Straight Razor? - Page 4

Sure you can get just as close doing two passes with a cartridge razor, the last being against the grain. But why? 3 blades against the grain will burn your face up. Not to mention cartridges cost dollars to replace, whereas double edge blades cost cents.

Sounds like we all agree then. I personally like a 2 blade cartridge rather than the 3 (e.g. Mach III) because it gives me a better shave and I control it better - and it costs less. So I see no reason do do the Mach III. BUT if you factor cost into the equation, then of course there's an argument for DE or straight razor. But I'm paying for ease of use. Cartridges are easy. Straight/DE gives a good shave at a lower $ cost. But at more time (strop) and MUCH higher risk of cuts.

I also moved away from the Mach 3 because of lack of precision - used a 2-blade and then moved to the DE. Nothing like the sharp blade, the interesting shape of the hole in the middle, the divine heaviness of the handle. Real men do not use 7-blade razors and cream-in-a-can to remove the hair from their face.

I'd like to try the straight eventually, but right now I use a DE on weekends (when I'm not rushed), and an electric for a quick buzz in the morning. However, I can usually give myself a decent shave with the DE in about 5-7 minutes, so I may switch to DE full time soon.

I've been using the DE for about a year now, and I can count the number of times I've cut myself on two hands.

In the first month of shaving with a straight razor I...

... sliced a dime sized chunk of my cheek off
... nicked both of my ears
... nicked my nose
... was gripped by unnecessary fear

Once I figures out the angles and a good way to hold the blade I haven't nicked myself too bad since. It might also be due to the fact that I shave with cold water.

Cold water closes the pores, thus creating your hairs to stand firm which allows them to be properly cut.

Also I've noticed that I'm not as cranky or pessimistic in the morning after my shave. It really does force you to slow down and be in the moment.

My process (takes me an average of 15 minutes):

1. Setup the mug, strop, blade and towel

2. Fill my mug up with cold water and place my brush in the mug, ensuring to swirl it around to knock out air trapped in the brushes bristles. (If I use a soap instead of cream I will dampen the cake so that it absorbs the water and loosens up.)

3. Take a shower, but the last 30ish seconds I switch the temp fully to cold (wakes you up for sure).

4. Work the soap/cream into a lather and apply it to my face in clockwise motion the first pass and then counter-clockwise the second pass

5. Strop the blade with the canvas side of the strop for 10 passes, then switch to the leather side for 30-50 passes depending on the temperature of the air. Wipe the blade clean after this.

6. Reapply the lather one more time.

7. Stretch and shave with the grain. Wipe the used lather and hair off the blade with either the towel or a piece of tissue paper.

8. Reapply lather and go across the grain.

9. Rinse my face with cold water and fix any nicks before patting my face dry and applying my after shave or astringent (which should clear out the chalk blotches from the pen).

10. Go kiss my lady.

With a straight razor, prep and technique are important. I take a good bit of time to soak my face, and I use a variety of soaps or creams that work very very well.

Two things:

Hot water keeps your beard soft, allowing for easier cutting.
For heaven's sake, don't pull or push your blade along your face: easiest way to take a chunk out of your skin.

I ran across a reprint of the 1833 The young Man's Guide written by William A. Alcott and it mentions how much time was wasted back then on waiting for hot water and said he would teach his son to shave with only cold water and without a mirror. I know I can shave without a mirror using a safety razor, but I don't think I will be attempting to shave with a straight razor without a mirror anytime soon.

Hot water gives me a super close shave for a few hours in the morning, but as soon as my pores return to their normal size I can feel the stubble, and with winter soon to be upon us it will happen even faster. I've also found it easier to nick yourself when you use warm/hot water.

With the clod water however it gives me a close shave that doesn't give me any stubble until some time in the late afternoon.

I took my DE on travel the other week and the TSA agent damn near shit himself. I can't even imagine having a straight as your only razor.