How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

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dantee
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How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by dantee »

Hi guys!

I know this topic was likely covered in some great detail over at the old forums. But I never previously joined in those discussions so thought maybe I'd ask this over here.

I only started using a DE razor (custom handle with a muhle straight bar R89 head. Currently using either kai or merkur blades) recently, like half a year or so back. Only getting better / good at it now and don't get any red /abrasions anymore. Hardly nick myself but used to get abrasions and my skin red and bit sore. Think might have used too much pressure or not made a good enough lather.

Well have a good buddy who quite a while before me also got into DE razors and he is quite the shaving nut now. Owning quite a few nice muhle DE razors with nice handles. Haha

He was recently very much contemplating moving into straight razors. He thought that a natural progression of sorts. :p

I'm not yet thinking of that, as it looks like mighty more work, with a lot more proper prep needed, and I don't want to kill myself and cut myself open.

But wondering anyway, especially since there are so many shaving pros and veterans here... How much of a jump is it going from a DE razor to a straight? And if done well, is the shave you get from a straight really that much closer and smooth as compared to a DE?
The technique to use a straight well looks quite different from a DE.
And if one has decent technique and grasp of a DE, and is really careful, would one still be very likely to cut and nick oneself when first moving to a straight?

Sorry for the super newbie questions but would be great to get some insights!:)
Georgek
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Georgek »

I jumped from a gillette mach 3 to straight razors and it took almost 20 shaves to learn how to comfortably shave. A few tiny nicks at the first couple of shaves but everytime was better than the previous.
Get a good soap and make a good lather with it.... straight razors will give you a closer and smoother shave but it will take some time to get there... :)
DarkStar
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by DarkStar »

DE Experience helps. But if your still cutting yourself with the DE... Expect worse with the straight :). Wet shaving experience is also good. Working the grain and nice face prep are all important.

Advice i was given and ignored but shouldn't have:

First few shaves just do easy flat areas. Like your cheeks. Stay away from the chin and under the nose.

Go SLow. Very little pressure.


Im not getting as good a shave with the straight as i do with my DE yet. I also have to go much slower for fear of blood bath. WIth the DE i can basically shave without a mirror and have no fear of cuts.

Still cant figure out the best way to do the left side of my face. Crossing over with the right hand is weird. PUtting a razor to my face with the left hand is nerve racking.

Getting better every time.

Final piece of advice. Do a full shave with the DE; then start the next day with the straight. Dont have a weeks worth of growth on your first go (I tried this and it was a bad idea)

All my cuts were avoidable if i had listened to the advice above :)
Kalaeb
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Kalaeb »

Hard to say. It is definitely a jump. There are many more facets to straight razor shaving than with a DE than just the shave (stropping, sharpening etc). Numerically- 63 percent more difficult than going from a disposable to DE :)

I don't think, at least for me, the shave is any closer with a straight. I only go one direction, however, I nick myself much less with a straight and can get the hard to reach places with less effort.
noobknife
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by noobknife »

When I first learned I took a long time on the shave and didn't cut myself. But after doing it awhile I got either over confident or was in a hurry and ended up getting a couple cuts.

Be careful especially under the nose, because if you get a small cut there, the tiny line from the cut doesn't go away.
Naples09
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Naples09 »

don't think I have the stones to move up to a straight.
Puduu
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Puduu »

I think the whole straight razor difficulty thing is overblown. Did you learn to shave? Yes. Did you learn to use a safety razor? Yes. Can you learn to use a straight? Yes. Will you nick yourself? Probably. Will you survive? Maybe. :?

The principles for a good shave are the same for any method. You have to learn the technique of holding and moving the razor, but that is easily done. The biggest difference is the cost of entry and commitment to maintenance. It's much cheaper to buy a Merkur HD and a box of Feathers than a straight and strop (and quickly thereafter a stone). But the straight, strop, and stone will last generations.

I also think the whole wet shaving canon is often applied too inflexibly (that's an awful sentence :oops: ). It took me a while to realize that I get a much better experience from cold water/ no pre-shave softening.

If you are at all interested in straights, and especially if you already sharpen your own kitchen knives, I'd say go for it. It's not nearly as daunting as everyone makes it out to be. I use DEs, W&B choppers, and a Feather SS (lots of fun). There are so many options. I hate shaving, but this stuff makes it fun. Also I like stropping; there is something calming and meditative about the whole process. But I suggest you ignore that people who say you should only use a straight until you perfect it. I say mix it up. Try a few strokes with your new straight and then chicken out and finish up with your DE. Next time try a few more, or in a different spot. It might take longer to perfect your technique, but it will be less frustrating, probably safer, and way more fun over all.
PappaG
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by PappaG »

I love sharpening my knives. I just don't think I can keep my hand steady enough for a straight razor. At christmas I got a straight razor with disposable razors. Boy, my hand is not steady enough for straight razor shaving... understanding I have very little experience doing so. Seems so cool though!
Puduu
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Puduu »

Keep in mind that a real straight is more forgiving and smoother than disposable straights are.
PappaG
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by PappaG »

I feel dumb asking, but how are they more forgiving?
Puduu
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Puduu »

I think it's because of the amount the blade deforms when shaving.

Image

The disposable is like scraping a tiny DE blade along your skin. It is sharper, generally, but also the edge is thinner and more easily deformed as it encounters resistance. That means it is more likely to scrape the skin as the blade flexes.

Actually I'm just making all this up, but it is how I rationalize it to myself. I do know that my Wade & Butcher is far and away smoother on my sensitive skin than disposables or DE blades are. The skin feels much more pampered after using old Sheffield steel, than factory stamped keenness.

(apologies for the crappy photo - idevice + basement lighting doesn't provide spectacular results :( )
Kalaeb
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Kalaeb »

PappaG wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2018 1:33 pm I feel dumb asking, but how are they more forgiving?
I don't know. I think Puduu's explanation seems legit. But he is right, definitely less cuts with a real straight than a disposable.
Lloyd Harner
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Lloyd Harner »

Puduu wrote: Mon Feb 12, 2018 9:15 am
If you are at all interested in straights, and especially if you already sharpen your own kitchen knives, I'd say go for it. It's not nearly as daunting as everyone makes it out to be. I use DEs, W&B choppers, and a Feather SS (lots of fun). There are so many options. I hate shaving, but this stuff makes it fun. Also I like stropping; there is something calming and meditative about the whole process. But I suggest you ignore that people who say you should only use a straight until you perfect it. I say mix it up. Try a few strokes with your new straight and then chicken out and finish up with your DE. Next time try a few more, or in a different spot. It might take longer to perfect your technique, but it will be less frustrating, probably safer, and way more fun over all.
this is where i stand i love using my straights been doingso for now almost 10 years took about a week to learn not to mangle myself but alos in the last 18 years imnot sure if i have not had a goatee more then a week total so i dont shave the hars spots alll that often
taz575
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by taz575 »

I went from DE, to Straight and back to DE. Found RazoRock soap, Merkur Slant razor with Gillette 7 o'clock yellows give me almost as smooth as a shave as my straights did in much less time, less blood and the blades usually last almost 2 work weeks for me. No stropping/sharpening to worry about and around 5 min for the shave vs 15 with the SR. All my SR's are feeling lonely siting in their boxes and not coming out to play anymore!
Cashn
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Cashn »

I went from using regular straights to disposables, of course after the Gillette Mach whatever. Never did a DE till I got a little lazy and just wanted to try it. I was also into the fancy smancy creams/soaps, brushes and disposable straights. Making a good lather goes a really long way imo. I got lazy stropping and sharpening, I don’t like shaving nearly as much as cooking. Now I use a weck sextoblade (uses hair shaper blades) or a no name DE if I’m running out the door. Usually only using my stubble to create lather, I’ve got a piece of crap brush (Walmart) in case I feel like using a brush. The main thing I liked with a real 8/8 razor or my Kai captain excellia was the weight. When you can let the razor almost fall it makes you feel like putting less pressure which makes you much less susceptible to mistakes. The sextoblade is like using a feather so to get it to cut you have to control and move it. Droning on, anyways, don’t be afraid to use a straight. No harder than learning to ride a bike, kids have prolly lost more blood from falling on bikes than grown ups learning how to use a new razor.
knifefan5
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by knifefan5 »

I shave a straight razor for 3 years. My collection of straight razors consists exclusively of old Sheffield razors. mostly Georg Wostenholme, Wade and Butcher, William Greaves. Razors shave fantastically! for a comfortable shaving you need to have a good natural finish stone Escher or Hatahoshi. the result will be magnificent. Also a good sling will maintain the sharpness of your Razor for a very long time. I have a horse leather sling, made in Japan by the Cardovan vest.
Kanoyama who lives in Japan makes these strop.
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lsboogy
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by lsboogy »

On a whim I shaved with a straight blade this morning - old Boker thing my dad got is med school in the late 40's. I've been shaving for many years with an old Gillete DE my dad used with feather blades, but I see why some like the straight razor shave. Took me a few extra minutes, but my face was baby smooth going to work this morning. Usually just get a barber shave a few times a year, have not done it at home for many years. No nicks, no cuts - and it was as good a shave as I have done in quite some time (I do shave twice - with and then against the grain - when I want to get some smoochin in with the SO - she hates my stubble), I think I know why some like these things so much
old onion
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by old onion »

Obviously you guys don't have the shakes yet.
Ray Settanta
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by Ray Settanta »

There is a jump but it is not insurmountable. The hardest part for me was learning the proper angle of the blade on my face and the correct amount of pressure to use. Oh, also learning not to poke the tip of the blade into my face! It took me about two months of daily shaving but now I can shave without any cuts at all. To me, my skin feels much better after a straight razor shave than after a DE shave. I don’t really know why that is. Because I didn’t want to learn how to hone, started off with a Feather AC razor using disposable blades. Then I went to some “shave ready” razors that I had purchased. Now, I added a high grit stone to some stones that I already had for knife sharpening. I have been able to exceed the sharpness of the razors that I had bought. All in all, it has been fun.
wrathen
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Re: How much of a jump is it going from a DE to a straight?

Post by wrathen »

I've been DE shaving for 7 to 8 years now and I have tried straights a few times over the years. For me the face is ok but getting my neck and my head to a good shave without cutting myself to ribbons wasnt possible. I tried for a month or so each time and couldnt do it. I'm back on that kick again of thinking I want to go back to straights as I thing they are lovely tools and I enjoy the process at times. BUT this time I think I'm going to start out saying that the straight is only for my face and that I'll do my head with my normal DE razor.

I'm currently using a Timeless Razors Titanium OC .68 with Kia blades, this razor and blade combo has been the smoothest most efficient combo I've found both buying and selling razors or using some in pass arounds.
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