Hi all,
I was a member here a long while back but never dove in.
I travel a lot for work and don't want to commitment, both in terms of time and products, for a full straight razor setup. What is a good alternative to upgrade from a cartridge razor? Thank you!
Welcome Zed,
I used to work a shift schedule at a remote location, 3 weeks on, 3 weeks off. I will give you my experience.
1) Double Edge Safety Razor; Will be the introduction to wet shaving (Assuming you are not). Travel kits can be easy to put together. Double Edge safety razor blades are a lot cheaper than cartridges. One mistake we make in our ignorance is to try and extend our cartridges as long as we can. If you go DE, feel free to change blades often. A lot of time Skin irritation and sensitivity is from using a razor past its intended life.
These razors are more intuitive to learn when transitioning from cartridges. However, there is still a learning curve. Use little to no pressure.
2) Shavette Style Straight Razor; This is a popular stepping stone from DE to True Straight Razors. I used a Feather Style (Proprietary Blades) Disposable Straight Razor for my 12 years of Traveling. I still had my enjoyment of Straight Shaving on the road, but didn't need a strop or worry about sharpening (Honing). There are many makes and models on the market that use half a DE Blade. These are the ones I use now when I am mobile.
These still have a steeper learning curve, as you have to adjust the attack angle of the edge throughout the shave.
Key Notes; There is "NO" best product. Shaving is a personal preference and experience. It is about finding what is "Best" for you. If you start in the Double Edge Razor Blade market, get a "Sample" pack of blades and try them all. You will find your preference through use, not other people's opinions.
Good Luck
Frank