Go straight to straight?

[iRabb]

I am eager to leave cartridges behind, and I would like to learn to use a straight razor. I'm wondering if there is any value in using a double-edge blade as an intermediate step, or should I go straight to the straight razor, given that is my ultimate goal?

Do any of you experienced folks have any thoughts on this?

Thanks,

Ben

[norman931]

Be prepared for conflicting views, but I say go for it. My only caution is that you should first become well-adjusted to lathering with a brush. DEs and straights are different animals, and lessons learned from one do not always transfer to the other.

[orpheus]

Be prepared for conflicting views, but I say go for it. My only caution is that you should first become well-adjusted to lathering with a brush. DEs and straights are different animals, and lessons learned from one do not always transfer to the other.

+1

They absolutely are different animals. I've yet to master (or even get reasonably proficient at) the straight, but the learning experience is a real pleasure. I go back and forth - I'm finding it useful to have DE's to revert to when my face gets too abused from my beginner's attempts at straight shaving.

By the way, if you haven't found it yet, check out http://straightrazorplace.com/

Lots of very good info and helpful folks. (I think a lot who post here post there as well.) Be sure to get Lynn Abrams's DVD: "The World of Straight Razor Shaving". Lynn is a true master, and I found the DVD very helpful. He also posts there, and hones razors. (I'm going to send him one soon.)

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[crankymoose]

I agree go for it as long as your expectations are within reality, don't expect to master the straight shave, honing and stropping overnight or even to be getting bbs too quickly either. Read the interactive guide here and get Lynn's DVD too. One thing you didn't mention are you using canned goo or good shaving creams now I wouldn't try using canned goo with straight razor. On the plus side straight shaving is a blast and if you accept it will take time you'll be ok.

good luck.

[firebox]

A double edge with a good blade (ie) feather will require you to use light pressure to keep from cutting and nicking the skin. The DE is a good starting point IMHO. I went from about four months of DE shaving to a str8. I got pretty proficient with the DE and cut myself only on rare occassion. I had many less cuts with the str8 starting out than I did with the DE. All that being said, little or no pressure and a sharp edge will equal a good shave. I nick myself less now with a str8 ( now about a year and a half) than I did with a DE. I think its because if you don't pay attention, the red lather points directly to the error.

Razor burn...... not since I moved to a str8.

Just my 2 cents.

Martin

[ouch]

I started with a straight, and continue to enjoy them on occasion. My routine was gradually overtaken by DE's, with an injector thrown in every now and again.

[riooso]

If I may? A bit of a long post but here goes. I am 50 something! I started with a DE in my youth and then went descended into plastic hell one day at a time till I though that is just the way it was suppose to be. It was "modern" it was the edge of the "super" this or "super" that. My very first really good paying job I got off work on a Friday and went to a barber to get a haircut and a shave. I knew, even then, that the straight shave was a superior shave.

Date January 2008; I had a knee operation done and did not shave for a week, felt like crap. Next to a place where I get glasses there was knife shop and a razor was in the window. I had plenty of time so.... let's get it on. I carted off a nice German no name razor,one that I still have, brush and Conk Soap. The blade was not shave ready but I had an Arkansas stone and I gave it enough swipes to get the hair on my arm to shave pretty well. It took me 55 minutes for my first shave. One reason is that I had read on B&B that one should use both hands for shaving with a straight, if at all possible. I could not even cut cheese with my left hand. It was a challenge. When done I had a reasonably good shave and a patch on my sideburns that was sticky smooth, I was hooked! I had irritation like crazy because of my blade angle but what the heck no slices or even small cuts.

June 2008: I have a couple of really nice razors and more crap than I will use in a 2 years. I can obtain BBS shaves anytime I want and my skin is like no other time in my life. OH! my brother need salvation from "ELECTRIC MOTOR" hell. There is no way that he will get into straights but, he started with a DE like I did back in the day. From a B&B member I bought the exact same Gillette adjustable that I had in 1970 and it looked brand new, to bad I don't look like I did in 1970. I dropped a Derby blade in and when to town. First shave was very good on a "5" setting and I figured on the second day more is better and wen to a "7" OH! did I burn my neck. I later found out that you should dial a "3" when you go ATG on you neck. So after a week of shaving with a DE I like the shaves and I have a lot more to learn but I know enough to get my brother going.

So wrap it up ADAMS! YMMV but the shave that I get from a DE is really good but it is quite different.

1. I get a closer shave with the straight hands down.
2. The staying power of a straight shave is far superior to a DE
3. I get very little irritation from a straight and my face just feels so much "cleaner"

The stropping, honing and sharpening is a pain sometimes but I have got it down to about a average of 10 minutes a week with the razors that I have. The straight learning curve is steeper and it might be better to start with a DE. I personally have aways worked with my hands at work so a straight is not a huge leap for me. They say using a straight takes upwards of a year to get really good!

So there you have it! YMMV Straights have some real advantages and some disadvantages but for the near OCD expectations for quality that I demand in certain
parts of my life....... Straights is IT!

I hope that the post was not presumptuous on my part.

Take Care,
Richard

[Thebigspendur]

I've been shaving with a straight over 5 years now and having used a DE before I don't think using a DE has anything to do with straight use. Totally different skills. The only thing I will say is if you decide to use a straight you need to read, read, read and learn, learn, learn before you ever take a straight in your hands. You also need to realize using a straight requires a definite series of skill sets that do not come fast or easy.

In today's society of things being easy and I want it now additudes most don't have the inclination to stick with it. if you are truly a different type of person and are willing to deal with the learning curve you will be rewarded with the best shave of your life. The rest is up to you.

[jfever311]

Weclome to B&B!! I am planning on giving up my DE's for a straight at the end of the summer.

[netsurfr]

first, welcome to the forum!
I think the posts you have above provide more than enough advise.
You might also check out www.straightrazorplace.com to get some additional insights.

[kato1]

I came to B&B totally by chance a few months ago, and was looking to get away from maintaining Gilettes profit margin.

Against quite a few peoples advice my first purchase was a Merkur Vision 2000 DE razor. I was warned that it would be quite a bit harder to learn on than an HD, but in reality, it was easy peasy. Within a week I had BBS shaves every time and no nicks.

The trouble was I then started looking at the str8s section of the forum and thought, 'I have to give it ago'.

Anyway, here I am now 4 weeks of str8 shaves. It's going great and is positively adictive. Yes the skills required are completely different in relation to handling the blade than a DE, but if you concentrate and don't expect every shave to be perfect at the start it's well worth the effort.

It's safe to jump straight into using str8s. Enjoy the ride.

[iRabb]

Thanks to all of you!

Ben