

 

[BigJ]

I used straights for a few years. Then I decided straights were more of a ‘knife’ hobby, so I went back to DE.

Whatever works is just fine IMHO!!

 

[gpjoe]

Sounds to me like the SR(s) you're using is not as sharp as the AC/DE blades you use. Keep in mind that even if someone else "assessed" your edge, there are some limitations, one of them being what that person assessing your edge expects or likes.

For example, if I would like a less sharp edge and focus on maximizing the comfort but accepting a less keen edge and you prefer to have it somewhere in between (sharp but still comfortable) and your edge fits my needs and I give it an "Ok edge", that does not translate in you being happy with that edge. I think this is pretty obviously. You need to have someone assess the edge from your perspective, let's say being very clear that you want an edge sharp as a AC/DE blade but still offering comfort (or maybe loosing a bit of comfort).

In honing SR(s) world, there are many preferences on sharpness and comfort, just as people prefer different DE blades or DE razors based on their performance, sharpness, comfort, etc.

What techniques/progressions/honing medias did you/were used to hone the SR(s) you used? What was the target of that edge? Was it achieved in the end?

In the end, it is rather easy to sharpen a SR to the level of a AC/DE blade using synthetic honing media (stones or compounds). It is also quite easy to exceed it as well.

If sharpness was not the problem, then what else could have caused this?

These are a few (perhaps rhetorical) questions, but maybe they will help you in finding what is the problem.

I very much appreciated your input, thank you.

Your response kind of reinforces my feelings about shaving with a straight razor: that there are more variables than I am willing to tolerate, and maybe I just don't want to work that hard.

Honestly, I don't find much difference between various DE blades, they all seem to shave very well for me. I've really only used guarded AC blades (Feather and Kai) in my barber razors, and both of those also seem to shave very well for me.

If there are truly that many different degrees to a shave ready SR edge, I have not found one suitable, either by my own hand, or (at least) five others, including four members here - one VERY well known and highly regarded - and Matt at Griffith Shaving.

All of which is very disappointing. I really want to love shaving with a SR, and feel that I've given it a fair shot. It just hasn't worked out...yet.

My reason for posting here was not to solicit answers or to seek help, I just wanted to relate my experience to the OP. I haven't given up completely, just kind of stepped back for now.

Again, thank you for your comments.

 

[Brutus]

I'm not asking in order to criticize straight razor shaving, it's really because I sometimes think about taking up straight razor shaving and wonder if there are things to be mindful of that I might not think of. My guess is it might be easiest by looking at reasons why people stopped SR shaving.

I have said this before, but I it still holds true and I don’t mind repeating it.

The learning curve for straight razor shaving is long and arduous.
In essence, three disciplines need to be mastered: shaving (without bloodletting or looking like one has tried to strangle one’s cat), stropping, and honing.

A mistake in only one of them may ruin an otherwise perfect shave.
Many cheap straight shaving starter sets consists of sloppily made rubbish and straight shavers who have been at it long enough disparagingly refer to them as razor shaped objects (a.k.a. letter openers).

It takes much longer than the often mentioned 100 straight shaves to become a proficient straight shaver. 100 straight shaves may get you to a level of acceptable shaves, but that level you can reach with a safety razor in two weeks. It takes no small amount of perseverance, resilience and patience to master straight shaving and not everyone has the stomach for it and I suspect that many try and give up on the way.

By comparison, achieving a similar (BBS) level with a safety razor is much easier and much quicker.
Some may argue that a straight razor will get you a closer, more comfortable and more satisfying shave.
I used to agree with that, but with some of the newer safety razors that have a positive or at least neutral blade exposure and generous enough blade gap (e.g. Tatara Masamune Nodachi or Tatara Muramasa at setting 4 or 5) you can reach the level of a superb straight shave.

Of course, what remains is the satisfaction one gets when one has finally mastered something that is much more challenging than shaving with a safety razor.

So if anyone asks people why they take up straight shaving, honing and stropping, he or she may think of the words that John F. Kennedy chose in his Go to the Moon speech “we do it not because they are easy, but because they are hard”.


Nuff said…


B.

 

[albsat]

Great comments.
I read a psychology book once where the author said that to perfect into something you need to spend time into it.

I became curious regarding straight razor as people here said it was the most gentle shaving type. I collected, although very affordable razors, 3 pieces but none of them gave me comfortable shaves. My personal problem is that to try to perfect shaving with them, I had to learn to strop and I didn't have any stone to refresh.

I tried to continue using my Shavettes (I prefer only 2 types). My most comfortable and lazy shaves are with guarded Ac blade.

I still want to learn to use a straight razor,, but it seems that I need a nice razor, a good strop (that probably I will cut like the first one) and 2 or 3 stones to maintain plus I need go learn how to strop, hone and find time and place to do that.

I belive that when I retire (God's will) it would be a great hobby to learn for me.

 

[abies]

Great comments.
I read a psychology book once where the author said that to perfect into something you need to spend into it.

I became curious regarding straight razor as people here said it was the most gentle shaving type. I collected, although very affordable razors, 3 pieces but none of them gave me comfortable shaves. My personal problem is that to try to perfect shaving with them, I had to learn to strop and I didn't have any stone to refresh.

I tried to continue using my Shavettes (I prefer only 2 types). My most comfortable and lary shaves are with guarded Ac blade.

I still want to learn to use a straight razor,, but it seems that I need a nice razor, a good strop (that probably I will cut like the first one) and 2 or 3 stones to maintain plus I need go learn how to strop, hone and find time and place to do that.

I belive that when I retire (God's will) it would be a great hobby to learn for me.

I think the paraphernalia is part of the appeal to me, in that it all seems necessary and beautiful. But by the same token, I wouldn't want to invest in acquiring it and discover I don't have the heart for it.

 

[gpjoe]

...I wouldn't want to invest in acquiring it and discover I don't have the heart for it.

That's where I find myself at the moment. My sole motivation at this point is the hundreds of dollars invested. Of course that too is my fault, I jumped right in at the start and overbought before I understood the commitment required.

You could probably get a vintage shave ready razor and a decent strop for under 100 bucks (theoretically all you need) and find out if SR shaving is for you.

The last thing I will add is that I thought shaving with an AC format razor would prep me for SR shaving...that it was essentially SR shaving without the honing and stropping...but in my experience mastering a shavette does not necessarily translate to a great SR shave.

You can learn various razor grips and angles with the shavettes, but for me that is extent of the similarity.

 

[Jens]

I did straight razor shaving for a couple of years, felt I mastered the shaving part quite well, and straight razors gives you a level of blade control that DE shaving can never reach, so gentle, nimble, precise.

I loved everything about straight razors shaving, except (and this is why I got stuck, and reverted to DE shaving) ...:

The honing ...!

I even enjoyed the honing process, very much. The trouble was, I just could not get an edge that came even close to the sharpness of a good DE blade. Instead, I got to develop a liking for shaving with a "dull" blade, a reason I still enjoy a DE blade like the Treat "Black Beauty" today. But ...

I tried, and I tried, and I could get an edge that enabled me to shave, but not a "sharp" edge. Like I could get a SR edge to the level of a Treat "Black Beauty" DE blade, or a Derby "Extra" blade perhaps, but nowhere near a Gillette Rubie blade, or Personna Med Prep, or a Feather blade .... which I also enjoy.

After several years of struggling with honing, I had just had enough of it. DE shaving is not quite the shaving satisfaction that SR shaving is, but at least DE shaving allows me a properly sharp blade, which is really a quite essential part of a good shaving experience.

If and when I get the opportunity to effectively improve on my honing skills, and actually be able to put a *sharp* edge on a SR blade, I may go back to SR shaving.

In the meantime, I need to get shaved, and DE shaving just gets the job done, without fuzz.

One piece of advice:
if you decide to try your hand at DE shaving, do not get the cheapest blades around. The likes of Chinese made Gold Dollar, Titan (and variations of, like "Barbarians"), is a waste of money and just won't allow you the quality edge that a higher end brand will (never mind what certain wanna-be Youtube SR Gurus might claim).
You can get a good quality German made Dovo blade for around a hundred dollars, do yourself a favor of investing in a quality blade like Dovo "Best Quality" or "Inox" from the outset. And, purchase your blade from a vendor that knows what they are doing. I have found several barbers and department stores and such, that sell "straight razors", but have no idea what straight razors are about, and have never heard of different brands of straight razors. THey typically sell the Chinese made crap for a premium price too. Go for some of the online specialists with a good selection of quality brand straight razors. These will often have a good deal on a quality blade with plastic scales, and that is what you want for a good beginner's blade.

 

[Mojo88]

I say give it a go if you want to. In the event it doesn’t work out you can sell everything with little or no monetary loss.

I tried straight shaving multiple times and found it wasn’t for me. Too much maintenance and I never felt the shave was better than an injector or single edge razor.

I admire the people that do use a straight, I believe it’s an art form that takes shaving to another level. It’s just not for me.

 

[SCHMIEDE]

I started using them for the curiosity and beauty of them. I still like them but they are a lot of work to keep sharp.

 

[Balthier]

I got ok shaves from them , but started with DE and the straights feels too long or wide. DE's are more slim and maneuverable, but sure if you learned with a straight you could probably get done faster. I also don't feel like maintaining the blade honing. If I feel like shaving this style I can just use my shavette, which I have gotten pretty good shaves with as well.

 

[PintoPlain]

There are a few reasons people stop using a straight including:

They either don't want the hassle of maintenance, honing, stropping etc.

They got a cut and decided that it wasn't for them.

They didn't want to put the hours in to learning how to use a straight. That is it didn't click for them after a couple of shaves so they gave up.

Some give up for medical reasons eg Parkinson's disease.

Some get overwhelmed by advise and just give up.

Or they simply didn't like it for a plethora of reasons so went back to DE, carts etc.

Personally, I use a DE for a shave every month or two just to keep my hand in and to slowly work my way through my blade stash. I wouldn't like to go back to DE full time as the shaves take too long. I've become more adept at using straights.

 

[musicman1951]

For me it was the glasses.

I cut my ear off with a SR. They sewed it back on the best they could at the hospital, but it's a smidgen lower than the other ear and my glasses no longer sit straight on my face. It's not so bad with the sunglasses, but my bifocals are wreaking havoc with reading.

 

[Goblin]

For me it was the glasses.

I cut my ear off with a SR. They sewed it back on the best they could at the hospital, but it's a smidgen lower than the other ear and my glasses no longer sit straight on my face. It's not so bad with the sunglasses, but my bifocals are wreaking havoc with reading.

Please tell me that I am gullible and that you are pulling our collective legs on this one?

I mean, I know we sometimes say "doing a Van Gogh" ironically, but you didn't actually do yourself a serious injury by mistake?

 

[musicman1951]

Please tell me that I am gullible and that you are pulling our collective legs on this one?

I mean, I know we sometimes say "doing a Van Gogh" ironically, but you didn't actually do yourself a serious injury by mistake?

No, just my warped sense of humor.