Can a straight razor be good for sensitive skin?

[NeilTheDruid]

Hello chaps,

With the summer months baking and steaming me, I decided to release my face and take what remained of my beard off. At first everything was great, chin able to breathe and nice clear skin. Three weeks later the story has changed, razor burned and uncomfortable chin :( Currently I use a Merkur Futur razor with feather blades. I am one of those super tough beard, wuss skin guys and I'm losing my temper with it. I seems that despite thorough preparation, the feather blades are just not sharp enough, they pull a little at my face and refuse to cut through my beard. I have been shaving with my DE razor since 2005 so I'd like to think that if I was going to find the right method for me, I would have found it by now.

This got me thinking. Would it be a good idea to get a straight razor and give that a go? Blades on straight razors, from what I've read, provide more control on the angle of the blade, which itself is incredibly sharp. I know that this is not something you learn to do well over a couple of weeks, but I am serious about finding a new and better way of shaving.

What do you guys think?

Cheers. :)

[Luc]

A DE blade can technically be sharper because the metal is thinner... IMO, YMMV. However, because the straight razor has a stiffer grind, I reckon it could cut the whisker with ease. Nothing should stop you from trying a straight if you want to. If you are unsure, I would say try more DE blades. One thing that I observed when I was using a DE, a super-aggressive DE does not mean great job with tough beard... Something a bit milder might do a better job when it comes to beard reduction... A straight razor can give you such a shave, the only thing to keep in mind, don't expect the perfect shave right away. It took me over a year before I started to get the continuous BBS shaves...

[smalltank]

Well...
I have sensitive skin AND very coarse hair..so..yes a well stropped and honed straight razor will stay sharper LONGER than any disposable blade...that's 1 good thing..another is..a real straight razor blade is thicker than a DE blade and a little thicker than a single edge...the thicker the shaving blade the easier it will on sensitive skin..for this I can promise you..besides worst case scenario you could always resell get most if not all your money back and then some on a resell..most DE blades are thinner so there is a "flex" to them which can lead to nicks n cuts..unless you try Gillette Bleue Extra blades which are very stiff and these don't flex and I like em in rotation..try em WCS has em and a few other places online as well
Good Luck!
ST

[Legion]

I believe a straight is better for the skin, once you get good at using it. As Luc said, you might look a little beat up while you are learning. It might be a month, it might be longer.

[Angry__Panda]

I believe a straight is better for the skin, once you get good at using it. As Luc said, you might look a little beat up while you are learning. It might be a month, it might be longer.

I can attest to the getting a little beat up. The other day I kind of hacked away at my chin and the guys at work were like OMG what the heck happened to your face lol. The key is to stick with it. I think also I can say for sure that DE or straight shaving is miles better than the old cart razors some of us used ;) .

[rickboone1]

I get irritation when I use a DE. I do not when I use a straight razor.

[davidlz]

I've been DE saving for almost a year now and have found that a good straight shave is still the best. The plus side is that you get a good shot of testosterone when using the straight :-)

[Kentos]

The only way to know is to try. I think straights are not as sharp as the sharpest DE, and it takes a lot more skill than a DE. However it may be that the less sharp blade, paired with the ability to infinitely adjust angles, gives a much smoother shave, eventually.
Also, because most of us hone our own, we can fine tune the edge of the razor through different stones, honing compounds, diamond sprays, even types of leather of our strops.

I think everyone can get good shaves from a straight...

[NeilTheDruid]

Cheers for all the replies guys. I think I am probably going to give it a go. Can you recommend a decent "budget" razor? I was looking at a Dovo, but I don't really know much about the straight razor brands or the specifications of the blades.

Is this one any good?

[king1976]

I think straights are not as sharp as the sharpest DE, and it takes a lot more skill than a DE.

+1 for the skills but speaking about straight razor sharpenes vs. DE is non sense so I will try to avoid that kind of converstaion. In my oppinion properly honed straight razor is as sharp as any DE blade but with one big advantage on straight razor side and that is if you have your own hones you have oportunity for fine adjustments and with DE you can do anything (OK....you can switch from one to another producer).
But, let's back to original question.
Straight razor is suitable for sensitive skin but you have to master the proper technique and that's all. With bad technique it's same will you use DE, straight or cartridge in any case you will have irritation, cuts etc....

[maxman]

In my experience it's easier to get a DE in areas where your beard growth is not quite "normal".
So if you are one who pays heed to face mapping and the direction of your passes, it takes more practice to get to the same place you can with a DE.
Nothing with a straight is impossible, it just takes the time and practice to get it right.
I'd say the biggest stumbling block is sticking with it.
It takes a long time to get decent shaves for the average user.

You can get the blade on a straight very sharp, but you lose that keen edge quicker than with a DE.
Learning to hone, or at least finish the edge is something that will help get the most out of the experience.

If you can't maintain the blade, you won't be satisfied with straight shaving.

[flamewing]

BST is a good place to look. Some of the vendors here have pretty good deals Larry at whipped dog, for example, has a straight razor and poor man's strop kit that seems a popular option around here.

I started with a 5/8 blade and I have picked up a 6/8. The 6/8 seems easier to control and I wish I had it first to learn. 5/8 isn't too bad but I wouldn't start with a much thinner blade than that. It's just my opinion. I've picked up the sight unseen option from whipped dog and while the blade isn't the prettiest I've seen it gets the job done and it didn't set my back a lot. I hope this helps.

[danjared]

Hello chaps,

With the summer months baking and steaming me, I decided to release my face and take what remained of my beard off. At first everything was great, chin able to breathe and nice clear skin. Three weeks later the story has changed, razor burned and uncomfortable chin :( Currently I use a Merkur Futur razor with feather blades. I am one of those super tough beard, wuss skin guys and I'm losing my temper with it. I seems that despite thorough preparation, the feather blades are just not sharp enough, they pull a little at my face and refuse to cut through my beard. I have been shaving with my DE razor since 2005 so I'd like to think that if I was going to find the right method for me, I would have found it by now.

This got me thinking. Would it be a good idea to get a straight razor and give that a go? Blades on straight razors, from what I've read, provide more control on the angle of the blade, which itself is incredibly sharp. I know that this is not something you learn to do well over a couple of weeks, but I am serious about finding a new and better way of shaving.

What do you guys think?

Cheers. :)

It could possibly be easier with a straight razor, but if you're experiencing pulling with a fresh blade, it could be that your prep or your technique needs some work. I'd first take a look at your prep and whether your lather is too dry. If it is, you're going to get pulling with a straight razor as well. I'd also like to hear more about the strokes you use and whether you use pressure, what angle, etc.

[NeilTheDruid]

It could possibly be easier with a straight razor, but if you're experiencing pulling with a fresh blade, it could be that your prep or your technique needs some work. I'd first take a look at your prep and whether your lather is too dry. If it is, you're going to get pulling with a straight razor as well. I'd also like to hear more about the strokes you use and whether you use pressure, what angle, etc.

I have questioned my technique from time to time but over the years I have tried all sorts. For now I've settled on the best I've managed. For preparation I only ever shave after I've showered. I use a Prorasso sensitive post shave creamy as a pre-shave after rising my face with hot water. The shave cream I use is blue beards revenge, which I've found to be really good. When I shave I roll the razor down onto my face so I can feel just when the blade touches the skin. I have to admit that sometimes I have a little difficulty with this, particularly around my neck, which seems to be a common problem for a lot of gents. After I'm done I rinse with cold water and then apply Prorasso Post-shave cream.

The rash I tend to get is never uncomfortable, just unsightly and it would be nice to see if I could get rid of it.

[Brent]

Give it a try. I've never used a de but have found improvements compared to using electrics and cartridges.

Guys above gave good advice on starter kits. BST, whippeddog and RuppRazor.

[Pete_T]

Well, if memory serves, Feathers are sharp as hell, but not that smooth. I cant really remember what DEs had a reputation of smoothness besides those Britsh blades they stopped making a few years ago... those things were great. But since you've been doing this a while I'm sure you've experimented.

If you go with a straight try to get one finished on a coticle. They arent quite as sharp as the edges left by some of the synthetics, but they have a very smooth, agreeable edge. Likely anyone selling razors has a coticle and they can run the razor on for a few finishing passes.

[staxchipswell]

a SE razor is a very cheap alternative that should help with skin issues ....but I couldn't. fight. the straight razor bug ......any vintage blade is worth a look.....

[le_paulo]

If you're using a feather blade, it is one of the most volatile and aggressive blades to use in the sense that your DE technique needs to be solid and you have to be extra careful with how it's applied to your face. My skin sounds like yours and the feathers were a nightmare - no rash or burn but they left my skin feeling raw. I went to Derby Extras (Derby Greens) and found that it was a much milder blade while still being sharp enough.

That said, I hated the lasting prickly/itchy feeling after each (supposedly) BBS shave so tried straights in March this year. As a rule of thumb, rather than a month, you should give it about 100 shaves/3-4 months before you can genuinely assess whether it's for you. Don't worry, you'll have a few good shaves in that 100, some of which will leave you a bit shocked when you realise how good it can be. After that, you'll find most of your shaves will leave your skin relaxed and smooth although it takes a little longer than DE shaving.

There's also a learning curve in that time with the other important skills such as stropping and proper lather and face prep that straight shaving demands. I also decided to learn to hone my own blades. For me, these were part of the joy of learning a new skill. And the benefits are genuinely worth it.

[DESkydiver]

Oh yeah... it does take getting use to the straight, and 'there will be blood' at first, even later on as a blade dulls... but as long as it is honed properly and stropped daily (and properly) you can experience a much closer and smoother shave on sensitive skin than a DE or any cartridge (IMHO).

[YetiDave]

I have sensitive skin and went from DE to shavette to straight. My skin's never been happier since I switched to straight, they give lovely smooth shaves and don't feel harsh at all