Reconsidering shaving with a straight

[BarberRonny]

Hello guys,

I've been shaving with a straight for a bit more than half a year now and it goes pretty well apart from an occasional nick (it still happens every now and then! like yesterday where I did a 3-pass shave and used a wrong angle on my chin). When I ask my girlfriend to feel the softness of my cheeks she likes it, but then she comments about the spots where I cut myself, which don't look very nice. I hate this! I also discussed straightshaving with some friends and they all think I'm mad spending so much time on shaving, and to be honest when I'm in timestress or need to work early I don't feel like shaving wet - a rushed shave will open my face for sure!

Sometimes I wonder why I'm shaving wet (apart from that it's fun babying my face), and I wonder if other straight shavers here are bothered with such thoughts too. Anyone? I still like wetshaving and get a smooth face with it, but to be really honest.. electrical shaving and even a Wilkinson cartridge blade (while having a hot shower) gives me a BBS face too. I don't believe I'm the only one getting a smooth BBS face with ANY shaving technique. So I guess it's more the hobby/coolness factor that keeps me into wetshaving as electrical/cartridge-blades don't REALLY make a difference here.

So....

- do you occasionally think about why you shave with a straight, or did you even reconsider shaving with electrical/cartridge again? what were your conclusions?
- what draws you to wetshaving? is it because it shaves better (from experience), because there is a gentle risk attached to it, because straight blades are neat, or because of the coolness factor?

[arghblech]

I know squat about straights but maybe you should keep a DE handy for when you are in a hurry.

[Amyn]

Hello guys,

- do you occasionally think about why you shave with a straight, or did you even reconsider shaving with electrical/cartridge again? what were your conclusions?
- what draws you to wetshaving? is it because it shaves better (from experience), because there is a gentle risk attached to it, because straight blades are neat, or because of the coolness factor?

I have never considered shaving with anything other than a str8 after taking up the disease I sold all my DEs and only kept 2 (Fatboy and Gold Slant) for travel use only

What draws me to wetshaving is the fact that I actually enjoy the experience vs. hack and cut cartridge and goo out of can method.

[Seraphim]

Read up as much as you can and focus on technique: really keep the blade low angled to your face, and that should reduce the chances of cutting yourself.

[HankG]

I switched from DE to straight because shaving with a straight is fun as hell. It takes more prep work than a DE, is more expensive, and has a sharper () learning curve. The only reason to shave with a straight compelling enough to overcome the downsides is how fun it is. If you aren't having fun with it, switch to DE or even a cartridge and get a more practical, and hopefully enjoyable, shave. While there are a lot of fanatics here, the only thing that matters is that you enjoy your shave, so if you aren't enjoying it anymore, switch to something you do enjoy.

[Sticky]

I use one because it's closer, smoother, has far less iritation, and much better control while trimming around the moustache. Honing and stropping is fun, too.

[Upshall]

I'm in the same boat, about to throw in the towel...

[paul.c]

I am not one to get too easily discouraged, I had some rough patches while I was learning, But as time moves on I get better. An occaisional nick/cut is inevitable IMO. It is not a safety razor, we grow complacent, and nick ourselves. Not enough to bother me. Do what makes you happy. Do what makes you happy. The utmost importance preached here is that one should be able to enjoy themselves becauseof, and during their shave. Do what makes you happy.

[riooso]

I have been shaving over a year now and I do not get anything but an occasional weeper. There was a time about 5 month back where the cuts really got to me. If you are still cutting yourself you are probably pushing to hard. Lay the blade down and make very light passes and see if that helps. A properly sharpened razor will cut the hair even with light passes. If you keep the passes light you can do more passes and still not get irritation. Another thing is to use very short overlapping strokes. You all have to figure out your problem areas on your own but there are techniques that will help.

Here is an example, for me my neck is a killer the hair is thick and like steel. When I shave I go N-S from top to bottom including the neck. My next pass is from my ear to my chin but I can't shave my neck from the edge to the center so I take an ATG pass that is extremely light with a blade angle that is less than the width of the spine. I mean light! Next pass I go from my chin to my ear but on my neck I do a more aggressive ATG but this time I shave with short slow strokes. I have done almost all the work already so I get a BBS neck. I have accomplished two things. I have diminished the possibility of a cut because the first pass was very light and I was not working the blade so hard that it would catch hairs and dig in. Second I have saved time because I have shaved with a purpose and not done a pass that really would do me no good.

The preceding is not an attempt to do anything but show how to adapt techniques that work for me, and probably only me. LIGHT passes give you control and if they are light enough you can cut yourself and not even draw blood. You'll feel the blade but it just barely makes it past top skin layer.

Rambled on enough but hang in there. Straight are very rewarding and there is nothing like it, but you know that aready.

Take Care,
Richard