I just shaved with a straight razor for the first time

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jiggahertz

Golden Member
Apr 7, 2005
1,532
0
76
A good intermediate step would from a cartridge to straight is a DE. You can achieve the same closeness as a straight with a DE, but there is something special about honing/stroping your own blade. Also, depending on where your wife got the straight it may not be "shave ready". I'd recommend it getting honed professionally the first couple of times until you know how it should feel.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,143
10
81
I love my DE razor. no way would i with a striaght razor.

but yes it takes a little more time. but i enjoy the process and the results.
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
Disposable safety razors are sharper than straight razors because the edge is much thinner. I watched a show on Discovery called "How it's Made" and they showcased the process. They explained that the blades are extremely thin and that they beat any other razor simply because a newly sharpened blade isn't dinged up like a resharpened blade. (for a blade of the same thickness) Quality control makes them superior to anything else, as long as the company manufacturing the blades has top-of-the-line equipment. Cheap blades on cheap razors are probably going to be less effective or last for a shorter period of time, but still work fairly good.

I'd say if you were shaving through a thick beard, the straight razor would be better because it wouldn't get clogged. For the touch ups, a safety razor is probably better. Having more blades just means less passes and less irritation for those with sensitive skin.

I can say from experience that going to the barber shop and having a straight razor shave was a good experience with the hot towels and lather, etc....but the shave wasn't nearly as close as my razors at home.
 

Feldenak

Lifer
Jan 31, 2003
14,090
2
81
Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Originally posted by: silverpig
...


Sounds like a shitload of work for the same results. :confused:

I don't use a straight edge but I use a DE safety razor. At first it did take longer to shave with a DE but after a couple of uses I found it was just as fast as my Mach 3. I actually don't mind shaving now.
 

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
5,471
2
0
Check out these site if you're interested in "cutthroat shaving":

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/

There are pages of links from these sites to other places as well. You'll find sources and reviews for all kinds of shaving apparatus and alchemy ... soaps, aftershaves and aftershave balms, oils, creams ... also honing techniques, links to the youtube "how to" videos ... for straight razors, DE razors, even the 3|4|5| edge plastic razors, and how they all compare.

It's really hard to beat a straight razor shave, the DE's are pretty decent, and the blades are ~3.00-5.00 for ten versus $10-15.00 for six, so you can change the blades more often for a more comfortable shave more often.

Even if you're into more "modern" shaving equipment, the soaps, balms, and lathers can make the morning skin removal a little less ugly.

FWIW
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: Shawn
sounds like a waste of time. I usually shave in less than 10 min.

It was my first time... I'll be able to get it down to 10 minutes or less I'm sure.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: Aquaman
Originally posted by: silverpig
Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

You'll come back. :D


As for pasta vs french food, come on. :laugh:

Oh I'm sure I'll use other razors at some point, but I had a lot of fun with this and would love to make it a regular thing.

Turducken >>>>>> French Food >>>> Pasta :)

Cheers,
Aquaman

No love for "Le Tofurkey"?
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: KingGheedora
Any fear that a twitch of your hand, or improper pressure and/or angle of movement at the wrong moment could cut your jugular?

I was worried at first about slicing my cheek off, but after I got the hang of it I moved with more confidence and realized it'd be pretty hard to do that. I wasn't scared of cutting myself at all by the end. If you use the proper sliding motion perpendicular to the blade, and keep it at about 30 degrees to the skin it's REALLY hard to cut yourself. If you turn the blade perpendicular to the skin and slice like a knife, then yeah, you'll have problems, but it's such a different motion that it'd be hard to make the mistake.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: Xed
Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp
Originally posted by: silverpig
Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

Did you feel sophisticated?

What was that commercial again? It was for men's aftershave or deodorant or something.

Aww shit just what I needed, to try and remember that lol.

Right Guard?

That's what I was thinking... I couldn't find a reference to it though.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: ScottMac
Check out these site if you're interested in "cutthroat shaving":

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/

There are pages of links from these sites to other places as well. You'll find sources and reviews for all kinds of shaving apparatus and alchemy ... soaps, aftershaves and aftershave balms, oils, creams ... also honing techniques, links to the youtube "how to" videos ... for straight razors, DE razors, even the 3|4|5| edge plastic razors, and how they all compare.

It's really hard to beat a straight razor shave, the DE's are pretty decent, and the blades are ~3.00-5.00 for ten versus $10-15.00 for six, so you can change the blades more often for a more comfortable shave more often.

Even if you're into more "modern" shaving equipment, the soaps, balms, and lathers can make the morning skin removal a little less ugly.

FWIW

Any recommendations for a decent strop I can buy online? The store where my wife bought the razor is selling strops for $60...
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Originally posted by: silverpig
Originally posted by: ScottMac
Check out these site if you're interested in "cutthroat shaving":

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/

http://www.straightrazorplace.com/

There are pages of links from these sites to other places as well. You'll find sources and reviews for all kinds of shaving apparatus and alchemy ... soaps, aftershaves and aftershave balms, oils, creams ... also honing techniques, links to the youtube "how to" videos ... for straight razors, DE razors, even the 3|4|5| edge plastic razors, and how they all compare.

It's really hard to beat a straight razor shave, the DE's are pretty decent, and the blades are ~3.00-5.00 for ten versus $10-15.00 for six, so you can change the blades more often for a more comfortable shave more often.

Even if you're into more "modern" shaving equipment, the soaps, balms, and lathers can make the morning skin removal a little less ugly.

FWIW

Any recommendations for a decent strop I can buy online? The store where my wife bought the razor is selling strops for $60...

I can't remember where I got mine but $50 is about what you'll be paying for a decent strop.
 

JDub02

Diamond Member
Sep 27, 2002
6,209
1
0
When I was in college, the barber I went to used a straight razor for cleaning up the edges and shaving. The warm shaving cream was awesome.
 

Aquaman

Lifer
Dec 17, 1999
25,054
13
0
Originally posted by: silverpig
Originally posted by: Aquaman
Originally posted by: silverpig
Originally posted by: WaTaGuMp

You'll come back. :D


As for pasta vs french food, come on. :laugh:

Oh I'm sure I'll use other razors at some point, but I had a lot of fun with this and would love to make it a regular thing.

Turducken >>>>>> French Food >>>> Pasta :)

Cheers,
Aquaman

No love for "Le Tofurkey"?

turducken >>>>>>>>>>>>> tofurkey.

tofurkey is a mutated tofu thingy

turducken is a meat lovers paradise. takes some skill to make that sucker

Cheers,
Aquaman
 

ScottMac

Moderator<br>Networking<br>Elite member
Mar 19, 2001
5,471
2
0
Great strops, reasonable price (for the excellent quality): http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/

These are all hand made, cottage industry & all that.

ClassicShaving.com also has a good range of products, I bought a Russian leather strop ... it's good, but narrower than the one from WSG. The broader leather is easier to strop (especially when you're new to it) because you can keep the entire edge engaged for the full stroke.

http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/522944.htm

FWIW, I have a couple straights, but I keep a couple DEs around too, for when I'm in a hurry.

Good Luck
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Originally posted by: ScottMac
Great strops, reasonable price (for the excellent quality): http://www.thewellshavedgentleman.com/

These are all hand made, cottage industry & all that.

ClassicShaving.com also has a good range of products, I bought a Russian leather strop ... it's good, but narrower than the one from WSG. The broader leather is easier to strop (especially when you're new to it) because you can keep the entire edge engaged for the full stroke.

http://www.classicshaving.com/page/page/522944.htm

FWIW, I have a couple straights, but I keep a couple DEs around too, for when I'm in a hurry.

Good Luck

That's who I bought mine from, The Well Shaved Gentleman, I got the "Original" Latigo Hanging Strop. A very nice strop.
 

Ruptga

Lifer
Aug 3, 2006
10,246
207
106
I "shave" with electric clippers, I have blonde hair so nobody notices the extra 1/8in. of stubble anyway. It's the quick and dirty way, but it works and it's almost impossible to cut yourself.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Well I'll go and check out the one at the local store where my razor was bought. If it's a decent one I might pick it up for the $60.
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Originally posted by: silverpig
Well I'll go and check out the one at the local store where my razor was bought. If it's a decent one I might pick it up for the $60.

What is the store? It's rather rare for a store to sell badger brushes, straights, and strops.
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
Originally posted by: Born2bwire
Originally posted by: silverpig
Well I'll go and check out the one at the local store where my razor was bought. If it's a decent one I might pick it up for the $60.

What is the store? It's rather rare for a store to sell badger brushes, straights, and strops.

House of Knives. I even got some of that Col. Conk shaving soap there. I bought my Shun kitchen knife there, as well as all my knife sharpening stuff.

This is the razor
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,942
7,409
136
My barber uses a straight razor to shave my sideburns and neck. I asked him if he used one at home personally. He said lol'd and said he uses a Mach 5 :Q