Thread: DE Harsher then a str8??

The other day I had to be at work early for a meeting (Whomever invented 7:30 am meetings should be drug out in the street and shot LOL)

So I set the alarm to wake me and of course overslept, didn't have time to do my normal morning straight routine so I wound up shaving with my DE that day (Fresh Feather blade) I figured the shower prep routine was the most important part so I did do that, I found that the shave while much quicker, was MUCH harsher then I get with my straights..(Especially my extra hollow Gencos ) I know how to use the DE properly, (ZERO pressure, pretty much let the weight of the razor do the work) and was careful with my angles etc....but I still had way more sting with the alum then I ever do with a straight...


Is this normal? Once you go straight you really can never go back??

I recently tried out my Merkur DE after shaving with straights for months. I didn't get a bad shave, but did find out that the technique with a DE can be forgotten if you go with straights for any period of time. One thing I noticed was that I seemed to get lazy about the protected blade and paid a price for that. I don't think the problem was the DE but my relative lack of recent experience with it.

Been shaving with str8s for 3 years now. On occassion I get sore spots on my face from test shaving at which point I'll switch to a DE for a few days to give the face a chance to clear up. The DE shaves are not near as clean & smooth as a str8 shave. When I did shave with a DE for about 6 months before switching I did get fairly smooth shaves with a DE. I guess you do forget how to shave with a DE after a while.

I don't want to sound like a shill, but my EJ89l was the first safety razor I ever shaved with; I had already been straight shaving for about three months. I've used both Derby and Feather blades. The very first time I used it I got a great shave and had no burn. I always get a little burn with my straights. I just didn't know it until I started using alum.

That alum is great as a feedback device, btw. It lets me know where I'm trying too hard. I love the stuff.

Well put! You sound like someone willing to learn from noticed mistakes.

Originally Posted by ace

I recently tried out my Merkur DE after shaving with straights for months. I didn't get a bad shave, but did find out that the technique with a DE can be forgotten if you go with straights for any period of time. One thing I noticed was that I seemed to get lazy about the protected blade and paid a price for that. I don't think the problem was the DE but my relative lack of recent experience with it.

Ace nailed it. I can easily match my straight shaves with a DE, or in other words they are both capable of BBS goodness. The only times I suffer irritation with a DE are when I shave too many times with a blade or get sloppy with my technique. They may be called "safety razors" but they still command respect.

I offer you my own experience:

Am I missing something in DE shaving?

A year later, that same razor and Feather blade combination is giving me a very nice 2-pass shave, with no razor burn.

Practice, practice, practice to develop a lighter touch than you think will work.

. . . Charles

I prefer the straight for comfort. I think that after a few shaves I might find a sweet spot, but DE nicks are too common for me. I need an edge that isn't wicked sharp and doesn't have any hard water sulfates dried on it either.

My straight pulls a little more, but once stropped correctly it moves smoothly and comfortably around my face, but the stropping is really important.