Source
r/wicked_edge•
CentOrgSea

Straight razor regret?

I've been tossing the idea of buying a straight razor for more than a year now. I love the old school cool element to a SR shave, and the gear is awesome. But I just can't shake the feeling that the maintenance, risk of poor stropping killing the edge, etc, would render it more of a hassle than I want to deal with. Oh, and I LOVE the BBS shaves I routinely get with my DEs. How many of you went into SR shaving only to find it not worthwhile after a bit?

EDIT And I might not have worded the title very well. "Regret" might be a bit strong, but you see my point.

Posted Feb 18, 2016, 5:53 PM UTC

3356
HMNbeanwww.walrusmustacheco.com•

Everyone will be biased, even users of both. I can shave with a SR decently, but to me, DE's are much more practical. There's less overall skill, which isn't an issue once you learn it, but you do need to up keep the actual shaving skill, honing, and stropping.

For some people like me, there are some part of my face that I could never get a BBS with a straight just because of the way the hair grows and how one must hold a SR to shave. If I were to be happy with a DFS (a close 2 pass shave) on the neck and BBS on the cheeks, then it'd be fine, I suppose (keeping all other stuff mentioned above out).

In the end, though, it's a very person-dependent thing.

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RubeusShagrid•

So. Many. Acronyms.

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patropolis55•

You mean: SMA?

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HMNbeanwww.walrusmustacheco.com•

SR = straight razor DE= double edge BBS= baby butt smooth DFS= damn fine shave

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commiecatKinfolks, Inc.•

The only regret I have is not giving straight razors a try sooner. There is some learning involved but once adept it's quite a joy, IMHO. Same goes with stropping in that the speed comes naturally and if you stick with it you'll find the process takes maybe a minute or two.

Honing is another subject. Personally I've found it to be a great skill in both maintaining my own razors as well as sharpening knives and tools.

It's more of a time investment to master but once you reach that then you'll see that the 'hassle' of maintenance is marginal at best. Those of us that spend a little longer stropping and sharpening likely do it because it's enjoyable and a bit therapeutic.

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CentOrgSeaOP•

I have considered learning the honing process. It seems like a great hobby and a practical skill to have.

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commiecatKinfolks, Inc.•

Sharpening can be more challenging, time consuming, and expensive than learning to shave with a straight razor but for me it's totally worth it. I get consistent edges that suit my face perfectly and, as you noted, it's a skill that's useful outside of shaving. I've gotten pretty good at sharpening our kitchen knives, scissors, and my EDC knives.

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balek•

I started wet shaving with a straight and sucked at sharpening and honing, so I switched to DE. Then I took up woodworking and learned to sharpen and hone chisels and plane irons. Razors are easy in comparison. You can totally learn it. But it can be as pricey as the razors (or more so) pretty easily. Good luck and good shaves!

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Koitenshin•

I've been waiting for a post like this, I'm still on the fence about whether to go Safety or Straight. Normal razors just irritate my skin. Hopefully someone chimes in with their experiences and regrets.

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praise_the_firebornThis Is Why I'm Broke•

I'd second the DE route first. It's easier and usually gives a better shave. A straight is for the experience :)

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TonyBagaCoffee•

For now, I suggest a Maggard razors starter kit. You get a few different razor blades, a razor handle and head, a soap and a (great) brush. It's the bare minimum of what you need and it only costs $30. A straight razor isn't really the best way to get into wet shaving because you'll be learning everything at once, lathering, stropping, angles, pressure and strokes. Not that you aren't learning similar things from DE, but it will feel more comfortable coming from a cartridge razor. It would be all new stuff and you could ruin the razor before you actually put it to your face by rolling the edge. DE shaving teaches you a lot about technique, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try a SR later.

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commiecatKinfolks, Inc.•

I'm still on the fence about whether to go Safety or Straight

What reservations do you have about either?

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Koitenshin•

I'd be extremely nervous using a straight razor on myself. I have somewhat shaky hands as I get older.

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commiecatKinfolks, Inc.•

For me the nervousness went away after the first few shaves but if you're shaking even without being nervous then safety razor would be the way to go. That said, be cautious with a safety razor as well because they can cut just as easily if drawn the wrong way across the skin.

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sneaky-matthew•

I tried using my razor to spread lather to an dry patch of skin. Lots of bleeding resulted.

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slimGinDog•

I have a SR and a shavette. I do not regret the shavette one bit. I've gone through 200 shark blades and another 100 various others, including feathers. I will never go back to any other type of shaving. I have a beard, and my lines are so clean, that it looks like I have a live in barber.

The SR I bought new. It's great, but the shavette is quicker, always sharp, and easier (for me). I use the SR about once every few months. The stropping and maintenance was a bit much.

Edit: my buddy only uses razors from whipped dog. I think he has seven or eight by now. He doesn't care for the shavette much. It's all a matter of tastes imo.

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CentOrgSeaOP•

I've seen on this sub that lining up facial hair is the best use for a shavette.

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slimGinDog•

I definitely agree with that. It is much easier.

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krelin•

Yup.

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kwitcherbichen•

Me too. I use my shavette almost daily but the SR that my girlfriend gifted me is mostly unused. I just can't get a good shave off the SR no matter how much I strop (yes, I've had it professionally honed though it's likely due again). It's probably my technique that's poor but shaving is a morning routine not a tea ceremony. I don't have any time or desire to touch up with the shavette after the SR.

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slimGinDog•

Exactly this. I had the same convo with my buddy. He offers to let me try one of his, bc it was perfectly sharp. I did, and it as sharp as my SR. It always feels like the hairs are caught in tiny teeny tiny scissor like cuts. Whereas my shavette is not scissor-like, but flat and the hairs just come off. I'm not sure if that makes sense.

The SR sounds cooler though. It has a reverb clean sound.

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kwitcherbichen•

I agree, the SR has good audible feedback on angle and it feels good in the hand. I just don't like the shave I get with mine where I always get a good shave with the shavette and my preferred Royal Red half-blades.

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slimGinDog•

I'll have to try the Royal Red half blades. I like the Shark half blades. I don't like snapping blades in half bc it feels like it offsets my razor somehow. They never break evenly for me. They always have the little bent edge.

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IllegalMonk•

If you're after a good and easy shave then you can use a safety razor. A shavette is pretty much the worst of both worlds, no aesthetic value and requires extra time and care.

There is a learning curve to straight shaving, but it's at least appropriate for shaving your whole face. A shavette is a DE blade without a safety bar and is very inclined to nick.

Straight razors aren't a practical shaving solution for everyone like a DE, they're a nice experience. Shavettes are neither.

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kwitcherbichen•

If you're after a good and easy shave then you can use a safety razor. A shavette is pretty much the worst of both worlds, no aesthetic value and requires extra time and care.

You're entitled to that opinion. My experience is that I am fully capable of getting a no-nick BBS shave with the shavette but can't get an evenly DFS with the SR. So I use the shavette every day and have it down to about 10 minutes. Done.

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arbarnes•

For me, a straight razor shave is never as close as what I can get with a safety razor. It isn't a matter of practice - I spent a couple of months using the SR every day to develop competence - it's just that the razor's geometry makes it impossible for me to go ATG on my neck.

It's still enjoyable to take some time on a Saturday morning to strop the razor, shave with it, clean and oil it, and put it back away. But I'm not usually inclined to take it out again for a while.

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MZago1•

I've wanted to get one, but one of my friends talked me out of it. He collects vintage SRs, but doesn't use them. He said the maintenance is a complete bitch. His recommendation was if you're adamant about the technique, try a shavette. It's the straight razor handle with a disposalable blade. Still cheaper than cartridge shaving, but no need to hone and straighten your blade.

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CentOrgSeaOP•

My understanding is that shavettes are ultimately not really like SRs at all, but I might have misunderstood.

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HMNbeanwww.walrusmustacheco.com•

you're not misunderstood. 2 different animals.

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krelin•

They are somewhat different, since a real SR will have a longer blade than a shavette. But the movements are very similar.

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HMNbeanwww.walrusmustacheco.com•

Angles are different which is basically what SR shaving is all about

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veloceracingMuhle Whore•

Maybe I can chime in since I just did my first SR shave on Tuesday.

I don't regret the purchase, but it has frustrated the shit out of me.

The learning curve is steep and it's not the easiest to learn. Will I wind up regretting it later on? Not sure, but right now it's referred to as the "god damn razor" instead of the straight razor I bought.

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JettaGLi16v•

What kind of troubles are you having? Maybe we can help!

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veloceracingMuhle Whore•

Just normal beginner stuff, holding the correct angle while shaving and proper form. Stuff I've got to practice. I've been watching shave videos to help. It's a lot less intuitive than a DE

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InscrutablePhil•

Honestly I don't see that there's much hassle in using and maintaining a straight. Is there a learning curve for both? Yeah, but it's not that long. I taught myself to use a straight and hone with a coticule simply through practice with both.

My maintenance of it is simple. After use I just make sure to wipe it down well, dry it thoroughly, then put it away. When I want to use it again I strop it maybe 25 times and get to work.

I haven't touched my straight with a coticule in about a year and haven't stropped it on chromium oxide in about three months. Shaves great.

Are there downsides to a straight? Yeah, I don't chase BBS with it because it's just too difficult to achieve in some places, but there are places my DE can't give me BBS either. However, I prefer my straight for some things, such as when I have a week or more growth it's easier to mow through it with a straight. I also think it's easier to find a good angle and pressure with a straight.

I'll admit to being biased since I started with a straight, but I honestly don't find using and maintaining one to be any kind of trouble.

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Aeroflight•

Don't buy an expensive SR the first time because you might not like it. Don't buy an expensive strop because you will cut it. Wet dog is a great place to go for cheap SR stuff. I used a SR before a DE but I ended up switching because properly shaving/taking care of a SR takes much longer.

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JettaGLi16v•
  • whipped dog.

Larry's a good dude. Got my first SR kit from him.

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eaterofdogDAMN I look good•

It can be a pain. Plus you will get an occasional nick with straight razors no matter how good you are, so you have to deal with that too.

If you do get one, go with a hollow ground razor instead of a near wedge. Maintenance times are nearly doubled with wedge type blades as you are moving a lot more steel. Additionally, going with (quality) stainless steel will further reduce blade care.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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bohemianabe•

I found it to be too cumbersome. Best shave I've ever had, but the maintenance was too much so I got rid of it. I do want to get a feather artist club shavette however. Seems more practicable.

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capriceragtop•

I have a DE, a straight and a shavette. I shave most frequently with the DE, but if I want to take my time and work on technique, I use the shavette. I bought that so I could cut down on stropping and prep time until I know my shaving technique is correct.

I do use the straight, but only when I know I have ample time to devote to it. It's a blast to shave with, but my stropping still takes a bit long. But my straight shaving technique has improved since using the shavette.

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dwfogleman•

Been shaving with a SR for roughly 3 years. Love the hobby. And it is a hobby. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

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cruceno•

Guilty. I took the dive into straights, acquired several, along with their associated gear (strops, hones, etc). But it's just too much work for me on a regular basis. Learning to strop correctly, stropping before and after each shave, oiling blades...its a wonderful manly ritual that I just don't have time or patience for all the time. I still have them, and for shits and giggles, I'll break one out for a 'fancy' shave when I have the time. Overall, they just can't serve as my primary shaving means.

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[deleted]•

[deleted]

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dreadwingMuhle r41 OC•

I shave with a drink so I prefer my DE, never got into the sr shaving so much after spending a lot of time and being on the run...my feather rg is retired.

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krelin•

FWIW, you can get a pretty good feel for what straight-razor shaving is like without the cost of buying a real cutthroat razor, and without having to learn to hone (or pay someone to hone your new cutthroat for you), by buying a shavette to start with. I use the heck out of my shavette on a day-to-day basis, also.

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canadian_blade_cowww.canadianbladeco.com•

Well I sure haven't regretted it, but I don't think it is for everyone either. I think it gives the best shave for myself, but that's partially due to my enjoyment of the process. The nice thing is, like most of what we buy, it can be easily sold if you find out it's for you. If your primary hesitance is that you might damage your blade/have a hard time learning the maintenance, I wouldn't let that deter you. That stuff will be easily dealt with experience and a couple trips back to whomever hones your blades (many reputable vendors for that). Once you get the techniques to stropping and basic edge maintenance down, it's not much of bother. Though honing can be a rabbit hole.. in a good way :)

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rickastl3y•

Stropping is your only real challenge. You can get a SR professionally sharpened. So long as you are careful there should be no dramas with the blade.

Learning to strop? I bought a $10 razor and strop kit from China. It will NEVER be good enough to use (it's an absolute POS and I think the 'leather' strop is actually 'pleather'). However, you can learn the technique on an el-cheapo. Just get whoever sharpens your razor to show you how, video it and practice - doesn't take THAT long to learn.

And for buying a real strop? Start with a no frills one... get your $200+ shell horse strop when you know how to strop. It's a delicate process... you won't cut your strop if you hold your razor properly.

While a shavette won't necessarily teach you how to use a SR... IMO a Feather DX will be pretty close. Grab a Feather DX with a set of 'pro guard' blades if you wanna use a SR without a big risk of cutting yourself or breaking your razor.

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