straight razor shaving

**crackstar** · 12-17-2005, 01:05 PM

my friends, I was a cartridge razor shaver most of my life, but since six months, I switched to a Merkur Vision. I find that I get wonderful shaves with it, no irritation at all, but many guys tell me a straight razor is still the closest shave you can possibly get. Now, on one hand I was considering buying one, but my eyesight's not the greatest, so I'm a little hesitant and actually scared. Perhaps in time, when my eye's completely healed, (I recently had cataract surgery) I'll try a straight. Now, is the technique for a straight razor shave anything at all like that of a DE, or are there big differences? Who can help me there?

thanks,
Jeff

**guenron** · 12-17-2005, 02:07 PM

Hi Jeff,
One of the subforums under razors is the Straight Razor forum. There's a phenomenal amount of knowledge in there on just about every topic related to STR8s and even more importantly, great fellowship and interest in promoting the gentlemanly art of cutthroat shaving. Drop in and see what I mean.

**rtaylor61** · 12-17-2005, 02:14 PM

Jeff,

There are a couple of things I want to mention. When learning a DE, you should be careful, be very careful.

With a straight? Be afraid, be very afraid!

As Ron suggested, check out the Straight Razor Forum inside the Razors forum.

Randy

**Scotto** · 12-17-2005, 02:24 PM

Some fear is a good thing when it comes to str8s. I have been toying with them for a while, dipping my toes in, so to speak, and I can say it is a quite different sort of skills than a DE, and a longer commitment to master.

I can also reiterate that the gents on the str8 forum are incredible knowledgeable and helpful, so stop in and ask away!!

**crackstar** · 12-17-2005, 02:49 PM

Thanks guys so much. Ron, Scotto and Randy, I'm going to go in there. It's funny, because I mastered (at least I think I did!) a DE quite fast, I still respect it, but I can do things with it now that I couldn't before. A straight looks like a real learning experience.

Jeff

**Rik** · 12-17-2005, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by smoothfacejeff

Thanks guys so much. Ron, Scotto and Randy, I'm going to go in there. It's funny, because I mastered (at least I think I did!) a DE quite fast, I still respect it, but I can do things with it now that I couldn't before. A straight looks like a real learning experience.

Jeff

Greetings Jeff,

Welcome to B&B!

Your switch to a DE has laid a good foundation for moving into straight razor shaving. Your DE usage has taught you to use a light touch and to properly prepare your face. Using a straight adds just a hair more preparation for both your face and razor.

I would equate going from a DE to a str8 no more difficult as going from a cartridge to a DE. When you started with the DE, you had to learn proper form, technique, and a new respect for the razor. The same goes for a str8.

Once you've mastered the above, shaving with a str8 takes no longer than with a DE.

Please take time to browse through the str8 forum and don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have.

Once again, glad to have you aboard!

**Laz in Tampa** · 12-18-2005, 07:43 AM

Welcome, smoothfacejeff! Let you eye fully heal before you try a straight.
Read up on all the straight info you can, check the links section for some sites devoted to straights. Post whatever questions you may have.

**crackstar** · 12-18-2005, 09:55 AM

Thanks so much Laz, that's what I'm going to do. There's nothing like exploring new horizons, and that includes even in wetshaving!

Jeff

**crackstar** · 12-18-2005, 09:58 AM

Rik, Ron, I want to thank you very much as well, as I told Laz, I plan to soon delve into a new concept for myself in shaving. My poor barber's about to lose another weekly shave!

Jeff

**rtaylor61** · 12-18-2005, 09:05 PM

Jeff,

I use a straight, but if I could find a barber who performed straight shaves, I don't think I would give up going to him/her. A good pampering once in a while is a good thing!

Randy

**randydance062449** · 12-29-2005, 01:54 AM

Eyesight's not the greatest? Well, me too!

Now that Santa brought me a 5X telescoping shaving mirror my shaves should improve!

I guess thats what I would suggest for anyone whose eyes are not what they used to be. I have not had cataract suurgery yet but is will happen in the near future.

Originally Posted by smoothfacejeff

my friends, I was a cartridge razor shaver most of my life, but since six months, I switched to a Merkur Vision. I find that I get wonderful shaves with it, no irritation at all, but many guys tell me a straight razor is still the closest shave you can possibly get. Now, on one hand I was considering buying one, but my eyesight's not the greatest, so I'm a little hesitant and actually scared. Perhaps in time, when my eye's completely healed, (I recently had cataract surgery) I'll try a straight. Now, is the technique for a straight razor shave anything at all like that of a DE, or are there big differences? Who can help me there?

thanks,
Jeff

**adonnellyr** · 06-12-2009, 03:21 PM

The questions in this poll seem a little skewed. So I can only like paypal if I plan on using it FOREVER??? What if something better comes along? Or what if I like using it sometimes and my credit card other times?

Edit: I voted in the Paypal Poll thread and then hit Post Reply after, but I guess somehow voting in that thread kicked me to this thread. My browser history shows that it kicked me right over here for some reason... Anyway, ignore this message...

**huracan** · 06-12-2009, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by adonnellyr

The questions in this poll seem a little skewed. So I can only like paypal if I plan on using it FOREVER??? What if something better comes along? Or what if I like using it sometimes and my credit card other times?

Edit: I voted in the Paypal Poll thread and then hit Post Reply after, but I guess somehow voting in that thread kicked me to this thread. My browser history shows that it kicked me right over here for some reason... Anyway, ignore this message...

Hard to ignore, this is a pretty old thread. I can picture your face though after you saw what happened, made myself laugh.

rainman · 06-12-2009, 06:27 PM

How did I get here. Is this an alternate universe? I don't even remember how I got to this paypal poll and I got here.

**SiBurning** · 06-12-2009, 07:13 PM

Oops! There goes the database overloaded again. Or is that cookie caching?

**ambrose** · 06-12-2009, 08:49 PM

Very different, I usually have to stop myself from getting tooo close of a shave. I can get so close I can get some ingrown here and there. When I tone it down I still get BBS though.