Who has tried straights but didn't go far with them?

[dfollett_98]

ChiefBroom:

One suggestion from a new straight razor user; If you are going to have one of your razors professionally honed and made shave ready, make it your round point razor as your learning tool.
Razors with barber's notches or square points tend to bite you on the ear/earlobe when you least expect it. (Don't ask me or my significantly reduced amount of medical supplies how I know! )
Hang in there. It does get better.

Pleae keep us posted and enjoy your shaves.

Don

 

[Mojo88]

I just sold my last two straights a couple weeks ago. I get better results from my double edge razors with half the time. I don't enjoy the stopping and honing that it takes to keep up the straights.

 

[Psion]

I just sold my last two straights a couple weeks ago. I get better results from my double edge razors with half the time. I don't enjoy the stopping and honing that it takes to keep up the straights.

I agree. I tried a straight about 35 years ago for a short while. Also, it takes too much concentration.

 

[SAPed]

I'm about 10 weeks in on straights, and don't use a DE to touch up any longer. This lets you see the areas you need to improve with the straight. I've gotten better, get good shaves but wouldn't say great. Plus, it does seem somewhat tougher on my neck in terms of irritation (sometimes, not always). This past week I had to use the DE due to time constraint and was amazed at how easy and smooth the DE shave was. When using the straight, I can always feel a tinge when I apply my alum block, with a DE (or SE) I may as well skip the alum as I don't have the irritation. I'm sticking with the straight for now, but maybe will use the DE/SE for 2-3 days per week. I keep telling myself that the DE was also a struggle when I first switched, so maybe the same thing (improvement) will happen with the straight.

 

[pipskicks]

Why are Shavettes regarded as worse than regular straights to start on??? I have one straight and I'm having difficulty learning, but I was thinking maybe a Shavette would be a good idea to remove one more issue of the edge being kept right. I thought it would simplify things by removing the worry of keeping the edge well.

What is the reason for it being worse? I would think if it's sharper then wouldn't there at least be some straights that are as sharp as a Shavette?

 

[Slash McCoy]

Some straights CAN be made as sharp as a shavette. The real problem is that a shavette is not a solid, monolithic blade. It flexes too much. It doesn't have the same heft. And one of the reasons for going straight, which is not having to throw away a bunch of disposable blades, doesn't apply, of course, with a shavette. As for edge maintenance issues, learning to use a leather hanging strop and a pasted balsa block are not insurmountable issues. Most folks catch on pretty quick. But it is your face and your decision. Myself, I say run, far, far away from the shavette and start out right, with a proper straight. You will most likely end up with straights, anyway, so you may as well skip the shavette thing and go for it.

 

[lindyhop66]

The shavette blades like any DE or SE blade can be made many times sharper than a straight razor edge can be honed and so is not very forgiving of imperfect technique or setup. The shavette blades are usually more flexible than with a straight, except for the Feather disposeable blade straights and that can cause cuts pretty quickly.

Why are Shavettes regarded as worse than regular straights to start on??? I have one straight and I'm having difficulty learning, but I was thinking maybe a Shavette would be a good idea to remove one more issue of the edge being kept right. I thought it would simplify things by removing the worry of keeping the edge well.

What is the reason for it being worse? I would think if it's sharper then wouldn't there at least be some straights that are as sharp as a Shavette?